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Michigan State Basketball: 5 potential 2022 NCAA Tournament opponents

By Connor Muldowney

Mar 12, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo talks to his team in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo talks to his team in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 6, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Loyola Ramblers head coach Drew Valentine reacts during the first half against the Drake Bulldogs in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Loyola Ramblers head coach Drew Valentine reacts during the first half against the Drake Bulldogs in the finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Loyola Ramblers (25-7; projected 10 seed)

Loyola is a familiar opponent for a couple of reasons. One, the Spartans faced them earlier in the season in the Battle 4 Atlantis and beat the Ramblers by two. And two, Drew Valentine is the head coach and he’s a former assistant under Tom Izzo and also the brother of Spartan legend Denzel Valentine. A lot of fans are hoping he’s the next head coach when Izzo retires.

This matchup with Loyola has been rumored over the past couple of weeks and honestly, it would be one of the toughest scenarios for the Spartans. Loyola is a really good mid-major who actually knocked off Illinois last season in the NCAA Tournament, preventing the Illini from reaching the Sweet 16.

Loyola isn’t the biggest team, but it plays smart which is why it won the Mississippi Valley Conference Tournament title. It has one of the best defenses in the country which would not be a great matchup for the Spartans considering their recent shooting slump.

While it wouldn’t be a cakewalk, it’d be a fun first-round battle and a rematch for the ages.

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