Michigan State Spartans vs. Kansas Jayhawks Odds, March Madness Betting Pick

“That means we’re a bad seed a lot of times, so I don’t feel as good about that as maybe I should”, Izzo joked. “So they do a real good job keeping the ball out of the paint”.

Arkansas’s Moses Kingsley (33) grabs a rebound against Seton Hall players Madison Jones (30), Ismael Sanogo (14) and Michael Nzei (1) during the first half in a first-round game of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C., Friday, March 17, 2017.

MI comes in as the higher seed at No. 7. “That first eight minutes was a knockout punch for most teams, and it’s been for some of mine in the past”. Instead, Louisville will use its seventh-rated defense by adjusted efficiency, according to kenpom.com, to try to slow down arguably the hottest offense in the country.

Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans heaved up a desperation – and meaningless 3-pointer – as time expired, burying the shot to bring the final margin, 92-91 in favor of MI.

South Region: No. 2 Kentucky vs. Each is ranked top five at KenPom.

Michigan State (20-14) hopes to keep moving into another weekend, but must knock off a No. 1 seed, Kansas (29-4) at BOK Center to make that happen. It followed with eight more wins over higher seeds in the next 11 years before cementing its stellar postseason reputation with a Final Four run two years ago. Both of these teams make life tough for their opponents offensively.

Michigan’s three-point shooting reached it’s peak with 9:12 left to in regulation as Michigan’s Walton Jr. nailed a trey in the eye of Evans.

“And for all those young guys to kind of rally -, and when I was coming back (to the bench) I looked and there was four of them out there with (sophomore shooting guard Matt) McQuaid – that was a big step for us”. Anytime Miami could generate some positivity, there were the Spartans, dazzling with a flashy pass, stroking a three, or finishing at the rim with acrobatics. Mason is joined in the starting lineup by senior forward Landen Lucas and junior guards Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk.

Oklahoma State shot the ball well – 54.7 percent from the field and 43.8 from deep – but Evans did miss the front end of a crucial one-and-one situation when MI led 84-79 with 1:31 to go. “No better coach around then Tom Izzo”.

The 10th-seeded Cowboys finished the season with four straight losses and haven’t won an NCAA game since 2009.

One thing that will give Self some reassurance and Izzo some concern as they prepare for Sunday’s game is the experience factor. If they’re going to pull off the upset, they’ll need to put up their best offensive performance of the season.

And Oregon plays Rhode Island. We’ve been friends for a long time. The Wolverines are up to six wins in a row, and anyone who has to play them the rest of the way will not be thrilled about it.

Both players are about the same height and roughly the same size, but there are differences.