The brackets are set, and March Madness is officially here. Upsets, Cinderella stories, and buzzer-beaters are already in the air. For college basketball fans, this is the best time of the year — but it can also be brutal. Just ask Marquette Golden Eagles’ fans.

The NCAA announced the entire field for the 2025 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday night, and yes, the Marquette Golden Eagles were included. They received an at-large bid, their fourth consecutive tournament invite under head coach Shaka Smart. That’s the good news. Now, comes the bad news. A college hoops expert just outlined a nightmare scenario that could be disastrous for Marquette.

While talking about Tom Izzo, “I don’t think he beats Auburn but I think he gets close to that Final Four,” Jeff Goodman along with Rob Dauster, Terrence Oglesby, Randolph Childress candidly admitted on The Field of 68: After Dark podcast. That’s not precisely the sort of optimism Marquette fans were looking for. But it‘s not Auburn alone that stands in their way — it‘s Michigan State as well. Jeff was explicit: this may be Tom Izzo‘s year. “This is Izzo’s year to get back,” they pointed, speculating that Marquette could quite possibly be the unfortunate stepping stone on Michigan State’s path to greatness.

And the game itself? It‘s the kind of matchup March Madness nightmares are made of. Michigan State‘s size and depth prove too much for Marquette. The Spartans have “17 different big guys they can throw at” Marquette’s frontcourt — the type of physical advantage that grinds down even the most refined offenses. Michigan State also excels at delivering in March. The expert even likened them to the 2019 team that shocked Zion Williamson‘s Duke team. That‘s the type of heartbreak Marquette might be stepping into.

And what if they manage to survive Michigan State? Auburn awaits. The expert referred to it as a “coronation” for Auburn, anticipating them to ride into the Final Four. Michigan State’s physical style of play may leave Marquette bruised and exhausted before they even encounter Auburn. “It‘s not that Marquette isn‘t talented — it‘s just a brutal draw,” the expert said.

And the rest of the bracket is not rolling out quite so much red carpet. Creighton and Louisville are waiting too, so this is one of the toughest regions in the tournament. Louisville essentially gets a home game in Lexington, and Creighton just returned from a deep Big East run. Marquette‘s shooters can go cold, and they might be going home early.

Selection Sunday provided Marquette Golden Eagles with an opportunity — but in doing so presented them with perhaps the most rugged road in the tournament. In the event of the experts proving correct, fans of Marquette may need to prepare themselves for disappointment. Then again, it is March. Occasionally, there is magic whenever you are looking for it.

Marquette Golden Eagles’ Talent Still Shines Despite Setbacks

Marquette’s season has been a rollercoaster — some electrifying highs, some nasty crashes — but the talent has never wavered. A Field of 68 expert, Terrence Oglesby even conceded that while Marquette has been “reeling a little bit,” they’ve still got enough punch to make some noise in March. And quite frankly, that’s all you need at this time of the year.

The Golden Eagles burst out of the gates with something to prove, opening the game better than any Marquette team since the 2011-12 edition. That tenacious 78-74 win at Maryland indicated they could seal out close games. Then came the statement win, dominating then-No. 6 Purdue in the Bradley Center by 18 points — a victory that made the entire country sit up and take notice. And let’s not forget the 88-74 beatdown of in-state rival Wisconsin, who was ranked No. 11 at the time. Marquette wasn’t just winning — they were putting teams on notice.

Big East action began similarly. Marquette ripped off six consecutive victories — their highest conference-opening winning streak since 2008-09 — before hitting a roadblock. A tough three-game losing stretch at UConn, St. John’s, and Creighton brought their run to a screeching halt. It was Shaka Smart’s first three-game losing slide, and it laid bare some fissures.

But Marquette righted the ship. Wins against DePaul and Seton Hall had them back on course — until Villanova came out firing like they possessed a cheat code. The Wildcats connected at 80% from beyond and gave Marquette a 15-point thrashing. Again, Marquette wrapped up Big East play in strong fashion, going 13-7 and securing a first-round bye as the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.

Then there was the Big East Tournament — and that early-season toughness from the Golden Eagles. Down 14 to Xavier, they battled their way back for a gutsy two-point victory. Jones came through big-time, averaging 26 points over the weekend and making the Big East All-Tournament Team. But St. John’s brought them back to reality, steamrolling Marquette 79-63 in the semifinals.

Marquette’s season hasn’t been flawless, but they have the arsenal to make a push. They have shooters, they have depth, and they have Jones, who can take over a game when it matters. The road won’t be kind — but talent provides them with a chance. And in March, that’s all you require.