If the season ended about two weeks ago, Michigan State basketball likely would have locked up a No. 2 or No. 3 seed. The Spartans were 18-2 and playing some of the best basketball in the country, winning 13 straight games after a 5-2 start.
However, like they always do, the Spartans fell on some hard times when the calendar turned to February, losing three of the first four games of the month to drop to 19-5.
Michigan State went from No. 7 in the AP Top 25 down to No. 11 to start this week and then lost to Indiana at home on Tuesday so the outlook for next week's rankings isn't great unless the Spartans can "upset" Illinois on Saturday night in Champaign.
Before that game, however, the NCAA Tournament selection committee released its 'Top 16' with about a month left to play and the Spartans were not on the list.
JUST IN: Committee's top 16 in order, revealed on CBS.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 15, 2025
1. Auburn
2. Alabama
3. Duke
4. Florida
5. Tennessee
6. Texas A&M
7. Purdue
8. Houston
9. Iowa St.
10. Kentucky
11. Wisconsin
12. Arizona
13. Texas Tech
14. Michigan
15. Kansas
16. St. John’s pic.twitter.com/CvFcAa0Mxi
What does this mean? Well, it means that Michigan State still has a lot to prove despite starting the season 18-2 and rising all the way to No. 7 in the rankings. Experts have jumped ship on believing in this Michigan State team following this cold stretch of four games.
Also, it means that Michigan State would get no higher than a No. 5 seed if the NCAA Tournament ended today. With the remaining schedule that the Spartans have, there's a chnace that they could climb back in the No. 3 seed conversation. Go 5-2 in the final seven games and you might just see the committee buy all the way back in.
But right now, Michigan State is the fourth-best team in the conference, at best, and not even one of the top 16 teams in the country.