Michigan State Basketball: 3 reasons for optimism heading into 2022 Big Ten Tournament

Michigan State basketball heads in the Big Ten Tournament as the 7-seed which is a disappointment, but there are reasons for optimism.

Tom Izzo has harped on needing leaders to step up and he has even admitted that he needs to do a better coaching job himself after finishing the regular season 20-11 following a 17-4 start. A 3-7 finish for Michigan State basketball in the final 10 games was more than disappointing — it was actually shocking.

Limping into the Big Ten Tournament, it’s time for the Spartans to really prove themselves or they’ll be heading home early in March.

Will this team shock some people in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments?

Believe it or not, there are reasons to be optimistic about Michigan State ahead of the Big Ten Tournament.

3. Favorable road to the tourney semifinals

Looking at the bracket, I think it would have been much better if Michigan State was at the top half of it, but there is a decent road to the semifinals from the No. 7 seed spot.

In fact, the Spartans will face a Maryland team that they’ve beaten twice on Thursday night. They should win that and with a victory, they’d advance to take on a Wisconsin team that they’ve beaten once already and lost to at home after struggling to complete a comeback. The Badgers could be without Big Ten Player of the Year Johnny Davis who was injured in the season finale against Nebraska. The Spartans can definitely beat Wisconsin.

With a win over the Badgers, the Spartans would be in the semifinals against either Purdue or Ohio State. They’ve beaten Purdue already and have the perfect formula for a win there and Ohio State shot lights out to beat the Spartans in the second-to-last game of the year. Revenge would be on the docket there.

If Michigan State plays to potential, it makes the conference tournament semifinals at the very least.