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Michigan State Basketball: 3 ideal 2021 NCAA Tournament first-round matchups

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 11, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) controls the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Rocket Watts (2) controls the ball against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Selection Sunday approaching and Michigan State basketball likely on the right side of the bubble, which matchups would be ideal?

Losing in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament is never a good thing, but this is an interesting year for Michigan State. The Spartans found themselves on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble after beating three top-five teams in two weeks and even Joe Lunardi said that they were safely in despite the loss to Maryland.

The loss to Maryland may actually help the Spartans, believe it or not.

While that may seem like an asinine statement, it just assures that the Spartans won’t be on the 8/9 seed line, getting matched up with a No. 1 seed in the second round if they win. No team that wants to make a deep run desires an early matchup with a top seed, especially if that top seed is Gonzaga or Baylor — or even Michigan or Illinois.

Losing pretty much means the Spartans will be on the 10-12 seed lines with the most likely scenario coming as a No. 11 seed.

With this latest development and the likelihood that Michigan State is safely in, avoiding the first-round play-in games, which matchups would be the most ideal for the Spartans?

Hint: Here’s a healthy heaping of SEC and Pac-12 teams.

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