Putting Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament Loss to Middle Tennessee In Historical Perspective

In case you've been living under a rock, or are continuing to cover your eyes and ears and going "LALALALA IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LALALALA" Michigan State lost to Middle Tennessee State 90-81 on Friday.

Vegas favorite, tournament darling, and "sure-fire final four" came to mind in the run up to the tournament, and just like that it's gone in round one.

Let's put this loss into some perspective as tough as it may be.

Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport
Jamie Squire - Getty Images Sport
1
The 8th School To Lose as a 2-Seed to a 15
Syracuse, Arizona, South Carolina, Iowa State, Missouri, Duke, Georgetown.
Ordinarily, joining a list of schools like this one in the basketball realm is a good thing. Unfortunately today it's not, these seven (now eight) schools all share the distinction of having been a 2-seed upset by a 15.
Getty Images
Getty Images
2
It Could Have Been Worse
Spartan supporters were outraged to see their team left off of the 1-seed line fresh off of a Big ten tournament win and a #2 ranking in the AP Poll. Some people even referred to them as the fifth #1 seed in this tournament.
I guess Michigan State can thank the committee that they aren't the first 1-seed to ever lose to a 16.
Rey del Rio - Getty Images
Rey del Rio - Getty Images
3
Michigan State is usually unbeatable in first round games.
Michigan State was 7-0 in first round games as either a 1 or 2-seed, that unblemished record is gone. In fact they are now 24-6 all-time in tournament opening games.
Joe Robbins - Getty Images Sport
Joe Robbins - Getty Images Sport
4
Michigan State Has Never Been Upset Like This Before
The only time Michigan State ever lost a first round game as a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seed was 1995 when a #3 MSU squad was beaten by #14 Weber State 79-72.
Now you can add another loss to that stat.
Duane Burleson - Getty Images Sport
Duane Burleson - Getty Images Sport
5
That Weber State Loss Marked The End of an Era
The 79-72 loss to Weber State was head coach Jud Heathcote's last game in the NCAA tournament as head coach of the Spartans.
Heathcote was in his 60's when he left the program, Tom Izzo is 61 as of this writing.
Heathcote retired after the 1994-95 season.
Dilip Vishwanat - Getty Images Sport
Dilip Vishwanat - Getty Images Sport
6
It's Less Likely The Same Fate Will Befall Izzo's Era
Izzo should be back in the tournament, he has made no retirement press conferences and he brings in one of the best recruiting classes in the country leading into 2016-17.
However, there's nothing to say that another brutal upset will see him out like it did Heathcote.

This is the worst loss in MSU history and biggest upset in NCAA tournament history

Sure, seven other schools have lost as a 2-seed, and yes more might lose eventually. However, as I can recall none of the 2-seeds that were ever upset were as heavily favored as Michigan State was in 2016.

I can't remember any time when a 2-seed was thought to be a favorite over all 4 #1 seeds. MSU was thought so highly of that the only team more picked to go to the Elite 8, Final Four and Championship Game on bracket services across the web is #1 overall seed Kansas, not the other #1 seeds (UNC, Virginia, Oregon) but Michigan State.

When you remember the hype around this team, the strong seniors, the deep bench and the rise of freshmen to prominent roles, this was supposed to be the team of destiny, not the team of infamy like it unfortunately stands at right now.

Source: Putting Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament Loss to Middle Tennessee In Historical Perspective

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