Michigan State fans will be thrilled about tipoff time for first-round vs. NDSU

Michigan State fans are used to horrible tipoff times for the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament just about every year. This year is different.

A season ago, Michigan State got the late tip on Friday night against Bryant, taking the court after 10 p.m. ET.

This season, tipoff time luck was on the Spartans’ side.

According to Michigan State basketball’s official account, the Spartans will face North Dakota State on Thursday evening at around 4:05 p.m. ET in Buffalo, N.Y.

Having an early evening game on the first day is about 100 times better than having the late tipoff on the second day in the first round. Michigan State fans know how the latter feels, and now they’re going to take in the Spartans’ first-round game at the end of the work day on Thursday.

The Spartans are looking like one of the top national title contenders in the field, yet no one seems to be picking them to even make it to the Elite Eight and earn a rematch with Duke.

At least we won’t have to suffer through two entire days of first-round action before Michigan State takes the floor like last year. Securing that first NCAA Tournament win early in the opening weekend will be huge for this team’s confidence, and it’ll give the Spartans a chance to prepare for either Louisville or South Florida if they can hold off North Dakota State.

A win over NDSU would also mean a second-round game in the afternoon on Saturday as opposed to Sunday. Wins all around.

I’m not mad at the tipoff time.

Michigan State faces a difficult road to the Final Four

Tom Izzo is no stranger to making the Final Four, but he may face one of his most difficult roads as Michigan State’s head coach.

Michigan State earned the toughest region in the field, getting Duke, UConn, Kansas, Louisville, St. John’s, UCLA, Ohio State, and TCU. There are truly no “easy” wins in the region, and if Michigan State can make it to the second weekend, it’ll play either UCLA or UConn, more than likely. The Spartans would be looking to avenge a loss either way — in exhibition against UConn and in the Big Ten tourney vs. UCLA.

If Michigan State makes it past UConn, it would likely meet Duke, St. John’s, or Kansas in the Elite Eight. All three of those matchups would be tough, but I don’t think they’re unwinnable.

There are a handful of bad matchups for Michigan State around the country, and fortunately there aren’t too many in the East Region. Duke, UConn, Kansas, and St. John’s are all tough but if Michigan State can make it past Louisville in round two, don’t count the Spartans out.

The road to another Final Four starts on Thursday at 4:05 p.m. ET on TNT.