Michigan State basketball cheated by NCAA tourney selection committee

Michigan State basketball was absolutely clowned by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, earning a play-in game as a “last four in” team.

If you’re like me, you probably sat in front of the TV on Sunday night waiting for the news. Would Michigan State be a No. 10 or a No. 11 seed? Would they be playing Friday or Saturday? Who would be their first-round opponent?

All of those questions were answered but there were even more that arose after the seeding was settled. Michigan State earned an 11 seed in the East Region (same region as Michigan), matched up with 11 seed UCLA. Yes, you read that correctly, Michigan State earned one of the play-in games which means the Spartans were one of the last four teams in.

This went against what every college basketball expert had been saying leading up to Sunday. Some had Michigan State as the first No. 10 seed, others had them comfortably in as the first of the “last four byes”.

But that wasn’t the case. The NCAA Tournament selection committee didn’t think enough of the 15-12 Spartans to keep them out of the play-in game.

Three top-five wins in two weeks (including one over arguably the best team in the country, Illinois) wasn’t enough to keep them comfortably in. The committee wanted Michigan State to “earn” a spot in the first round with a play-in win over UCLA.

Yet a team like Syracuse with one ranked win all season escaped a play-in game despite being on the wrong side of the bubble according to just about every college basketball expert.

When Mitch Barnhart, Kentucky’s AD and the selection committee chair, spoke on CBS about the decision to put Michigan State in the play-in game as a “last four in” team, he didn’t give a good reason. He alluded to the body of work and then said “what better way to kick off the weekend” than with a Michigan State vs. UCLA matchup.

So, this was for viewership? This was for money? Got it.

What a way to show that you care more about the dollars than the actual worth of a team in the NCAA Tournament.

Putting Utah State and Syracuse over the Spartans was a shock and a shame. The committee did this for viewership and not because either of those teams deserved that spot over Michigan State which is shameful.

No one is predicting MSU to win it all this year, but playing that extra game puts the Spartans at a major disadvantage to make a run in the first weekend.

If you’re like me, this massive mistake by the selection committee has you steaming.