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In lieu of an actual, real-life NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has been running a simulation to project a possible outcome for fans. In something that might be bittersweet for Spartan fans, Lunardi’s simulation has advanced to the National Championship game, and Michigan State will be facing Florida State to win the simulated title.
In the Final Four, Lunardi’s bracket had MSU knocking off Gonzaga 87-84 behind a strong performance from Cassius Winston.
Michigan State’s run in the simulated tournament featured the Spartans defeated a couple of familiar teams on their way to the championship game. In the first round, they defeated Bradley 70-61, who they also played last year in the first round. They proceeded to defeat Virginia 61-59, Illinois 65-59 and Louisville 78-69 before facing Gonzaga.
ATLANTA (1100p ET)–@GonzagaBulldogs takes its first lead of the second half, 80-78, with 1:39 to play. Then Cassius Winston, after an otherwise quiet night, puts @MSU_Basketball on his back. Winston scores on a pair of drives and hits a deep three. The Spartans prevail, 87-84. pic.twitter.com/9wGKBs4Tgx
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) April 5, 2020
While it’s cool to see the Spartans get some recognition, albeit through a simulation, this is probably tough to see for some fans who were heading into March very confident with a team that really hit its stride at the end of the season.
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