The Spartans were widely viewed as a top seed, and their win over Purdue in the Big Ten tournament final did nothing to hurt their resume.
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The bracket for the annual tournament was revealed during a “Selection Sunday” special.
As usual, the NCAA selection committee released a 68-team bracket with its fair share of surprises.
The whole field is keenly interested in the subjective seeding battle, with bracket placement a big deal toward the path to a title.
UCONN’S SHOT: Connecticut (24-10) survived in a memorable game against Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference Tournament with a shot from beyond halfcourt to force a fourth and final overtime, part of a run to the league title.
The Cyclones made a quick exit last season with a loss in their first game.
North Carolina earned the No. 1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament.
Exhibit A: OR is a No. 1 seed.
3 Miami vs 14 Buffalo: Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez give the Hurricanes one of the tourney’s top backcourts, while the Bulls’ buzzer-beating MAC tournament title was their second straight.
Of course, the region also has some other unsafe teams, including KU’s former Big 12 rival, eighth-seeded Colorado.
The Cavaliers have been great this season, and although they lost in the ACC Tournament finals, they are playing well. Butler’s Roosevelt Jones, Kellen Dunham and Kelan Martin are a tough trio who will make teams pay if they play off of them. Toughest first-round call No. 8 Texas Tech has been impressive this season, knocking off the likes of Iowa State, Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma this season, and Tubby Smith was a deserving victor of the Big 12 Coach of the Year award (it should have gone to Bill Self, but we understand the Tubby argument).
2 Oklahoma vs 15 Cal State-Bakersfield: Buddy Hield, Ryan Spangler and the rest of the Sooners start their last stand against the Roadrunners.
Last season, Virginia was a No. 2 seed, but after an opening victory over Belmont lost its next game to No. 7 seed Michigan State 60-54.
1 North Carolina vs 16 Florida Gulf Coast/Fairleigh Dickinson: The Tar Heels looked like title contenders with their ACC Tournament title, while Florida Gulf Coast takes on a Fairleigh Dickinson team making its first appearance since 2005.
After an evenly played first half, where WVU led by one point at halftime, the Jayhawks had a strong early run in the second half.
The Ducks (28-6) beat out Michigan State for a spot on the top line.
Payton II is averaging almost 16 points a game for Oregon State, a No. 7 seed that faces No. 10 VCU on Friday.
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“It will be good to get away from the Big 12”, Williams said. Obviously, the Shockers must get through Vanderbilt in a First Four game, certainly no given.
