"If you thought we were going to have a perfect season this year, that's ridiculous," Zavier Simpson said -- ironically enough -- after Michigan cruised past Ohio State last Tuesday. ... "It's going to be tough. No one said it's gonna be easy."
Simpson's words would ring true on Friday when then-No. 5 Michigan fell to Iowa on the road. (On Monday, John Beilein deemed it his team's "worst performance" of the season.) And they'd ring true for Michigan's rival on Saturday when then-No. 6 Michigan State fell to Indiana at home.
Indeed, at some point, those words apply to every team in the nation. It just so happens that the Wolverines and the Spartans have fallen into a rut at the same time.
Of course, every rut is relative. Michigan and Michigan State are still two of the top 10 teams in the country. And as the Spartans' Joshua Langford noted after Saturday's loss -- his team's second in a row following a 13-game win streak -- it's better to stumble now than down the road.
"Everybody thinks because we lost two games, it's the end of the world. It's not," said Langford, who won't play again this season due to a foot injury. "We still have a long season and we still have a lot to learn.
"It's good for us that this happened now rather than in March. Not saying I want to lose, but I'd rather get caught up in it now and pinpoint the things we gotta get better with."
Against Indiana, the Spartans were undone by faulty free-throw shooting and weak rebounding. Tom Izzo blamed himself for the latter, explaining he hasn't emphasized it in practice this year as much as usual for fear of his players wearing down. Expect that to change the rest of the way.
And expect both the Spartans and the Wolverines to quickly get back on track. They return to action Tuesday night, Michigan State visiting Illinois and Michigan visiting Rutgers. They're too good to struggle for long.
If the season ended today, you'd be looking at a couple two-seeds in the NCAA Tournament -- according to our latest edition of Ticket Bracketology, which we debuted last week. That represents a drop for Michigan, while Michigan State stays level. Their respective resumes are topped by few teams in the country.
Here's how the rest of the field shakes out, as assembled by our college basketball expert, Kyle Beery.
(As always, teams earning an automatic bid -- conference champions -- are denoted by their respective conference.)
EAST REGIONAL – Washington, D.C.
Columbia, SC
1. Virginia (ACC) vs. 16. Prairie View A&M (SWAC) / Norfolk State (MEAC)
8. Kansas State vs. 9. Ohio State
Hartford, Conn.
4. Purdue vs. 13. Bowling Green (MAC)
5. LSU vs. 12. Lipscomb (A-SUN)
Des Moines, Iowa
3. Marquette vs. 14. New Mexico State (WAC)
6. Baylor vs. 11. Indiana
Jacksonville, Fla.
2. Kentucky vs. 15. UC Irvine (Big West)
7. Maryland vs. 10. Arizona State
East Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Virginia (20-1, 8-1 ACC)
- The Cavaliers were our No. 1 overall seed last week. After escaping danger at NC State and then beating Miami, they're still the top of the class.
- On the rise: Baylor (15-6, 6-2 Big 12)
- The Bears have won six in a row after an 0-2 start in the Big 12. Last week they won two games by an average of 28 points and picked up a Q1 win along the way.
- Falling: LSU (17-4, 7-1 SEC)
- It wasn't a big drop, but they did fall from the protected seeds (top 4 lines) after a heartbreaker at home against Arkansas.
- Mid-Major to watch: Bowling Green (15-6, 7-1 MAC)
- The Falcons knocked off No. 18 Buffalo on Friday night, solidifying their place as the MAC's biggest threat to be a bid-stealer.
SOUTH REGIONAL – Louisville, Ky.
Columbia, S.C.
1. Tennessee (SEC) vs. 16. Sam Houston State (Southland) /Robert Morris (NEC)
8. Syracuse vs. 9. Oklahoma
San Jose, Calif.
4. Iowa State vs. 13. Princeton (Ivy)
5. Villanova (Big East) vs. 12. Hofstra (CAA)
Hartford, Conn.
3. Virginia Tech vs. 14. Old Dominion (C-USA)
6. Cincinnati vs. 11. UCF
Columbus, Ohio
2. Michigan (Big Ten) vs. 15. South Dakota State (Summit)
7. Mississippi State vs. 10. St. John's
South Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Tennessee (20-1, 8-0 SEC)
- The Vols, owners of the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games, are certainly in contention for the No. 1 overall seed. Grant Williams is a monster and he has a terrific team around him.
- On the rise: Syracuse (16-6, 7-2 ACC)
- The Orange jump up a line after winning a pair of ACC road games. Even if it's against the bottom tier, two conference road wins in one week is impressive.
- Falling: Michigan (20-2, 9-2 Big Ten)
- Again, this was not a far fall. The Wolverines suffered just their second loss of the season against a tough Iowa team and now sit as the top 2-seed with the top line still well within reach.
- Mid-Major to watch: South Dakota State (19-6, 9-1 Summit)
- If you don't know the name Mike Daum by now, where have you been? The 6-9 forward can stroke the 3 and is averaging 25 PPG.
MIDWEST REGIONAL – Kansas City, Mo.
Columbus, Ohio
1. Duke vs. 16. Rider (MAAC)
8. Washington (Pac-12) vs. 9. Texas
Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Nevada (MWC) vs. 13. Georgia State (Sun Belt)
5. Wisconsin vs. 12. Belmont (OVC)
Tulsa, Okla.
3. Kansas (Big 12) vs. 14. Radford (Big South)
6. Florida State vs. 11. Minnesota/VCU
Des Moines, Iowa
2. Michigan State vs. 15. Loyola-Chicago (MVC)
7. Auburn vs. 10. Wofford (SOCON)
Midwest Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Duke (19-2, 7-1 ACC)
- The Blue Devils have ripped off five straight since losing to Syracuse. A rematch with Virginia looms this weekend with a lot at stake.
- On the rise: Washington (18-4, 9-0 Pac-12)
- The Huskies have asserted themselves as the class of the Pac-12. Albeit a lackluster season for the conference, UW has won 11 in a row and had just two league games within single digits.
- Falling: Minnesota (16-6, 6-5 Big Ten)
- The Gophers are now in "last four in" territory, thanks to Bowling Green emerging as a potential bid stealer.
- Mid-Major to watch: Wofford (19-4, 11-0 SOCON)
- The Terriers have not lost a game outside of quadrant 1. They put up solid fights against UNC, Mississippi State and Oklahoma in the fall.
WEST REGIONAL – Anaheim, Calif.
Salt Lake City, Utah
1. Gonzaga (WCC) vs. 16. Bucknell (Patriot)
8. TCU vs. 9. NC State
San Jose, Calif.
4. Louisville vs. 13. Vermont (America East)
5. Texas Tech vs. 12. Davidson (A-10)
Tulsa, Okla.
3. Houston (American) vs. 14. Northern Kentucky (Horizon)
6. Iowa vs. 11. Alabama/Utah State
Jacksonville, Fla.
2. North Carolina vs. 15. Montana (Big Sky)
7. Buffalo vs. 10. Ole Miss
West Regional Rundown
- Top Dogs: Gonzaga (21-2, 11-0 WCC)
- The Zags are legit. They are No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom and the two losses they suffered – who we have on our top 2 lines – came without their best player in the fall.
- On the rise: Iowa (17-5, 6-5 Big Ten)
- If the Hawkeyes play like the team that delivered their best win of the season in the Michigan upset – not the team that had just lost to Minnesota – they could rise even higher.
- Falling: Buffalo (19-3, 7-2 MAC)
- Barring a complete meltdown, Nate Oats' team should still be solidly in the field if they don't get the auto-bid. Wins at West Virginia and Syracuse will stand out above others.
- Mid-Major to watch: Utah State (17-5, 7-2 MWC)
- The Aggies have crept into bubble territory, largely because of a defense that ranks top-30 at KenPom. They may need to capitalize on their lone Q1 opportunity left – a visit from Nevada – to be on the right side of the bubble.
Last 4 byes/at-large bids: UCF, Indiana, Arizona State, St. John's
Last 4 in (First Four in Dayton): Alabama, Minnesota, VCU, Utah State
First 4 out: Florida, Butler, Temple, Seton Hall
Next 4 out: Clemson, Arizona, Creighton, Nebraska
Follow our resident college basketball expert Kyle Beery on Twitter @BeeryK
