MSU Basketball Lands Top Seed in Latest Bracketology

Spartans projected as No. 2 seed in East Region, set to face Merrimack in first round

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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According to the latest NCAA Tournament bracket projection from USA TODAY Sports, the Michigan State Spartans have landed a No. 2 seed in the East Region. The Spartans are projected to face No. 15 seed Merrimack in the first round, with a potential matchup against the winner of No. 7 seed St. Mary's and No. 10 seed UCF in the second round.

Why it matters

Michigan State's projected No. 2 seed in the East Region would give the Spartans a favorable path to the Sweet 16 and potentially beyond in the NCAA Tournament. As a top seed, the Spartans would be expected to make a deep run in the Big Dance.

The details

The Spartans finished the regular season with a 25-6 overall record and 15-5 mark in Big Ten play, earning them the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. They will play the winner of No. 11 seed Minnesota and No. 14 seed Rutgers-No. 6 seed UCLA in their first conference tournament game on Friday night.

  • Michigan State finished the regular season on March 5, 2026.
  • The Spartans will play their first Big Ten Tournament game on March 13, 2026.
  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 18, 2026.

The players

Michigan State Spartans

The men's basketball team of Michigan State University, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

Merrimack

A Division I men's basketball program that competes in the Northeast Conference.

St. Mary's

A Division I men's basketball program that competes in the West Coast Conference.

UCF

The University of Central Florida men's basketball team, a Division I program that competes in the American Athletic Conference.

Minnesota

The University of Minnesota men's basketball team, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

Rutgers

The Rutgers University men's basketball team, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles men's basketball team, a Division I program that competes in the Pac-12 Conference.

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What they’re saying

“Across the many different bracketology posts I've seen in recent days, it seems clear that Michigan State is destined for the No. 2 seed in the East Region. That appears to be the most common projection at this time, which can obviously change this week, but my assumption is that's the most likely possibility for the Spartans.”

— Robert Bondy, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Spartans will play their first game of the Big Ten Tournament on March 13, 2026, against the winner of No. 11 seed Minnesota and No. 14 seed Rutgers-No. 6 seed UCLA. If they win that game, they will advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

Michigan State's projected No. 2 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament is a testament to their strong regular season performance and their status as one of the top teams in the country. The Spartans will look to capitalize on this favorable seeding and make a deep run in the Big Dance, potentially reaching the Sweet 16 or beyond.