In his latest NCAA Tournament bracket, ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Oakland University and Michigan both in the Tournament with Michigan State on the bubble as one of the ‘last four in’.
What that means for Michigan State is they have to play what the NCAA is now calling a first round game against Virginia Tech. I say Michigan State is ‘sorta’ in because I still look at this game is a ‘play in’ game. Nonetheless Virginia Tech and Michigan State would be playing for the right to play #5 Arizona as a #12 seed.
For Oakland and Michigan, Lunardi has Oakland as a #13 seed playing #4 Wisconsin in the Southwest bracket while Michigan, a #11 seed would play #6 Vanderbilt also in the Southwest bracket. The intriguing thing about Michigan is if they win they could possibly play former coach Steve Fisher and San Diego State. San Diego State is a #3 seed playing #14 Indiana State.
As far as the three teams go I think Oakland is the only team that is comfortably in the tournament after their conference play this season and where they are in the Summit League Tournament now (they will play in the semi’s against South Dakota State tonight). For Michigan, they obviously did themselves a big favor by beating Michigan State the over the weekend. Things are looking really good for Michigan right now however to secure it they would have to win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament. Even if they lose, I still think they have a good chance at getting in. For Michigan State unlike Michigan they didn’t do themselves any favors this past weekend by losing to Michigan. But, because of their tough non-conference schedule and some of their conference wins during the final stretch of the regular season they are still alive for an NCAA Tournament birth. However, to secure things for Michigan State they at least need to net themselves two wins in the NCAA Tournament.
Nonetheless it’s going to be a very interesting end of the week here for Michigan and Michigan State.
Source: ESPN.com
Champs Sports

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR