Michigan State basketball: 3 less-than-ideal NCAA Tournament matchups

3 teams Michigan State basketball won’t want to see in 2023 NCAA Tournament’s first round

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 10: Tyson Walker #2 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball against Sean McNeil #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first half of a Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals game at United Center on March 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /

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Mar 8, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Blake Hinson (2) and Pittsburgh Panthers guard Jamarius Burton (11) and Pittsburgh Panthers guard Nelly Cummings (0) huddle in the second half of the second round at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Pitt Panthers (projected 10/11 seed)

After starting the season 1-3 with a blowout loss to Michigan, it looked like Pitt was destined for yet another dismal year of irrelevance.

Then the Panthers reeled off 10 wins in their next 11 games, beating teams like Northwestern, NC State, North Carolina, and Virginia in the process. The program officially left the dark ages and became a legitimate ACC title threat.

They went on to finish the regular season and conference tournament with a 22-11 overall record and 14-6 in ACC play, just one game out of a first-place tie. Although they were bounced by Duke in the ACC Tournament in blowout fashion, this Pitt team is dangerous.

In fact, Pitt averages 76 points per game and they shoot and make a ton of threes. In fact, they shoot about 36 percent from deep and get up around 25 threes per game, making nearly 10, on average. That could be a problem for the Spartans who have seen their defense take a step back in recent weeks.

Getting into a shootout in round one with a tough 10/11 seed like Pitt would not be ideal.

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