5 reasons why Michigan State is this year's UConn

5 reasons why Michigan State is this year’s UConn

Mar 29, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Travis Trice (20) reacts after making a three pointer during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals in the finals of the east regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Bryn Forbes (5) celebrates with guard Travis Trice (20) and forward Matt Costello (10) during the second half against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena. Michigan State won 60-54. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Number Seven Seed, No Problem

No one ever counts on a seven-seed to win the national championship. But the past two years, that hasn’t stopped both UConn from winning a National title and Michigan State from making it to the Final Four, despite being ranked so low. Being an established program in NCAA basketball means your ranking doesn’t really matter in March (just look at UCLA this year). And both UConn and Michigan State capitalized on that.

After the UConn Huskies started 9-0 last year, they emerged as one of the best teams in college basketball earning a number 10 in the nation ranking. Unfortunately, this is the furthest they would climb in the rankings that season. They went just 15-7 the next 22 games, proving just how inconsistent there team really was. Combined with a loss to Louisville in the AAC Conference tournament, the Huskies title chances were looking bleak. But they caught fire in the NCAA tournament and made a historic run, becoming the first no. 7 seed to win a National title ever.

Michigan State has done something similar this year. Up until the conference tournament, the Spartans had yet to beat more than one top 25 team (Ohio State was #23 during the Spartans Feb. 14^th win over the Buckeyes). They had yet to prove they could really compete against the nation’s best until the NCAA tournament. But with wins against Virginia, Oklahoma, and Louisville, Michigan State has left no doubt in anyone’s mind that they can win it all this year.

So while people have always counted out seven-seeds, maybe after this year they will reconsider when filling out their brackets. Michigan State and UConn have proved that it isn’t your seed that matters. It is more so if you can come together as a team and get hot in late March that really determine how capable you are at winning a national title.

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