2017 NCAA March Madness Tournament: Michigan Battles Oklahoma State, MSU Gets Crack at Miami

From possible oblivion to a NCAA Tournament No. 7 seed. That’s how far the University of Michigan basketball team traveled in less than a week. And what a week it was for the Wolverines.

The Maize and Blue went into the Big Ten Tournament seeded a disrespectful eighth. Then, on the way to Washington D.C. to play, the U-M plane skidded off the runway at Willow Run Airport in Wednesday’s windstorm. It might have been enough for some teams to fold up their collective tent and say, “wait until next year.”

Not Michigan. The undaunted Wolverines went on to string four straight wins together to capture the conference crown, including a 71-56 thumping of Wisconsin Sunday. No Big Ten team has ever won the tournament with an eighth seed.

Now, Michigan (24-11), which could have conceivably not earned an NCAA berth with a quick exit in the conference tournament, will play No. 10 seed Oklahoma State (20-12) in Indianapolis Friday at a time yet to be determined.

Should the Wolverines’ magic ride continue with a win over the Cowboys in the Midwest Region, Michigan would play the winner of Louisville and Jacksonville State (20-14). Louisville, a second seed, is a prohibitive favorite.

Michigan State University will also play in the Midwest Region. The Spartans rang up a 19-14 record during the regular season, good enough to send them to a matchup with the University of Miami (21-11) in Tulsa, Okla., also on Friday.

Michigan State is seeded ninth in the region, Miami eighth. It’s the Spartans 20th straight trip to the NCAA tournament. A deep run, which has been one of coach Tom Izzo’s trademarks — his MSU tenure includes a national championship in 2000 and seven overall trips to the Final Four — appears to be a longshot. The Spartans would likely face Kansas in the second round. The Jayhawks are the Midwest Region’s top seed.

Wisconsin, Northwestern, Maryland and Minnesota are among other Big Ten teams to make the NCAA Tournament’s field of 68.

NCAA tournament schedule:
For reference, here is the full tournament schedule:
First Four: March 14, 15
First round: March 16, 17
Second round: March 18, 19
Sweet 16: March 23, 24
Elite Eight: March 25, 26
Final Four: April 1
National Championship: April 3

Photo by Adam Davis via Flickr Commons