Michigan State basketball vs Bryant score prediction: Our March Madness pick is in
CLEVELAND — Tom Izzo’s NCAA tournament streak is five years older than Frankie Fidler and three years older than Szymon Zapala.
Process that longevity and consistency for a second.
It’s so old — this year is the 27th straight, dating back to 1998 — that it includes two Final Four appearances and the 2000 national title featuring Jason Richardson as well as an NCAA appearance featuring the former Michigan State basketball star’s son: Jase is now pursuing those goals as the Spartans’ current marquee freshman.
“This is kind of the whole reason I came to Michigan State, to be able to play in the postseason,” Fidler said Thursday. “So, yeah, it's great feeling.”
The arrival of the three newcomers to Izzo’s program — two transfers and a legacy recruit — helped bring MSU its first Big Ten regular-season title since 2020 this season. And Izzo and his players hope it ultimately will result in the Spartans’ first Final Four appearance since 2019 as they chase Izzo’s second title.
The road to San Antonio begins Friday night at Rocket Arena, where No. 2 seed MSU (27-6) faces No. 15 seed Bryant (23-11) in the first round of the South region. Tipoff is around 10 p.m. (TBS).
“It's why you work, why you play,” Izzo said Thursday. “You don't work to win games. You work to win championships, and you work to have opportunities to play in these kinds of settings.”
It will be the first NCAA tournament appearance for Fidler, who transferred to MSU from Omaha last spring. And after beginning the season as a starter, the 6-foot-7, 217-pound fifth-year senior has carved out a niche as a high-energy reserve capable of doing little things and dirty work on the boards and defense as his outside shooting has waned.
“I'm trying to do whatever it takes for the team, to help the team win,” said Fidler, who averages seven points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes a game. “If that's hustle plays, then I'm here for it. If that's scoring or defending, I'm here for it as well. Anything that's needed for my teammates, I'm willing to give.”
This is the fourth postseason tournament for Zapala, though he did not play in his first two first-round losses while at Utah State (in 2021 against Texas Tech and in 2023 to Missouri). He also played 1 minute in the Aggies’ 2022 NIT loss to Oregon.
Last year, Zapala had six points and three rebounds over 18 minutes of a first-round NCAA tourney loss to Houston in his one year at Longwood (Virginia). Like Fidler, he arrived at MSU in the offseason looking to achieve bigger goals —and with the unique perspective of having prepared to face highly seeded opponents in the NCAAs with an underdog’s mindset.
“They want to (upset) us, for sure. That's what the mindset of the lower seed,” said Zapala, who has averaged 4.5 points and 4.4 rebounds over 14.5 minutes while starting all 33 games for MSU this season. “You just want to play your best game and make a sensation in the country. So I know exactly what they're feeling, because I've been there, been in their shoes three times already. And I know how they're preparing themselves to play against us.
“We all are aware of it, so we know how good we have to play ourselves.”
Those two, along with guard Jaden Akins, are the Spartans’ three seniors whose college careers will come to a close after this NCAA run — whenever it might end. Their teammates want to make their time together last as long as possible.
“When you come into a tournament like this, where it really is your last run, no matter who your seniors are, you want to do it for them,” junior Jaxon Kohler said. “For Jaden, Frankie and Szymon, this is their last run. And as underclassmen to the seniors, you think of how close you've gotten to your teammates, how much they've done for you and how much you've done for them, that you really want to make sure that they go out on on the best note.
“And if that means getting them to the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight, the Final Four, we just have to do our best.”
It also might be the only opportunity for Richardson to leave a legacy like his father. The 6-3 guard has been touted as a potential NBA lottery pick, should he opt to enter the draft as a one-and-done at MSU. The All-Big Ten freshman selection is averaging 17.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 30.5 minutes over the past 11 games since joining the starting lineup.
Richardson said the first thing his father told him to expect upon becoming a Spartan “was expect the yelling” from Izzo. It’s the demanding nature and drive for championships that has led to eight Final Four appearances and a streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances that is the most by a coach at one school.
“I knew whatever he was going to tell me, I should take it with a grain of salt because I know he's still going to love me at the end of the day,” Richardson said of Izzo. “So I feel like that was one of the biggest things (Richardson’s father) told me so far, just about playing with coach, and that he's experienced, so I to get to learn from him.”
The excitement the players feel entering the one-and-done phase of the season is palpable. “But not as excited as the coach,” Izzo said as he prepares for what he hopes will be another deep run.
“The coach still appreciates the NCAA tournament more than you can believe,” he said. “Don't sleep, get nervous. I played in enough of them, you would think it would go away. But it doesn't go away, because it's the ultimate to me.”
Chris Solari's March Madness prediction for Michigan State basketball vs. Bryant
The Spartans’ depth will be key against the Bulldogs, who, like MSU, love to push the pace under second-year coach Phil Martelli Jr. Richardson, Akins, Jeremy Fears Jr. and Tre Holloman turn up the tempo, and Zapala, Kohler and Carson Cooper wear down Bryant’s undersized frontcourt to get the Spartans into Sunday’s second round. The pick: MSU 82, Bryant 68.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the "Spartan Speak" podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State vs Bryant score prediction: March Madness pick is in
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