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Michigan State draws Bryant in First Round; Spartans earn 27th straight trip to NCAA Tournament

On3 imageby:Jake Lyskawa•03/16/25•

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Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo in the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. - Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo in the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. - Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports

EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the 27th year in a row, Michigan State has made the NCAA Tournament.

The Big Ten champion Spartans (27-6, 17-3) earned the No. 2 seed in the South Region of the 2025 March Madness bracket, as revealed on Sunday night’s Selection Show. Tom Izzo’s team will open the tournament against No. 15 seed Bryant (23-11, 14-2 America East) at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Friday (10 p.m. ET, TBS).

Michigan State’s tournament streak began in 1998, Izzo’s third year in charge. It became the longest active streak in the country after the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) vacated Kansas’ 2018 NCAA Tournament appearance in October 2023 due to recruiting violations. Had that not occurred, Kansas would have made its 35th consecutive NCAA Tournament this year.

Instead, the Jayhawks’ streak ended at 28 years, still good for the longest all-time. Michigan State’s streak now sits just one year behind Kansas. It’s tied for the second-longest all-time with North Carolina’s 27-year run from 1975 to 2001. Had the 2020 NCAA Tournament occurred, Michigan State would have tied with Kansas this year for the longest streak of all time.

With Michigan State’s entry into the 2025 tournament, Izzo has extended his record for the most consecutive tournament appearances by a single coach. It is the program’s 38th NCAA Tournament appearance overall.

Bryant won the America East regular season and tournament championships. The Bulldogs have won their last six games, including all three in the America East Tournament. Bryant defeated No. 3 seed Maine, 77-59, in the America East Tournament championship game.

Bryant began the 2024-25 season with a 6-9 record through its first 15 games. Late last December, the Bulldogs suffered a 46-point loss to Grand Canyon, which made the NCAA tournament as a No. 13 seed. Since that game, the Bulldogs have gone 17-2.

Bryant is led by a two 6-foot-6 senior guards in Rafael Pinzon and Earl Timberlake, who average 18.5 and 15.5 points per game, respectively. The Bulldogs’ 81.6 points per game ranks 23rd nationally.

Bryant averages six blocks per game, which ranks third nationally. The Bulldogs also are one of 12 teams ranked above Michigan State in rebounds per game. Bryant averages 41.2 rebounds per game, while the Spartans average 39.8.

Bryant faced its lone power conference opponent of the season – St. John’s – on Dec. 11. The Red Storm – also a No. 2 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament – defeated the Bulldogs, 99-77.

The full South Region is listed below.

No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 16 Alabama State/Saint Francis
No. 8 Louisville vs. No. 9 Creighton
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 12 UC San Diego
No. 4 Texas A&M vs. No. 13 Yale
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 San Diego State/North Carolina
No. 3 Iowa State vs. No. 14 Lipscomb
No. 7 Marquette vs. No. 10 New Mexico
No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 15 Bryant

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