Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, March 26, 2014

It?s interesting to think about the possibility of a Michigan State vs. Michigan national championship game in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The way both teams are playing and the way the bracket is set up, it?s a possibility.

Two teams from the same state meeting for the basketball national championship? It has happened just twice before, and both times it was Ohio State vs. Cincinnati (1961 and 1962).

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We have seen schools from the same conference play for the title more often. The last time it happened was in 1988, when Big Eight foes Kansas and Oklahoma met. Coached by Larry Brown, Danny Manning and the ?Miracles? led the underdog Jayhawks to the crown over Stacy King and Billy Tubbs' Sooners.

It also occurred in 1985, when Big East foes Villanova and Georgetown met. Rollie Massimino?s Wildcats played the ?perfect? game to stun Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas, shooting 78.6 percent.

Indiana and Michigan played for the crown in 1976, with Bob Knight?s Hoosiers capping the last perfect season in college hoops with a victory vs. Johnny Orr?s Wolverines to finish 32-0 with players like Scott May and Kent Benson.

Michigan is a No. 2 seed playing in the Midwest Region. It must beat No. 11 Tennessee and then play the winner of No. 4 Louisville and No. 8 Kentucky to reach the Final Four. A date with No. 1 Arizona – or maybe No. 2 Wisconsin – from the West probably would loom to get to the title game.

Michigan State is a No. 4 seed playing in the East Region. It must beat No. 1 Virginia on Friday and then play the winner of the No. 3 Iowa State and No. 7 UConn. In the Final Four, the Spartans probably would square off with No. 1 overall seed Florida from the South to reach the title game.

For what it?s worth, Michigan won two of three games between the schools this season. The Spartans took the last game, however, topping the Wolverines in the Big Ten tourney title game.

About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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