11 Belmont vs. 2 Michigan State – East Region, Sweet 16 (Thursday, March 28)
After beating Temple in the First Four, upsetting Maryland in the First Round and then getting past Yale in the Second Round, the Belmont Bruins have parlayed an at-large bid out of the Ohio Valley Conference to a berth in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately for them, they now come up against a Michigan State Spartans team that certainly vies for the title of the hottest team entering the 2019 NCAA Tournament, not to mention a team that’s just more talented and better.
Dylan Windler is undoubtedly a star to watch in March Madness for Belmont, averaging 21.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range this season. Moreover, his size at 6-foot-8 really does create a matchup problem, even against a team like Michigan State that does have size to burn.
Having said that, the Belmont backcourt as a whole doesn’t have the athleticism necessary to hang with the likes of Cassius Winston, the Big Ten Player of the Year. And, as they look to try and slow him down with their style of play — a tall task for a questionable defensive team — that opens up the lane for their slew of big men that they have at their disposal.
Belmont won’t get blown out in this game, but Michigan State is just too talented and too well coached (and playing too well, frankly) to get upset in this matchup. The Spartans will end the Bruins’ run.
Pick: Michigan State