NCAA Tournament Update And Notes

While Michigan State is headed to their eighth national semi-final/Final Four in a 20 year, 21 season span (’99-2019, all under Tom Izzo), the other three such entrants (Texas Tech, Auburn and Virginia) either are there for the first time or the first time in a long time.

Both Texas Tech (they took out Michigan then Gonzaga) and Auburn (they eliminated North Carolina easily and then Kentucky in an overtime tilt) dispatched a pair of higher seeded, fairly significant favorites, en route to their first ever national semis appearance.

Meanwhile, Virginia is headed there for the first time in 35 years, after beating Oregon and Purdue in regional semi and final play, respectively. “UVA” has opened as a 5 plus point(s) “fave” vs Auburn.

Michigan State defeated L.S.U. in the regional “semi,” (the 1979 “Mich” St. title team also won in that round vs L.S.U, which in fact lost to the eventual national champion three straight seasons (’79-’81), before getting by tournament favorite, Duke in the regional final.

Michigan State will play Texas Tech in the later game on Saturday. They are only 3 point favorites.