Michigan State basketball March Madness picks, predictions vs Bryant

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Watch Michigan State basketball’s annual NCAA tournament dunk-a-thon

Michigan State basketball closed its open practice at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday, March 20, 2025, like every NCAA tournament: with dunks.

Should Michigan State basketball be worried about a 2/15 update?

Just 11 2-seeds — in 156 games — have fallen to a 15-seed since the NCAA expanded the tournament to 64 teams in 1985 (not including this season).

One of those, of course, was MSU, which was stunned by Middle Tennessee in 2016. Perhaps even more worrisome: A 15-seed has pulled off the giant upset in three of the past four years, with only last year’s tourney seeing all four 2-seeds make the second round.

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Will the Spartans wind up like Arizona (four-point losers to Princeton in 2023), Kentucky (six-point losers in OT to Saint Peter’s in 2022) or Ohio State (three-point losers in OT to Oral Roberts in 2021)?

Three Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on that:

Carlos Monarrez

Facing 15-seed Bryant is about as close as the 2-seed Spartans will get to a first-round bye. The Bulldogs have size but they’re a low major that got smoked this season against top-tier teams like St. John’s and Grand Canyon. Wait, Grand Canyon is a top-tier team? Yup, they’re a 13-seed in the West after annihilating Bryant, 112-66, in December. Bryant’s only outside shot is coach Phil Martelli Jr.’s uncanny resemblance to Connor Stalions. Watch out for those hand signals! The pick: MSU 87, Bryant 69.

Chris Solari

The Spartans’ depth will be key against the Bulldogs, who, like MSU, love to push the pace under second-year coach Phil Martelli Jr. Richardson, Akins, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Tre Holloman turn up the tempo, and Zapala, Kohler and Carson Cooper wear down Bryant’s undersized frontcourt to get the Spartans into Sunday’s second round. The pick: MSU 82, Bryant 68.

Shawn Windsor

Yes, this week is the…

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Publish date : 2025-03-21 10:11:00

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