Could Michigan State reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 this year? I’m not particularly high on those chances but this bracket draw in Andy Katz’ updated NCAA Tournament prediction has me thinking otherwise.
Katz released an updated bracket prediction for the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, which listed Michigan State as a No. 5 seed. This bracket prediction appears to have been released after Michigan State’s loss at Indiana so it seems like Katz is particularly high on the Spartans.
In total, Katz has 10 Big Ten teams dancing in his updated bracket prediction. See where Katz has each of these Big Ten teams in his last bracket prediction, and my thoughts on this potential NCAA Tournament draw for the Spartans below:
Illinois
Seed / Region: No. 7 seed in East Region
First Round Opponent: No. 10 seed Arizona State
Indiana
Seed / Region: No. 6 seed in West Region
First Round Opponent: No. 11 seed Pitt
Iowa
Seed / Region: No. 8 seed in Midwest Region
First Round Opponent: No. 9 seed Missouri
Click here for more coverage from Hawkeyes Wire on Iowa basketball
Maryland
Seed / Region: No. 11 seed in South Region
First Round Opponent: No. 6 seed Providence
Ohio State
Seed / Region: No. 11 seed in Midwest Region
First Round Opponent: No. 11 seed Memphis
Click here for more coverage from Buckeyes Wire on Ohio State basketball
Penn State
Seed / Region: No. 12 seed in South Region
First Round Opponent: No. 12 seed USC
Click here for more coverage from Nittany Lions Wire on Ohio State basketball
Purdue
Seed / Region: No. 1 seed in South Region
First Round Opponent: No. 16 seed SE Missouri State / No. 16 seed Howard
Rutgers
Seed / Region: No. 6 seed in East Region
First Round Opponent: No. 11 seed Florida Atlantic
Click here for more coverage from Rutgers Wire on Rutgers basketball
Wisconsin
Seed / Region: No. 9 seed in East Region
First Round Opponent: No. 8 seed San Diego State
Click here for more coverage from Badgers Wire on Wisconsin basketball
Michigan State
Seed / Region: No. 5 seed in East Region
First Round Opponent: No. 12 seed VCU
Thoughts on Draw: Getting a No. 5 seed would be great for the Spartans and their chances of reaching the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The 5-12 seed game historically has plenty of upsets but in this scenario I actually like the Spartans odds of advancing to the second round. From there, it would be a matchup against the winner of No. 4 seed Virginia and No. 13 seed Liberty. Again, both of those teams appear to be beatable opponents for the Spartans. Nothing is guaranteed in March, but this would be a great draw for the Spartans should it come into fruition in a few months.
Complete Bracket Prediction
Click on the tweet below for the complete bracket prediction from Katz:
🚨 NEW BRACKET PREDICTION@TheAndyKatz provides an updated bracket prediction as we are 5⃣0⃣ days away from Selection Sunday.
👉 https://t.co/ZZiG9PKIAW pic.twitter.com/5GSMQujgh2
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 22, 2023
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.
