Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans deserve a No. 1 seed

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Kenny Goins #25 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 15, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 06: Devon Dotson #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks shoots the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Strength of schedule

One of the most considered stats when it comes to seeding by the selection committee is strength of schedule. Michigan State is currently ranked differently by a number of sites that compare strength of schedule, but CBS has the Spartans at No. 22 while teamrankings.com has them has high as No. 4.

If you go by CBS’ rankings, the Spartans have had a tougher schedule than Gonzaga and Tennessee, who are both looking for 1-seeds, while sitting slightly lower than Virginia and Kentucky. Duke and North Carolina are ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

If you go by the teamrankings numbers, Michigan State is behind only Duke, North Carolina and Virginia and that’s because the ACC was extremely top-heavy.

Michigan State has played Michigan twice (soon to be three times), Wisconsin twice, Ohio State three times, Purdue twice, Iowa twice, at Florida, at Louisville, Texas and Kansas. The Spartans’ record in those games (minus Sunday’s impending title game vs. Michigan) is 12-3. Not too shabby.

The strength of schedule is helping the Spartans’ case.

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