March Madness is here, and Michigan State basketball is the 3-seed in the South region. The Spartans open their 2026 NCAA Tournament run in Buffalo, New York on Thursday (4:05 p.m., TNT), but before they do that, we thought we’d quiz some Free Press experts on what to expect in Western New York, Washington for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, and even the Final Four in Indianapolis.
JEFF SEIDEL: Tom Izzo has made Michigan State basketball numb to success
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MSU basketball March Madness: How far will it go?
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Chris Solari: The Spartans find their rhythm again against North Dakota State then grind their way through a second-round slugfest with Louisville to get back to the Sweet 16. But 2-seed UConn still has too much firepower for Tom Izzo’s seven-man rotation.
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Jeff Seidel: MSU’s stunning loss to UCLA and sudden departure from the Big Ten Tournament is going to be a huge benefit to the Spartans, highlighting things they have to focus on. The Spartans will ride that learning experience to the Sweet 16, beating U Conn. But they will lose to Duke in the Elite 8.
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Carlos Monarrez: MSU’s lack of energy and defensive breakdowns against UCLA in a one-and-done Big Ten Tournament exit are concerning. Tom Izzo know how to get his team ready for the Big Dance, but 2-seed UConn will be too much in their Sweet 16 matchup.
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Tony Garcia: The Spartans got a tough draw after falling to the 3-seed line when Purdue won the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans should escape a tough contest against North Dakota State, but that could be followed by a capable South Florida team which could upset Louisville. The run ends in the Sweet 16 against a UConn squad that has the size and skill to handle MSU’s greatest strengths.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball predictions, how deep in March Madness
