As a result of Tuesday's loss to Purdue, Michigan State, in all likelihood, will have to go through the Boilermakers or Indiana to reach the championship game of the Big Ten tournament. Why does that matter? First, because the tournament's at Conseco Fieldhouse, a great place to watch basketball but one that will give Indiana and Purdue a decided advantage. Second, because MSU probably needs a strong showing there to get a three seed (or better yet a trip to Ford Field) in the NCAA tournament.

Check back Sunday when I make my four-weeks-from-Selection-Sunday predictions, but here's a brief synopsis of the issue. With three conference losses and trips to Indiana and Wisconsin (plus Ohio State and Illinois) remaining, the Spartans appear headed for no better than third place in the Big Ten. They still have the ability to beat most anyone in March, but they'll rightfully be seeded behind whoever wins the league. That team, Indiana or Purdue, should get a two seed in a region to be determined by the "S" curve.

MSU still could be the Big Ten's second highest seeded team. Let's assume they split with Indiana as they already have with Purdue, finish maybe a game behind the second-place team but with a better tournament profile (RPI, strength of schedule, etc.). Well, whoever wins a rubber-match on Saturday of the Big Ten tournament would likely get the nod as the league's No. 2 team. If the league champ isn't in the Midwest Region, odds are good the second seed will be.

The selection committee has a hard time taking into account games played the Sunday the bracket comes out as its work by then is mostly done. Important Saturday tilts, however, are different. For MSU, which hasn't won a conference tournament semifinal game since its national championship season of 2000, it might take a Saturday win in a hostile environment to secure a favorable seed in the dance.