Michigan State rolled into Buffalo yesterday and finally tipped off its March Madness run, opening against North Dakota State at KeyBank Center. Veteran coach Tom Izzo sent out a typically big, skilled Spartan lineup, the kind of group that has defined his program for decades. The first round game was set for a 4:05 p.m. ET start and aired on TNT.
Per Michigan State Athletics, the Spartans arrived in Buffalo as the No. 3 seed in the East Region with a 25-7 record, stretching the program's NCAA tournament appearance streak to 28 straight seasons under Izzo. The school also laid out the tip time, TV window and broadcast crew, while the bracket guaranteed that the winner would get the Louisville vs. South Florida survivor on Saturday.
Early on in KeyBank Center, photographers caught the usual Izzo-era energy in full color: Jaxon Kohler celebrating a three pointer, Carson Cooper punching home a dunk, Coen Carr hammering a two hander and Jeremy Fears Jr. probing the defense to set up teammates. Those opening snapshots appear in a photo gallery from the Detroit Free Press, which shows the veteran Spartan frontcourt trying to impose its will early. The gallery is credited to photographer Junfu Han.
What to watch
Michigan State's inside-out balance is the main plot line. Kohler and Carr provide the muscle and touch on the block, while Fears Jr. handles the keys to the offense, getting shooters clean looks and keeping the ball moving. According to Michigan State Athletics, the Spartans sit among the national leaders in rebound margin and assists, numbers that can flip a neutral court matchup in a hurry if North Dakota State struggles to deal with the interior defense.
How consistently Michigan State finishes at the rim and how fiercely it protects the offensive glass figure to decide the tone. If those numbers tilt green, this could look like a tune-up. If the Bison hang around on the boards, it starts to feel a lot more like a test.
North Dakota State's credentials
North Dakota State arrived as anything but a pushover, having locked up its spot by winning the Summit League and entering the tournament at roughly 27-7, per Yahoo Sports. The Bison rely on a physical, deliberate approach and veteran guards who can hit late clock shots, the exact profile that has made plenty of 14-seeds dangerous over the years.
On a neutral floor in Buffalo, that experience gives North Dakota State a puncher's chance to turn this into a tight, edge of your seat first rounder rather than background noise on the bracket.
Bracket path and local note
KeyBank Center is serving as one of the subregional hosts for the opening rounds, with Buffalo handling multiple first and second round games this week, according to Wikipedia. The tournament stretches into April, with regionals and the Final Four set for Indianapolis later in the month. Across Michigan, fans tuned in as Izzo's streak and another potential Spartan March story sputtered to life on day one.
Whether this opener turns into a businesslike cruise or a late game gut check, Thursday felt like the point when Michigan State's biggest questions finally had to face the bracket. For now, the cameras in Buffalo and that early photo gallery tell the first chapter: a seasoned Spartan team, a familiar coach and one more swing at a long March run. Coaches, players and fans will use the short turnaround to brace for whatever the bracket throws at them next.
