- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 401,614
- Reaction score
- 43
Continuing our mining of results by seed in the NCAA tournament, we have good news and bad news for 2-seed Michigan State basketball, which faces 6-seed Mississippi at 7:09 p.m. Friday in the Sweet 16 of March Madness in Atlanta.
The good: 2-seeds are 36-11 in the Sweet 16 when playing any non-3 seed (aka, anyone who pulled off an upset in the first weekend), and 21-7 against 6-seeds in particular.
The bad: 2-seeds have lost three of the four most recent Sweet 16 games against non-3-seeds, including two last year (with 2-seed Marquette falling to 11-seed N.C. State and 2-seed Arizona falling to 6-seed Clemson).
SHAWN WINDSOR: Michigan State's Jase Richardson sees game like 10-year vet; prodigy ready for NCAA moment
Does that mean the Spartans are doomed vs. the Rebels tonight? Three Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on that.
Part of what has helped 6-seed Ole Miss get this far has been its surprise success on 3-point shooting (49% for the tournament). But that comes to an end against 2-seed Michigan State, which has the best 3-point defense in the country. Something else in the Spartans’ favor is rebounding, which the Rebels struggle with. MSU finally avoids a slow start and cruises to victory. The pick: MSU 85, Mississippi 72.
Expect the Spartans to come out stronger than they did in their two games in Cleveland, with a premium put on avoiding a sluggish start because playing behind against Ole Miss won’t be an optimal position. Ball movement and communication will be key to avoiding turnovers, and Jase Richardson shakes off his clunker against New Mexico and the MSU big men attack the smaller Rebels in the paint to draw fouls and advance to what could be a historic Sunday in the Elite Eight. The pick: MSU 77, Mississippi 72.
I picked the Spartans to get to the Elite Eight ahead of the NCAA tournament and I'll stick with it for consistency, even though the Rebels are a huge challenge for MSU and are playing their best basketball of the season. The Spartans slipped a touch — especially early in games — in Cleveland during the first and second round. And Tom Izzo knows what it's like now to face a Chris Beard team; he lost to Beard in the Final Four in 2019. Here's betting MSU used the week to regain their late-season crispness and make the plays to hold off the Rebels. The pick: MSU 68, Mississippi 64.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball vs. Ole Miss: Predictions for March Madness
Continue reading...
The good: 2-seeds are 36-11 in the Sweet 16 when playing any non-3 seed (aka, anyone who pulled off an upset in the first weekend), and 21-7 against 6-seeds in particular.
The bad: 2-seeds have lost three of the four most recent Sweet 16 games against non-3-seeds, including two last year (with 2-seed Marquette falling to 11-seed N.C. State and 2-seed Arizona falling to 6-seed Clemson).
You must be registered for see images attach
SHAWN WINDSOR: Michigan State's Jase Richardson sees game like 10-year vet; prodigy ready for NCAA moment
Does that mean the Spartans are doomed vs. the Rebels tonight? Three Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on that.
Carlos Monarrez
Part of what has helped 6-seed Ole Miss get this far has been its surprise success on 3-point shooting (49% for the tournament). But that comes to an end against 2-seed Michigan State, which has the best 3-point defense in the country. Something else in the Spartans’ favor is rebounding, which the Rebels struggle with. MSU finally avoids a slow start and cruises to victory. The pick: MSU 85, Mississippi 72.
Chris Solari
Expect the Spartans to come out stronger than they did in their two games in Cleveland, with a premium put on avoiding a sluggish start because playing behind against Ole Miss won’t be an optimal position. Ball movement and communication will be key to avoiding turnovers, and Jase Richardson shakes off his clunker against New Mexico and the MSU big men attack the smaller Rebels in the paint to draw fouls and advance to what could be a historic Sunday in the Elite Eight. The pick: MSU 77, Mississippi 72.
Shawn Windsor
I picked the Spartans to get to the Elite Eight ahead of the NCAA tournament and I'll stick with it for consistency, even though the Rebels are a huge challenge for MSU and are playing their best basketball of the season. The Spartans slipped a touch — especially early in games — in Cleveland during the first and second round. And Tom Izzo knows what it's like now to face a Chris Beard team; he lost to Beard in the Final Four in 2019. Here's betting MSU used the week to regain their late-season crispness and make the plays to hold off the Rebels. The pick: MSU 68, Mississippi 64.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball vs. Ole Miss: Predictions for March Madness
Continue reading...
