EUGENE, OR — As Tom Izzo looks to break the tie and become the coach with the most Big Ten titles all-time, Michigan State basketball also is well on its way to adding to his ongoing record of 27 straight NCAA Tournament appearances is well underway.
The Spartans (16-2, 6-1 Big Ten) are sitting among the top-four seeds in bracketology predictions, with four straight wins since losing to Nebraska on Jan. 2, and remain on the same pace as they were at this time last year. They ranked No. 12 in last week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll while pushing for another top NCAA Tournament seeding come Selection Sunday in March.
The ultimate mission for MSU: Izzo’s ninth Final Four berth and second national title.
Each week, the Free Press will take a look at MSU’s résumé and assess how it stacks up to the competition.
Michigan State basketball bracketology for NCAA Tournament
Net rankings: No. 12 (began week No. 13)
All stats entering Monday’s games.
KenPom rankings: No. 10 (began last week No. 13)
All rankings entering Monday.
Bracketology projections
Michigan basketball schedule this week
MSU basketball scores last week
How NCAA tournament committee selects at-large teams
Record: The team’s overall record, conference record and nonconference record.
Strength of schedule: The strength of the opponents the team played against.
Head-to-head results: The results of games between the teams being compared.
Conference championships: Whether a conference championship was won in the regular season or tournament.
Common opponents: The results of games against common opponents.
Adjusted Net Efficiency (NET): The NCAA’s preferred metric measuring a team’s overall performance during the regular season.
Team Value Index: A results-oriented component of the NET that ranks teams based on who they beat and where they played.
Rating Percentage Index (RPI): A formula that ranks teams using a team’s winning percentage, opponents’ success and opponents’ strength of schedule.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball bracketology seed for March Madness
Reporting by Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
