On Saturday, March 23, the No. 9 seed Michigan State will square off against the No. 1 seed North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State secured their spot in the second round with an impressive 69-51 victory over No. 8 seed Mississippi State on Thursday afternoon.
The game is scheduled to be televised live on CBS, featuring commentary from Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, and Allie LaForce.
“When you look at my record in the NCAA against them (North Carolina), it doesn’t feel very good at all,” MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo said. “But the opportunity to change that and the opportunity to go against people — I still talk to Roy (William) quite a bit. I’ve always had great respect for their program and the way they’ve done it.
“I used to work Michael Jordan’s fantasy camp, so it goes way, way back. It means a lot to me. Number one, we’re still playing. Number two, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. That’s what these are. These are memory-making moments.
I watched the Oakland-Kentucky game last night. I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s the same because it’s not the same. I think we’ve earned our stripes as a program too. We’ve always said, since the first year we got to the Final Four way, way back, and what I’ve done with scheduling a lot of times, including the aircraft carrier when Roy and I played on that, to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
“I think they’ve earned the right to be a great program. Hubert’s done a great job when you look at his years, and going to a Final Four his first year. So it’s all good. The president, the women’s team playing, the relationship with players, those are all good. But come 5:30 it’s the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s, and then at 7:30 it’s back to hugging and kissing, I guess.”
For radio listeners, the Spartan Media Network will broadcast the game statewide and online at MSUSpartans.com, with Will Tieman providing play-by-play commentary and Matt Steigenga offering color analysis, alongside studio host Blake Froling. Additionally, the game will be available on SiriusXM channels 208 or 201 and via the SiriusXM app.
Michigan State has a strong track record in the round of 32, having advanced on 25 occasions since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Under the leadership of coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans boast a 17-7 record in round of 32 games, with an impressive 15-4 record.
Notably, Michigan State has excelled in quick turnaround situations, boasting a remarkable 24-7 record in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend under Izzo.
Entering the game against North Carolina, Michigan State has won 16 of its last 25 games and holds a 20-14 overall record for the season. Their victory over Mississippi State marked their 20th win of the season, maintaining a consistent performance level under Izzo, who has achieved 23 20-win seasons at Michigan State since 2003-04.
On the other side, North Carolina, the No. 1 seed in the West Region, comes into the matchup with a 28-7 record after a commanding 90-62 win over Wagner. Led by RJ Davis, who scored 22 points, North Carolina has been a dominant force in the NCAA Tournament, boasting a rich history with 132 all-time tournament wins and six National Championships.
The upcoming game holds significance beyond the court, with ties between the coaching staffs. MSU Assistant Coach Doug Wojcik previously served as an assistant at UNC, while his son, Paxson, is a graduate student guard for the Tar Heels.
Additionally, the series history between Michigan State and North Carolina adds an intriguing element, with North Carolina leading 12-5, but Michigan State claiming victory in their last meeting during the 2017 PK80 Invitational championship game.
