This Big Ten team will play on Friday in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Now a look at the Big Ten Champions and No. 2 Seed Michigan State Spartans.
Michigan State Spartans
Overall Record: 29-6
Rankings from five analytical-metric-based sites: NET: #11, KenPom: #7, Barttorvik: #13, BPI: #11, Evan Miya: #8
Two best non-conference and six best conference wins this season: North Carolina (94-91) and Colorado (72-56) in the Maui Invitational, Purdue (75-66), @ Michigan (75-62), @ Maryland (58-55), Wisconsin (71-62), Michigan (79-62), and Oregon (74-64) in the Big Ten Tournament.
Top-tier defeats this season: Memphis in the Maui Invitational (63-71), Kansas (69-77) in the State Farm Champions Classic, @ UCLA (61-63), Indiana (67-71), and Wisconsin (74-77) in the Big Ten Tournament.
NCAA Tournament games played: Defeated Bryant (87-62) in the round of 64 and New Mexico (71-63) in the round of 32
Here is a look at who Michigan State will face in the Sweet Sixteen, Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Rebels
Overall Record: 24-11
Rankings from five analytical-metric-based sites: NET: #28, KenPom: #21, Barttorvik: #25, BPI: #29, Evan Miya: #29
NCAA Tournament games played: Defeated North Carolina (71-64) in the round of 64 and Iowa State (91-78) in the round of 32.
Michigan State, a No. 2 seed from the Big Ten, will take on No. 6 seed Ole Miss from the SEC for a spot in the Elite Eight. The Spartans have played very well in the second halves of both tournament games thus far and will look to their experience, balanced attack, and depth to overwhelm the Rebels. Ole Miss has shown its potential with two quality wins against tournament teams from the ACC and Big 12 this season, making it a dangerous opponent with an upset on their mind. Both teams have experienced coaches, but the Spartans go as much as 10 deep and are looking to advance to the Elite Eight this year.
KenPom Prediction: Michigan State 73, Ole Miss 70.
Bart Torvik Prediction: Michigan State 73, Ole Miss 70