Michigan State basketball: Predicting 2024 NCAA Tournament run

Michigan State basketball is looking to go on a big run this March but how far can we expect the Spartans to go? Let’s predict the run.

We are just hours away from the first Michigan State basketball game of the NCAA Tournament, which means it’s time to make your predictions and fill out those brackets. Predicting MSU’s run in this tournament is difficult, simply because of the inconsistency we’ve seen from the team all season. Also is the fact that a 9-seed’s a brutal place to start with a 1-seed waiting for you next round.

But I’ve never been afraid of putting my predictions out there, so here is how I see MSU’s run in the NCAA Tournament going.

Short run for Michigan State this year

The Spartans’ first-round game is on Thursday against the 8-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs present a huge challenge for MSU, and are a team that has shown they can hang with and beat any team in the country. They also struggle with consistency as well, so that alone makes this an intriguing matchup.

However, as a Michigan State fan how can you not pick them to win their first game? Even if it will be a tough game, Tom Izzo always has his team playing well in the NCAA Tournament. So give me the Spartans to win a close, low-scoring game.

Next up for MSU will certainly be 1-seed North Carolina. Having to play a 1-seed is brutal in the second round, but the Spartans may have gotten lucky and drawn the worst 1-seed in the tournament. However, I do imagine that most, other than a few brave Spartans, will pick UNC here. And I have to agree.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Michigan State is more than capable of beating the Tar Heels. But I see this game going like many others we’ve experienced already this season. Michigan State will likely fall behind early and make a comeback late just to lose by six or seven points.

A loss in the second round even against a 1-seed would make this season a failure as expectations were much higher this year. So hopefully I’m wrong here and we witness another magical run to the Sweet 16.