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How Michigan State basketball can make the 2021 NCAA Tournament

By Jack Williams

Nov 28, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; (Left to right) Michigan State Spartans guard Joshua Langford (1) guard Foster Loyer (3) forward Aaron Henry (0) forward Joey Hauser (20) and forward Thomas Kithier (15) talk in a huddle during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; (Left to right) Michigan State Spartans guard Joshua Langford (1) guard Foster Loyer (3) forward Aaron Henry (0) forward Joey Hauser (20) and forward Thomas Kithier (15) talk in a huddle during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nebraska forward Derrick Walker blocks a layup from Michigan State forward Aaron Henry during the second half at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.02062021 Msubball Jh 40 Sad Michigan State
Nebraska forward Derrick Walker blocks a layup from Michigan State forward Aaron Henry during the second half at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.02062021 Msubball Jh 40 Sad Michigan State /

Path to the tournament

At 10-7, Michigan State’s record is starting to slowly heal after a brutal stretch to start conference play. To get a perspective on how the Spartans will reach the tournament, you have to look back at some of the worst Big Ten teams that have been given an opportunity to compete in March.

When looking back, one squad will stick out on a page. Most recently, the 2016-17 Tom Izzo squad snuck their way in after a similar horrible start to the year. Now, rather than a team full of experienced players with no chemistry, this was a team full of young players like Miles Bridges, Cassius Winston, Nick Ward and Josh Langford who simply hadn’t developed that chemistry yet.

The 2016-17 team team ended up making the tournament as a 9-seed, despite a 20-15 overall record and 10-8 conference mark. This year, MSU had a few canceled games, and as a result, likely won’t accumulate 20 wins through the end of the year. With seven conference games remaining, the Spartans would have to win every game except for one to reach that 10-8 conference record.

With games against five ranked teams, including three teams ranked within the top six, MSU’s chances to reach this tally are slim. That being said, after playing a close game against 15th-ranked Iowa a week ago, Izzo’s squad has shown that they might have the heart to pull off a few upsets. Pair that with the fact that the Big Ten is by far the most overrated conference in college basketball and MSU’s chances don’t look as bleak as we may think.

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