MSU nabs #1 seed in latest Bracketology

After the recent impressive performances by Michigan State, the Big Green move up to #6 in the coaches poll... and are awarded with a #1 seed in the West, as projected in ESPN's Bracketology by Joe Lunardi.

Loving the Big GREEN Machine as it heads to the Final Four!  GO SPARTANS!

Sunday Morning Bracketology: MSU #11 in SE

Following MSU's running out of gas in its 61-48 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten semifinals, the Big Green drop to a #11 in the SE region, per ESPN's Bracketology.

Interesting - Seven teams from the Big Ten now projected to make the dance. Michigan is a #11 seed in the West, and Penn State is now a #12 seed in the SouthWest. Purdue is #4 in the West, Wisconsin is #4 in SE, Ohio State is #1 in the East, and Illinois is #11 in the East.

The 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament will be announced at 6 pm tonight.

MSU at #9 in Lunardi's Bracketology; Predicts a Spartan win over JoePa

OK, Lunardi finally posts his Bracketology, and Michigan State moves up to a #9 in the West.

As for today? ES prediction... Michigan State 67, Penn State 55. Any team (Penn State) that wins a game scoring less than 40 points (scoring 36 in yesterday's win over Wisconsin) has no offense -- and MSU can relate to that! MSU has its mojo back, and enough offense to move on.

Mich State a 2-1/2 pt fave over Penn State; move up to #9 in Bracketology

OK, the ES is excited post-Purdue destruction.... Some early thoughts heading into today's Big Ten semi-finals. Early line out of Vegas has Michigan State favored by 2 1/2 over Penn State. The game tips at 4 pm, on CBS television.

Bracketology update: Joe Lunardi is still nursing his hangover as of 10 am on Saturday. What's ESPN paying him the big bucks if he can't wake up during tourney time to update his bracket? MSU still listed as last one in, #12 SE.

Bracketology #2 update: But, give Bruce Marshall over at VegasInsider.com some kudos for updating his bracket. He inks in Michigan State right now as a #9 seed in the East.

Jeff Sagarin: Even the MIT guru punched his numbers this morning, moving MSU up to #34 overall. That's IN my friends.

See you at the Peanut Barrell at 4 pm!

Bracketology sez MSU is LAST ONE IN. Purdue prediction

Will the bubble burst on Tom Izzo and Michigan State? Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Michigan State now as THE LAST TEAM in the field of 68, a #12 seed in the Southeast.

They take on projected #3 SE seed Purdue today. Purdue is a 7-pt favorite. Looks like Kalin Lucas will play, and if Durrell Summers does not break out of his slump today (both offensively and defensively), the Spartans may find themselves OUT.

Jeff Sagarin has MSU at #37, Purdue at #7, and an 8-pt Boilermaker win. Real time RPI has MSU at #47 and Purdue at #8.

Sorry, but the ES just doesn't see how the Big Green can pull off a win today sans a 100% healthy Lucas. Purdue kicked our butt by 20 points in the Breslin Center last meeting, and we lost by 10 at Purdue. ES sez.... Purdue 76, Michigan State 62.

MSU up to #7 AP, #2 South in Bracketology

The ES wuz right on, MSU is up to #7 AP/#8 USA Today in the latest men's basketball poll. I posted the AP poll below. And, in Bracketology, the Big Green move up to a #2 seed in the South: Lunardi only has four Big Ten teams in his field: MSU (#2S) , Purdue (#2W), Wisconsin (#3MW), and Minnesota (#7E).

AP Top 25

1. Texas (56) 15-0 1,616

2. Kentucky (9) 16-0 1,569

3. Kansas 14-1 1,441

4. Villanova 14-1 1,426

5. Syracuse 15-1 1,353

6. Purdue 14-1 1,317

7. Michigan State 13-3 1,191

8. Duke 13-2 1,178

9. Tennessee 12-2 1,030

10. West Virginia 12-2 1,006

11. Georgetown 12-2 934

12. North Carolina 12-4 844

13. Kansas State 13-2 746

13. Wisconsin 13-3 746

15. Connecticut 11-4 633

16. Pittsburgh 13-2 565

17. Gonzaga 12-3 559

18. Brigham Young 16-1 456

19. Temple 13-3 388

20. Georgia Tech 12-3 342

21. Mississippi 12-3 326

22. Baylor 13-1 301

23. Miami (FL) 15-1 189

24. Clemson 13-3 167

25. Florida State 13-3 155

Others Receiving Votes Texas A&M 126, Northern Iowa 91, Missouri 64, Mississippi State 61, New Mexico 59, Dayton 39, UAB 35, UNLV 28, Oklahoma State 26, Vanderbilt 21, Notre Dame 18, Wake Forest 14, Cornell 12, Butler 10, Texas Tech 10, Marquette 9, Virginia Tech 9, William & Mary 8, Louisiana Tech 2, Florida 2, Harvard 1, Missouri State 1, Siena 1. Dropped From Rankings New Mexico 15, Texas Tech 22.