Both Michigan Teams Break Into March Madness Frenzy Ahead of Final Bracket Announcement
Michigan and Michigan State University (MSU) wrapped up their regular season at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Sunday, March 9. Both teams from the state of Michigan are in the March Madness field of 68, awaiting the final NCAA tournament bracket release during the selection show on Sunday, March 16, at 6 p.m. on CBS.
MSU, which has won six straight to take the Big Ten crown for the first time since 2020, is projected as a No. 2 seed in USA TODAY’s latest bracketology forecast. The Spartans are the sixth team listed, behind Duke, Auburn, Houston, and Florida as No. 1 seeds and Tennessee as the top No. 2 seed. In the Midwest Region, MSU is projected to face off against 15-seed Towson of the Colonial Athletic Association, with the game in Cleveland.
Michigan, which lost three of its past five games in a loss to MSU for the conference title race, is projected as a No. 5 seed in the USA TODAY bracketology projections. Michigan is projected to play Yale in Providence in the Midwest Region.
This year will be the first time Michigan has advanced to March Madness play since 2022. The team missed opportunities during the final two years under coach Juwan Howard. Michigan hired Dusty May in May 2024 to replace Howard, who was fired from the team, according to a Detroit Free Press report.
The 2025 NCAA tournament begins with the “First Four” round. This round allows final teams to make their way to the Big Dance and positions a pair of 16-seeds against each other to finalize the four open spots in the Round of 64. The First Four games will be held March 18 and 19 in Dayton, Ohio. The Round of 64, where MSU and Michigan will begin their tournament runs, begins March 20 and 21.
