Prior to picking up wins at No. 16 Maryland and over No. 11 Wisconsin, Michigan State basketball was on the verge of joining the 1-seed conversation in terms of NCAA Tournament projections.
Rapheal Davis of the Big Ten Network even said that if Michigan State was to beat Maryland earlier this week that it should be in that conversation for a 1-seed. Well, the Spartans did that and Gary Parrish of CBS Sports reiterated what Davis stated, but he did reveal what could keep Michigan State from getting a top seed.
According to Stephen Brooks of 247Sports who found Parrish's statement, the Spartans could be left out of the 1-seed discussion because of their last loss.
"Michigan State cannot be entirely ruled out of this chase either. The Spartans have home games left with Wisconsin and Michigan before the Big Ten Tournament. It would help them if Indiana made a surge. The home loss to the Hoosiers is the only Quad 2 loss for any of the top seven teams in the bracket."Gary Parrish, CBS Sports
Being the only team in the top seven with a Quad 2 loss might just crush the Spartans' hopes for a No. 1 seed so they need to hope Indiana keeps winning.
If Michigan State misses out on a No. 1 seed, it can look back on that loss to Indiana as a reason. While there is more in play like losses to USC and UCLA on the road, Michigan State could've beaten Indiana and it would be 25-4 with no Quad 2 losses and likely in a spot to earn a 1-seed.
But then again, if Michigan State didn't inexplicably lose to Indiana, we may not have seen the Spartans go on this five-game run. That loss seemed to spark the team.
A 1-3 seed shouldn't matter. You still have to beat who's in front of you.