The stage is set for the 26th Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament. For the 11th time, Chicago’s United Center hosts the tournament. From March 8-12, all 14 of the conference’s programs will compete to lay claim to the Big Ten title. The winner receives automatic qualification in the NCAA Tournament later this month. The Michigan State Spartans are only three wins away from claiming the Big Ten crown.

The Spartans enjoyed a 19-11 2022-23 regular season, including a seven-game win streak. The team’s 11-8 conference record was good enough for fourth in the final Big Ten standings. MSU’s fourth-place finish gives the team an automatic place in the tournament’s quarterfinal, giving the Spartans a two-round bye.

Michigan State is searching for its seventh Big Ten Tournament title. The Spartan’s last tournament win came in 2019, led by Cassius Winston in a come-from-behind 65-60 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

While the Spartans do have a two-round buffer, their road to the title is not an easy one.

Michigan State has a chance to make a run for the title

There are three team’s MSU could face in the quarterfinal of the tournament: No. 13 Ohio State, No. 12 Wisconsin or No. 5 Iowa.

The Spartans swept OSU in both of the team’s regular season matchups, including an 84-78 win in the regular season finale. The team also enjoyed a 69-65 win in their lone game against Wisconsin. With a 5-15 conference record, OSU does not pose much of a threat. At 9-11 in Big Ten play, Wisconsin could be a challenge, but MSU has proven to be the better team in one matchup already.

Iowa is a different story. At 11-9 in conference play, Iowa was barely edged out by MSU for the fourth seed in the tournament. The teams split the regular season series 1-1. Most recently, Iowa defeated the Spartans in a 112-106 overtime comeback. Ideally, the Spartans can avoid playing the Hawkeyes in the quarterfinal and play either the Buckeyes or Badgers instead. However, Iowa is looking to defend its title and would give MSU a difficult challenge.

Should MSU make it passed the quarterfinal, their most likely opponent in the semifinal game is No. 1 Purdue. The Boilermakers will face either Michigan or Rutgers in the quarterfinal. Purdue defeated the Wolverines 75-70 in the regular season, but they fell to Rutgers in a close 65-64 game.

Purdue is the biggest challenge Michigan State will face

The Boilermakers rolled through the Big Ten, finishing with a 15-5 conference record. The Spartans fell in two regular season matchups against the Boilermakers. The first, a tight 64-63 thriller. The second, a not-so-close 77-61 blowout.

Purdue big man Zach Edey is the biggest challenge for the Spartans’ defense. Edey dominated in both matchups, scoring 32 and 38 points respectively. Forcing someone besides Edey to beat them is easier said than done. At 7-4, Edey gets to the rim at will and is nearly impossible to guard.

The Spartans have a difficult road ahead of them. To make a run for a title, the team could have to face the fifth, first and second seeds in three games. A daunting task for a team that has been inconsistent this season, but not impossible, especially if the Spartans get hot at the right time.

Key Spartans to watch in the tournament

Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard and Joey Hauser are the keys to MSU’s success. Walker and Hauser lead the team in scoring this season, averaging 14.8 and 14.2 points respectively. Hauser’s 45.9 percent three-point shooting led the team. Hoggard leads the team in assists with 6.1 per game.

Walker has shown an ability to get hot from the floor. He scored 30-plus twice in 2022-23, including 31 points in MSU’s overtime loss to Iowa. The senior guard shoots 46 percent from the floor and 42 percent from beyond the arc. When the Spartans need a bucket, he is the go-to guy.

MSU needs Walker, Hoggard and Hauser to play at the top of their games if the team is to have a chance at winning the tournament. Other Spartans will need to step up as well.

Malik Hall has enjoyed a nice career as MSU’s sixth man. His impact on the team was greatly felt in his absence due to injury. When Hall missed time this season, there was little to no bench production from MSU. Big man Maddy Sissoko is key to guarding players like Edey. Sissoko was not able to stop the Purdue star, but he was able to slow him somewhat. Sissoko did a good job forcing Edey to pick up his dribble well outside the paint.

The Spartans have a difficult road ahead of them. To make a run for a title, the team could have to face the fifth, first and second seeds in three games. A daunting task for a team that has been inconsistent this season, but not impossible, especially if the Spartans get hot at the right time.