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Michigan State basketball’s Phil Knight Invitational bracket revealed

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans players huddle before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Tulsa, OK, USA; Michigan State Spartans players huddle before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BOK Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The bracket has been revealed for the 2017 Phil Knight Invitational and Michigan State basketball’s first-round matchup is Georgetown.

One of the biggest regular season tournaments in recent memory will be taking place this coming November and it’s loaded with elite programs. Michigan State basketball has finally learned its first-round matchup for the 2017 Phil Knight Invitational.

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With the bracket revelation on Wednesday, the Spartans learned that they would be in the ‘Victory Bracket’ which includes North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgetown, Portland, Oregon and Connecticut. Who would the Spartans play first, though?

Michigan State got matched up with Georgetown in the first round which may seem like a tough matchup, but the Hoyas had a rough 2016-17 season and missed the NCAA Tournament. They usually play the Spartans tough, though.

If Michigan State wins that first game, it would play the winner of Oregon and Connecticut. Both teams are usual contenders, but the Ducks are losing plenty of talent from a Final Four squad and UConn is trending in the wrong direction. The winner of the second-round matchup would likely face North Carolina in the title game.

Wouldn’t that be quite the early-season barometer?

With Miles Bridges back and the Spartans a potential preseason No. 1, it’d be interesting to see how well they could fare against Roy Williams’ Tar Heels. They have not played well against UNC under Tom Izzo in recent years.

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The Spartans avoided teams like Ohio State, Florida, Gonzaga, Stanford, Texas, Butler, Duke and Portland State in the other bracket.

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