What to Look for in Michigan State vs. North Dakota State 2026 March Madness Round of 64 Matchup
This Thursday in Buffalo, New York, the Michigan State Spartans (25-7) will face the North Dakota State Bison (27-7) in the 2026 Men's March Madness Round of 64. The Spartans are on a current two-game skid, while the Bison have won four in a row and captured the Summit League Tournament Championship. NDSU is returning to the Big Dance for the first time since 2019, hungry for another upset as the Spartans look to get back to the Final Four.
Getting to Know the Bison
North Dakota State is a deadly team from deep. Four of their five starters shoot 35% or better from three. The team as a whole shoots the three at a 36.5% clip. The Bison are led by a total team effort, rather than a ball-dominating star. Although a team attack, Damari Wheeler-Thomas is the Bison's best scorer, averaging 14.4 points per game. Wheeler-Thomas is a sharp shooter who uses his quickness and athleticism to finish at the rim. The senior guard has been on a heater as of late. He won the Summer League Tournament Most Valuable Player award on the back of 18, 15, and 19-point outings.
Head Coach David Richman has a deep group, rotating nine players, and relying on heavy minutes from their sixth man, Noah Feddersen. The big man averages around 10 points a game and plays more minutes than North Dakota State's starting center. Known for dominating in the paint, Feddersen still can stroke it from deep. The Bison are a well-put-together unit that stretches the floor and features multiple players who can torch opponents on any given night.
Michigan State's Key to the Games
It is no secret that the Spartans have not played their best ball in the past few weeks. After squeaking out a Senior Night victory against Rutgers, Michigan State has dropped two games in a row. Sparty finds themselves as a popular upset pick this March. This could be a game for MSU to get back on track.
The Spartans have struggled guarding the three-point line. UCLA killed Michigan State on drive kicks in the Big Ten Tournament. The Bruins went 13 for 27 from deep and hung 88 points in their victory against the Spartans. This outing gave teams the blueprint for attacking Michigan State's great defense. Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jordan Scott need to improve quickly on their ballscreen defense. The Spartan guards will have to focus on cutting out over-help on drives, which, in turn, has left shooters open. Coach Richman is undoubtedly looking to take advantage of this. Bad perimeter defense is a recipe for disaster against a well-shooting team.
MSU will also need to control the pace of the game. The Spartans play at one of the fastest rates in the nation, coming into the tournament ranked 61st. Half-court offense has not been kind to them this year, often mucking up the Spartans' offensive flow and leading to long scoring droughts. Tom Izzo's squad is 11-1 when they score 15 or more fastbreak points. This should be the Spartans' main offensive focus. When they are out on the run, they are at their best. While the Bison are a worthy opponent, NDSU has never faced a team as fast as Michigan State. Turning this into a track meet will help Sparty take control of the game.
Thoughts
As Tom Izzo makes his 28th straight tournament appearance, he understands each game is a battle. This Round of 64 matchup will be decided behind the three-point line. The Bison are deadly from three and have multiple personnel who can hurt you from behind the arc. They are led by senior guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas, who can score from multiple levels, and have a bench that can hurt a team equally as badly. On paper, this is a great matchup for North Dakota State as the Spartans have struggled to guard the three-point line.
Michigan State has proven throughout the year that they are for real. Starting on the defensive end, the Spartans dominate the board and get out on the run. Although they have recently struggled, All-American guard Jeremy Fears Jr. is an experienced tournament player who turns up his play in big moments. This Spartan squad has no quit. It will be a tight game headed into the half. North Dakota State will find a groove from deep and put MSU in a hole early that they will have to climb out of. The Bison may even have a small lead at half. This will not last long.
Michigan State will flip the script on the sharpshooting Bison in the second half. No coach is better at halftime adjustments than Tom Izzo, especially not in high-stakes games. In the end, MSU's speed, athleticism, and strength will be too much for the opponent. Sparty will pull away in the second and find themselves cruising into the Round of 32. It is understandable why this is a popular upset pick. The Bison shoot the three well, and Michigan State has struggled guarding them. An upset is possible, but not in the cards. The Spartan roster is too talented and experienced to lose this game.
