Don’t Count MSU Out of the NCAA Tournament – Opinion
As a lifelong Spartan fan, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: Never count Tom Izzo out. After a season filled with ups and downs, many Spartan basketball fans were huddled around…
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates 71 – 67 win against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Breslin Center on February 25, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
As a lifelong Spartan fan, I've learned a valuable lesson: Never count Tom Izzo out.
After a season filled with ups and downs, many Spartan basketball fans were huddled around their TVs and smart devices Sunday night (March 14), waiting for the NCAA Tournament schedule and standings.
As the NCAA selection committee announced that Michigan State would be a No. 11 seed in the East Region going up against UCLA during a play-in game, you could almost imagine the gasps that were being made across the U.S.
How could MSU be in a play-in game? While the season has been turbulent, they've been on a winning streak lately, notching three top-five wins in the past two weeks. They also recently beat an impressive Illinois team, who are a favorite to win it all.
When asked on CBS about the decision to have MSU open with a play-in game, NCAA selection committee chair Mitch Barnhart simply said, "...We thought it would be a heck of a way to start the tournament off."
Oh, really?
But, the Spartans are used to being underestimated. In fact, we thrive on it.
MSU's best NCAA Tournament years were when they didn't peak too early, instead going into March Madness on an upswing with something to prove.
As Fox College Hoops reminded us in a tweet, Michigan State basketball has the most upset wins in NCAA Tournament history.
So, don't count Izzo out.
Michigan State’s Twitter account has this message for the naysayers:
