The Purdue Boilermakers have had quite the rollercoaster ride this season. After a tough home loss to Michigan State kicked off a late-season slump, they turned things around dramatically by clinching the Big Ten Tournament championship with four straight wins. This impressive run vaulted them over Michigan State, securing a No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket.
In a thrilling showdown in Chicago, Purdue defeated No. 1 seed Michigan, a victory that propelled them to the final No. 2 seed, as confirmed by selection committee chair Keith Gill. The Spartans, who many thought would snag that No. 2 spot, instead find themselves entering their 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament as a 3-seed in the East Region. They’ll face off against 14-seed North Dakota State on Thursday evening.
Gill explained the decision, noting that before the Big Ten championship, Purdue was ranked 11th overall and was poised for a 3-seed. But with their tournament victory, they jumped to the 8th overall seed, surpassing Michigan State, Illinois, and Gonzaga. This leap moved them from the 3-line to the 2-line.
As for Michigan State, they landed as the No. 9 overall seed, making them the top 3-seed. Their journey begins in Buffalo, New York, against the 27-7 Bison, the Summit League's automatic qualifier.
The winner will face either 6-seed Louisville or 11-seed South Florida in the next round. The East Region is stacked, featuring Duke as the No. 1 overall seed, with Connecticut and Kansas also in the mix.
Purdue, on the other hand, heads to the West Region to take on 15-seed Queens in St. Louis on Friday.
A victory there would pit them against either 7-seed Miami or 10-seed Missouri. Arizona holds the top seed in Purdue's region, with Gonzaga and Arkansas rounding out the top four.
This year, nine Big Ten teams made it into the field of 68, underscoring the conference's depth.
MSU head coach Tom Izzo expressed a mix of emotions, reflecting on the excitement and nostalgia of tournament selection. "It's still a big accomplishment," he told his team. While there's a benefit to playing on Friday for extra rest, Izzo is ready to see how things unfold starting Thursday.
Last season, the Spartans earned a 2-seed and made it to the Elite 8, marking their deepest tournament run since reaching the Final Four in 2019. As they gear up for another March Madness journey, both Purdue and MSU are poised to make some noise in the tournament.