Bryant won the American East conference at 23-11 only covering 15 of the games while Michigan State played a high-stress game every night in the Big Ten and finished the regular season at 27-6 covering 22 of those games. Michigan State won and covered eight straight games before losing to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament 77-74. Bryant scores 82 points per game and Michigan State allows 67 points a game. It might be different if Bryant played the slow-down game with fewer possessions, but more possessions mean more errors and Michigan State is one of the best at forcing mistakes. The big advantage will be on the boards both offensive and defensive. Michigan State gets cover.

Bryant as much size as any team in the tournament including 6-6 and 6-8 shot makers. They excel at rim defending, this Earl Timberlake kid has some ish to him and and the size and dexterity of the backcourt can be a problem. They can shoot the ball and unlike some teams their transfers are from Power 4 schools, not D 2. Sparty won't want run with them and Sparty can't shoot the three-ball and Izzo will be playing the long run. Fighting for 40 mins to run this up by 20 doesn't seem like the way they will play this. Bryant can make them work for their shots. This is more of a 12-15 point game to me.