Michigan State Spartans Men 's Basketball - Wikipedia Michigan State Spartans Men 's Basketball Michigan State Spartans 2018 -- 19 Michigan State Spartans men 's basketball team University Michigan State University First season 1898 All - time record 1698 -- 1085 (. 610 ) Head coach Tom Izzo ( 24th season ) Conference Big Ten Location East Lansing, Michigan Arena Breslin Center ( Capacity : 15,000 ) Nickname Spartans Student section Izzone Colors Green and White NCAA Tournament champions 1979, 2000 NCAA Tournament runner - up 2009 NCAA Tournament Final Four 1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight 1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen 1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 NCAA Tournament appearances 1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Conference tournament champions 1999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016 Conference regular season champions 1957, 1959, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018 The Michigan State Spartans men 's basketball team represents Michigan State University ( MSU ) and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I College basketball. Their home games are played at the Breslin Student Events Center. Tom Izzo has been the head coach since 1995. The Spartans have won two NCAA championships and 14 Big Ten Conference Championships. Their two National Championships came in the 1979 NCAA Tournament and the 2000 NCAA Tournament. The 1979 National Championship Game was the most watched college basketball game in history, with 35.11 million television viewers. The 1979 National Championship team was coached by Jud Heathcote and included tournament MVP Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser and Jay Vincent. The Spartans defeated the previously unbeaten Indiana State Sycamores, led by future Hall of Famer Larry Bird. The 2000 National Championship team defeated the Florida Gators in the final. The team was coached by Tom Izzo and led by players Morris Peterson, Charlie Bell, Jason Richardson and tournament MVP Mateen Cleaves. The Spartans have participated in 32 NCAA tournaments and in 21 consecutive NCAA tournaments ( 1998 -- 2018 ), the fifth - longest streak ever and third - longest active streak in college basketball, behind Kansas ( 28 ) and Duke ( 22 ). Michigan State has the seventh most all - time Final Four appearances with nine ( 1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2015 ). The program is also ninth all - time in NCAA tournament winning percentage (. 677, through 2018 ). Contents 1 Team history 1.1 1898 -- 1950 : Early Years 1.2 1950 -- 1954 : Pete Newell 1.3 1954 -- 1965 : Forrest `` Forddy '' Anderson 1.4 1965 -- 1969 : John Benington 1.5 1969 -- 1976 : Gus Ganakas 1.6 1976 -- 1995 : Jud Heathcote era 1.7 1995 -- present : Tom Izzo era 2 Coaches 2.1 Jud Heathcote 2.2 Tom Izzo 3 Season by season results 4 Postseason history 4.1 NCAA Tournament 4.1. 1 National championships 4.1. 2 Complete NCAA Tournament results 4.1. 3 NCAA Tournament history and seeds 4.2 NIT results 4.3 Big Ten regular - season championships 4.4 Big Ten Tournament championships 5 Record vs. Big Ten opponents 6 Spartans of Note 6.1 Retired numbers 6.2 National Player of the Year 6.3 Final Four Most Outstanding Player 6.4 Big Ten Player of the Year 6.5 Big Ten Coach of the Year 6.6 Big Ten Freshman of the Year 6.7 Defensive Player of the Year 6.8 Spartans in the NBA 6.8. 1 Draft history 7 Uniforms 8 Facilities 8.1 Demonstration Hall 8.2 Jenison Fieldhouse 8.3 Breslin Center 9 References 10 External links Team history 1898 -- 1950 : early years The first established coach for Michigan Agricultural College ( MSU 's name at the time ), Charles Bemies was also the first athletic director in school history, while also coaching the football, baseball, and track teams. His two - year stint as basketball head coach ended in 1901. MAC 's second basketball coach was George Denman. Denman is the only basketball coach to go undefeated during his tenure, posting an 11 -- 0 mark during his two seasons. His team still holds the record for largest margin of victory with a 102 -- 3 defeat of Alma College in 1902. MAC 's first full - time athletic director and one of the Spartans ' most successful coaches, Chester Brewer led the football, basketball, and baseball squads to winning records. He holds the highest winning percentage of any Spartan basketball coach with at least four seasons at. 736 ( 70 -- 25 ). His team also defeated Michigan in the schools ' first meeting in 1909. George Gauthier was the first alumnus to lead a Michigan State basketball squad. He compiled a career record of 41 -- 38 over four seasons. Gauthier left after 29 games in 1919 -- 20, posting a 15 -- 14 record. Lyman Frimodig coached the final seven games of the season, going 6 -- 1. He would also serve as head coach for the next two seasons. He remained active in the athletic department after his stint as basketball coach, serving Michigan State for 41 years as assistant athletic director and business manager Benjamin Van Alstyne coached MSU for 22 years from 1926 -- 1949. He is third in career victories with 231. Van Alstyne coached MSU 's first All - American, Roger Grove, in 1930. Some of his greatest victories included a 27 -- 26 victory over Michigan in 1930 at the dedication of Demonstration Hall, and a 66 -- 50 upset over Kentucky in 1945 that was named `` CocaCola Upset of the Week. '' His 47 -- 45 loss to Kentucky in 1948 set the record for the largest crowd in Jenison Field House history. In one season under Alton Kircher, the Spartans finished 4 -- 18. Following the conclusion of the 1950 season, the Spartans would join the Big Ten Conference. 1950 -- 1954 : Pete Newell Pete Newell was hired from San Francisco following a successful four years with the Dons where he went 70 -- 37 and won the 1949 NIT. His 1951 -- 52 squad was the first ranked Spartan team and also registered a win over No. 14 Notre Dame, the first win over a ranked opponent in school history. One of his biggest wins was a 1952 defeat of No. 2 - ranked Kansas State. After four seasons, California hired Newell as its head coach and MSU had to search for another coach. Newell is often considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of basketball. 1954 -- 1965 : forrest `` Forddy '' Anderson Forrest `` Forddy '' Anderson was hired away from Bradley following a trip to the 1954 Final Four with the Braves. His Bradley team had also made it to the 1950 championship game. Two years after taking over the Spartans, in 1957, he led MSU to its first Big Ten Championship. After opening the season with a 4 -- 7 record, the Spartans won 10 in a row and 12 - of - 13 to capture their first league title and advance to the school 's first NCAA Tournament. A bye in the first round of the Tournament preceded wins over Notre Dame and Kentucky to earn a trip to the Final Four. A loss to North Carolina in the Final Four left MSU in the National Third Place Game where they lost to San Francisco. Two years later, led by All - American Johnny Green, the Spartans cruised to a Big Ten Championship, winning the league by four games. A win over Marquette in the 1959 NCAA Tournament put MSU in the Mideast regional finals against Kentucky. The Spartans lost and fell one game short of another trip to the Final Four. Following his initial successes in East Lansing, his Spartan teams only finished with a winning record one time after 1959. He was fired following the 1964 -- 65 season. 1965 -- 1969 : john Benington John Benington, who had been an assistant to Anderson at Bradley before joining his staff at MSU, took over as head coach, and led MSU to a second - place Big Ten finish in his first season at the helm. The next season, he led the Spartans to a shared Big Ten title, but Indiana received the NCAA Tournament bid ( at that time, only one Big Ten team received an NCAA bid ). After four seasons leading the Spartans, he died of a heart attack after jogging at Jenison Fieldhouse in the summer of 1969 at the age of 47. 1969 -- 1976 : gus Ganakas Gus Ganakas, who served as an MSU basketball radio announcer until 2017, was an assistant under Benington and hired to take over following coach Benington 's death. In 1966 -- 67, MSU won its last four games to claim a share of the Big Ten Championship. Indiana, however, earned the NCAA Tournament bid ending MSU 's year in the regular season. His most successful seasons were in 1973 -- 74 with a fourth - place Big Ten finish and 1974 -- 75 with a 17 -- 9 overall record, the second - highest victory total at the time. His coaching career came to an end in 1976, but he continued to be a part of the Michigan State Athletics Department, serving as an assistant A.D. and then as an aide to coach Tom Izzo. 1976 -- 1995 : Jud Heathcote era Jud Heathcote was hired to take over as coach in 1976 from Montana by athletic director Joseph Kearney in May 1976, after coaching the Grizzlies for five years. Heathcote had led the Grizzlies to two Big Sky championships and the 1975 NCAA Tournament, the Grizzlies first ever trip to the Tournament. He finished his tenure at Montana with an 80 -- 53 record. As a virtual unknown, Heathcote came to East Lansing looking to return MSU to greatness. In his second year, he landed one of the game 's all - time greats, Earvin `` Magic '' Johnson, from nearby Lansing Everett High School, as a recruit. The 1977 -- 78 Spartans won the Big Ten title, their first since 1967, qualified for the NCAA tournament for only the third time in school history, and advanced to the Elite Eight. They were led by Johnson and Greg Kelser. In 1979, the duo led the Spartans to a second consecutive Big Ten title and the NCAA National Championship. The NCAA championship marked the school 's first in basketball. Following the championship, Johnson left school to join the NBA and Kelser graduated. The result was a ninth place finish in the Big Ten the next year and struggles thereafter. MSU returned to postseason play in 1983, finishing with a 17 -- 13 record and receiving an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament. Following the expansion of the NCAA Tournament to 64 teams in 1985, Heathcote returned the Spartans, led by the future MSU all - time scoring leader, Scott Skiles, to the Tournament with a fifth - place finish in the Big Ten. MSU again reached the NCAA Tournament the following year after finishing third in the Big Ten with a 23 -- 8 record. Led by Skiles and Darryl Johnson, they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing. Heathcote returned MSU to postseason play in 1989, led by Steve Smith, losing the third place game of the NIT. Smith returned the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament in 1990 as a No. 1 seed. The Spartans narrowly avoided losing to No. 16 - seeded Murray State, needing overtime to advance to the Second Round. They again narrowly advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Georgia Tech in overtime. The Spartans again made an appearance in the 1991 NCAA Tournament. The Spartans finished in third place in Big Ten play and received an at - large bid as a No. 5 seed to the Tournament where they beat Green Bay on a buzzer beater by Steve Smith. In the Second Round, they lost to No. 10 Utah in double overtime. The Spartans returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, marking three straight years in the NCAA Tournament, an MSU record at that time. Another third - place finish in Big Ten play resulted in an at - large bid as a No. 5 seed to the NCAA Tournament. There they beat Missouri State before losing to Cincinnati in the Second Round in a rematch of an earlier Spartan win. A trip to the NIT in 1993 broke the streak, but Heathcote again led MSU to the NCAA Tournament in 1994. A fourth - place finish the Big Ten led to an at - large bid to the Tournament as a No. 7 seed. Led by Shawn Respert, they beat Seton Hall in the First Round before losing to second - seeded Duke in the Second Round. In his final year at MSU in 1995, Heathcote returned the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years. A second - place finish in Big Ten play resulted in an at - large bid to the Tournament as a No. 3 seed where they were surprised by No. 14th - seeded Weber State in the First Round. The game marked the final game of All - American Shawn Respert 's career at MSU. Heathcote stepped down in 1995 after 19 seasons at Michigan State. He finished with nine NCAA appearances, three Big Ten championships and three NIT appearances. He hand - picked his successor, Tom Izzo. `` I had to orchestrate the hiring of Tom through ( trustees ) Bob Weiss and Joel Ferguson and the president ( Peter McPherson ) because most people wanted to open it up and see who would apply. And then some wanted a black coach, '' Heathcote said in 2014. `` But I felt Tom deserved the job because he 'd been there 12 years, and he 'd gotten better in the job every single year. Tom was a tireless worker and had a passion for the game. So that combination, in my mind, I knew he was going to be a good coach. '' In 2001, the National Association of Basketball Coaches awarded him with the Golden Anniversary Award for 50 years of service to college basketball. Also, in 2001, he was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2009, Heathcote was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. 1995 -- Present : Tom Izzo era In his first year as head coach after 11 years as an assistant coach, Michigan State struggled after losing All - American Shawn Respert. The Spartans finished the season at. 500 ( 16 -- 16, 9 -- 9 ) and in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten. MSU received an invitation to the NIT where they defeated Washington before losing to Fresno State in the second round. The season marked the last time MSU would not finish with a winning record. In 1997, the Spartans welcomed new recruits Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson to East Lansing. Along with sophomore Antonio Smith, the three made up three - fourths of Izzo 's `` Flintstones '' who would win the National Championship in 2000 ( without Smith ). In what would be a rarity for MSU in Izzo 's tenure, the Spartans played no ranked teams in the non-conference season. The Spartans finished in a tie for sixth place in the conference with a record of 16 -- 11 overall and 9 -- 9 in conference. They received an invitation to the NIT for the second consecutive year. MSU beat George Washington in the first round and lost in the second round to Florida State. As of 2017, this is the last year MSU failed to make the NCAA Tournament. In 1998, MSU welcomed freshman recruit Charlie Bell, the fourth of Izzo 's `` Flintstones '' and started slow. They lost to No. 7 Temple, and suffered surprising losses to UIC and Detroit in non-conference. However, MSU would win nine of their first 10 conference games before losing to eventual conference co-champion Illinois. In January, MSU entered the AP and Coaches rankings for the first time since the end of the 1994 -- 95 season. The Spartans finished in a tie for the conference championship, their first since 1990, with a record of 13 -- 3 in conference play. The Spartans earned the No. 1 seed in the inaugural Big Ten Tournament, but lost their first game in the quarterfinals to Minnesota. Izzo 's team received an at - large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed in the East Region, their first trip to the Tournament since 1995. MSU advanced to their first Sweet Sixteen since 1990 by beating Eastern Michigan and No. 8 Princeton. The Spartans were eliminated from the Tournament by No. 1 North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen. As of 2017, no MSU team has failed to make the NCAA tournament, a streak which began with the 1997 -- 98 team. As the 1998 -- 99 season began, Izzo began his willingness to play anyone anywhere mantra as the Spartans played three top seven teams in their first seven games. However, MSU lost all three. MSU would recover and, after losing their first Big Ten game to No. 24 Wisconsin, the Spartans won the remaining 15 games in conference and won the Big Ten conference regular season by six games with a record of 15 -- 1, their second consecutive Big Ten title. The Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament and earned the conference 's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and ranked No. 2 in the country, MSU defeated Mount St. Mary 's, and Mississippi to advance to their second straight Sweet Sixteen. A win over Oklahoma and Kentucky led MSU to the Final Four for the first time since 1978. However, MSU fell short in their bid for an NCAA championship, losing to Duke in the Final Four. In 1999 -- 2000. Seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson led the way for the Spartans as they began the season ranked No. 3 in the country. However, Cleaves sustained a stress fracture in his right foot prior to the season which forced him to miss the non-conference schedule and MSU fell to 9 -- 4 and ranked No. 11 in the country. After Cleaves ' return, MSU finished the Big Ten regular season with a 13 -- 3 conference record and 23 -- 7 overall while being ranked No. 2 in the country and earned a share of the Big Ten title, their third consecutive Big Ten championship. The Spartans went on to win the third annual Big Ten Tournament as the No. 2 seed, defeating No. 25 Illinois for the championship for the second consecutive year. The Spartans were awarded the No. 1 seed, their second consecutive No. 1 seed, in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. From there, the Spartans cruised to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen with wins over Valparaiso, and Utah. MSU continued their National Championship push by reaching their second consecutive Final Four with wins over Syracuse and Iowa State. MSU won every game by double digits despite playing the best possible seed in each round. In their Final Four matchup, Michigan State faced off against fellow Big Ten foe, Wisconsin, beating them in a hard fought game, 53 -- 41. In the National Championship game, the Spartans triumphed over the Florida 89 -- 76, despite losing Cleaves to an ankle injury 3 : 42 into the second half. The win marked MSU 's second National Championship in basketball and Izzo 's first and only championship to date. Losing both Cleaves and Peterson to graduation following the season, MSU still began the 2000 -- 01 season ranked No. 3 in the country. Led by sophomore Jason Richardson, freshmen Zach Randolph, and seniors Charlie Bell and Andre Hutson, the Spartans finished the non-conference schedule undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. MSU again earned a share the Big Ten title, their fourth consecutive, with a 13 -- 3 conference record. They suffered a surprise defeat by Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament in their attempt to win the tournament for the third consecutive year. They received their third consecutive No. 1 seed, in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. Seeking a repeat National Championship, MSU easily dispatched Alabama State and Fresno State to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive year. A win over Gonzaga and Temple led to the school 's third straight trip to the Final Four. However, they were unable to repeat as National Champions, losing to Arizona in the National Semifinal. Following the season, Randolph and Richardson each left school early and declared for the NBA Draft. As a result of Randolph and Richardson 's early departure, MSU struggled with Izzo 's tough non-conference schedule. The Spartans lost four games, all to teams ranked in the top 25 and started the Big ten season with three straight losses. The loss to Wisconsin snapped MSU 's 53 - game home winning streak. Michigan State finished the conference schedule at 10 -- 6 and in fourth place with an overall record of 19 -- 10. MSU lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to No. 23 Indiana marking the first time since 1997 that Michigan State did not win either the Big Ten regular season or tournament title. The Spartans received an at - large bid as a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were eliminated in the First Round by NC State. Following the disappointment of an early NCAA Tournament exit, the first time Izzo 's squads had not won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament, the 2002 -- 03 team played another tough non-conference schedule. This time the Spartans faced three ranked teams, only losing one. However, they suffered four losses and finished the non-conference schedule at 8 -- 4 and ranked No. 25 in the country. MSU began the Big Ten regular season losing four of their first six games and fell out of the rankings. The Spartans finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten at 10 -- 6 in conference and 18 -- 11 overall. Michigan State beat Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, but fell to Ohio State in the semifinals. The Spartans received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive year. MSU received a No. 7 seed in the South Region. A win over Colorado in the First Round was followed by a rout of No. 10 Florida to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in six years. The Spartans defeated No. 17 Maryland to advance to the Elite Eight for the fourth time in five years. However, MSU fell to No. 5 Texas in the Regional Final. In 2004, Izzo looked to continue his dominant NCAA run. However, Izzo 's penchant for touch scheduling hurt his team as they faced a murderer 's row of a schedule which included three straight losses to No. 6 Duke, in overtime, to No. 14 Oklahoma at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and to No. 8 Kentucky at Ford Field in the Basketbowl. The Spartans followed this losing streak by losing two of their final four non-conference games including at No. 17 Syracuse and dropped out of the rankings. They finished the non-conference slate at 5 -- 6. After a loss to open Big Ten play to No. 21 Wisconsin, the Spartans recovered to win seven of their next eight and six of their last seven Big Ten games. They finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten at 12 -- 4 and 17 -- 10 overall. A win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals was followed by a third loss of the season to No. 17 Wisconsin. The Spartans received a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the tournament for the seventh consecutive year. But, for the second time in three years, the Spartans were knocked out in the First Round, this time by Nevada. In 2005, the Spartans again looked to rebound from a disappointing early NCAA Tournament exit. They started the season 3 -- 2, but cruised through the Big Ten, only losing three games, including a loss to No. 1 Illinois and finished second in conference to Illinois. MSU finished the regular season with a 13 -- 3 conference record and 22 -- 5 overall while being ranked No. 13 in the country. The Spartans lost in the quarterfinals in the Big Ten Tournament to Iowa. Michigan State received an at - large bid as a No. 5 seed in the Austin Regional of the NCAA Tournament, their eighth straight appearance in the Tournament under Tom Izzo. Wins over Old Dominion and Vermont led the Spartans to the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth time in eight years. In the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans beat No. 3 - ranked and No. 1 - seeded Duke, which MSU had not defeated since 1958. The win marked Izzo 's first and only win over Duke 's Mike Krzyzewski ( as of 2017 ). A double overtime victory over Kentucky sent the Spartans to their fourth Final Four in seven seasons. MSU would again fall in the Final Four, this time to No. 2 - ranked and No. 1 - seeded North Carolina. The 2005 -- 06 Spartans opened the season with a loss to Hawaii before losing to No. 8 Gonzaga led by Adam Morrison in triple overtime in the Maui Classic. Despite this, MSU ended the non-conference schedule at 12 -- 2 and ranked No. 7 in the country. Early Big Ten losses followed by late season losses in conference left the Spartans 8 -- 8 in the Big Ten. In the Big Ten Tournament, MSU defeated Purdue and No. 9 Illinois before being defeated by No. 20 Iowa in the semifinals. The Spartans received an at - large bid as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their ninth consecutive trip to the Tournament. In the Tournament, they lost to eventual Final Four Cinderella, George Mason, in the First Round. Following the season, Shannon Brown declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the Spartans one year prior to graduation, just the fourth player under Izzo to declare early. The 2006 -- 07 Spartans began the season 13 -- 2, but were not ranked in the polls. A roller coaster Big Ten season resulted in MSU finishing 8 -- 8 with a win against No. 1 Wisconsin which likely assured the Spartans a trip to the NCAA Tournament. MSU lost to Wisconsin after beating Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans received an at - large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive year and beat Marquette, coached by former Izzo assistant Tom Crean, in the First Round of the Tournament. A loss to No. 3 North Carolina in the Second Round ended the season. In 2008, MSU finished the non-conference schedule 12 -- 1 and ranked No. 6 in the country with wins over No. 24 NC State, No. 20 BYU, and No. 4 Texas. A hot start to the Big Ten schedule, winning six of seven, was followed by four losses in their next seven which left them in fourth place in the Big Ten with a record of 12 -- 6. As the No. 4 seed tn the Big Ten Tournament, they beat Ohio State before losing to No. 8 Wisconsin. The Spartans received an at - large bid to the NCAA Tournament to mark their 11th consecutive trip to the Tournament under Tom Izzo. As a No. 5 seed, the Spartans beat Temple, and Pittsburgh to move on to the Sweet Sixteen for the seventh time in 11 years. A rout by a Derrick Rose - led Memphis ended the season. By the beginning of the 2008 -- 09 season, Izzo 's teams, though having great success in the NCAA Tournament, had not won the Big Ten regular season title since 2001. A solid non-conference start left them at 9 -- 2 and were ranked No. 10 in the country. MSU routed the Big Ten, winning their first five conference games, their best start in conference since 1978. MSU finished the conference season well, winning the Big Ten championship by four games with a 15 -- 3 record, 25 -- 5 overall, and ranked No. 7 in the country. Following the conclusion of the regular season, Kalin Lucas was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Tom Izzo was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year. As the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans defeated Minnesota. However, Michigan State 's hopes for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament likely vanished as they were defeated by Ohio State, 82 -- 70. Michigan State received an at - large bid as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament, their 12th straight appearance in the Tournament. With wins over Robert Morris and USC, the Spartans were able to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, the school 's eighth trip to the Sweet Sixteen in the previous 12 years. MSU advanced to the Elite Eight with a win over No. 14 - ranked and No. 3 - seeded Kansas. In the Elite Eight, the Spartans defeated Louisville to advance to Final Four in nearby Detroit, only 90 miles from MSU 's campus. The Spartans defeated UConn in the national semifinals to earn their third - ever trip to the National Championship game. With Izzo 1 -- 0 in championship games and the Spartans 2 -- 0 all - time, North Carolina scored more points than any team had ever scored in the first half of an NCAA championship game, scoring 55 and blowing out the Spartans 89 -- 72, marking the Spartans first ever loss in the National Championship game. In 2010, the Spartans finished the non-conference schedule at 10 -- 3. The Spartans began the Big Ten season on fire, winning their first nine games and went on to earn a share of the Big Ten championship with a 14 -- 4 and ranked 11th in the country. As the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they were defeated in overtime by No. 6 seed Minnesota in the quarterfinals. The Spartans received an at - large bid to the NCAA Tournament, their 13th straight appearance, earning a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. A win over New Mexico State and Maryland led MSU to the Sweet Sixteen for the ninth time in 13 years. However, Kalin Lucas suffered a serious knee injury and would miss the remainder of the Tournament. MSU did not seem to miss him and would go on to beat Northern Iowa and Tennessee to advance to their second consecutive Final Four and sixth in the prior 12 years. In the National semifinal, they were defeated by Butler by two points. The 2010 -- 11 Spartans finished the non-conference portion of their season 8 -- 4 and ranked No. 20 in the country. However, the Spartans were inconsistent in conference play, suffering nine losses and finishing 9 -- 9 in conference and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. After beating Iowa and blowing out No. 9 Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans fell to Penn State in the semifinals. The blowout win over Purdue likely ensured the Spartans inclusion in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State received a No. 10 seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA Tournament, their 14th straight appearance, but the lowest seeding the Spartans had received in the NCAA Tournament since 2002. MSU fell behind early to UCLA in the Second Round ( formerly known as the First Round ) and made a furious rally, but fell short, losing by two points. The loss marked only the fourth time MSU failed to win a game in their 14 trips to the NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo. The 2011 -- 12 Spartans, led by senior Draymond Green, started the season 0 -- 2. However, MSU won the next 15 games in a row to jump into the top ten in the polls. A loss in the regular season finale at home to No. 10 Ohio State meant the Spartans would share the Big Ten regular season championship with Ohio State and Michigan, all of which finished the Big Ten season with a 13 -- 5 conference record. In that loss to Ohio State, key freshman reserve, Branden Dawson, tore his ACL, ending his season. As the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, The Spartans beat Iowa, No. 14 Wisconsin, and No. 7 Ohio State to win the Tournament championship, their first Tournament championship since 2000. Draymond Green earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, the fifth time a player had done so under Tom Izzo. Izzo was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year. MSU received a No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, where they beat LIU -- Brooklyn in the First Round behind Green 's triple - double. The Spartans overcame Saint Louis in the Second Round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. This marked the 10th time in 15 seasons that the Spartans advanced to at least the Sweet Sixteen. The Spartans, missing Dawson and struggling offensively, became the first No. 1 seed to lose in the Tournament, falling to No. 17 and No. 4 - seeded Louisville. MSU began the 2012 -- 13 season 11 -- 2 and ranked No. 18 in the country. The Spartans remained ranked the entire year while finishing tied for second in the Big Ten with Ohio State, with a 13 -- 5 conference record and ranked No. 10 in the country. As the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they beat Iowa in the quarterfinals, but fell to eventual tournament champion, Ohio State, in the semifinals. The Spartans received a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their 16th straight appearance in the tournament. MSU defeated Valparaiso and Memphis to advance to their fifth Sweet Sixteen in six years and their 11th trip in 16 years. However, the Spartans were defeated by Duke, who was led by Seth Curry, in the Sweet Sixteen. Michigan State began the 2013 -- 14 season looking to continue Tom Izzo 's Final Four streak : every player who had played four years for Izzo had made at least one Final Four. After beating No. 1 Kentucky in the Champions Classic, the Spartans moved to the No. 1 spot in the country. The Spartans held the No. 1 spot for three weeks before losing to North Carolina in the ACC - Big Ten Challenge. The Spartans cruised through the remaining non-conference schedule, finishing 11 -- 1, to begin the Big Ten season ranked No. 5 in the country. The Spartans won their first seven conference games, but due to injuries to Keith Appling, Adriean Payne, and Brendan Dawson, MSU lost five of their last eight conference games to finish in a second - place tie with Wisconsin at 12 -- 6. The Spartans, finally healthy and at full strength, beat Northwestern, No. 12 Wisconsin, and No. 8 Michigan to capture the Big Ten Tournament championship. This marked Michigan State 's fourth tournament championship. Michigan State earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament 's East Region. With wins against Delaware and Harvard, they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year and the 12th time in 17 years. They defeated No. 1 - seeded Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010. There they fell to No. 7 seed and eventual National Champion, Connecticut. With the loss, the Tom Izzo 's Final Four streak ended. Shortly after the season, Gary Harris declared for the NBA Draft. In 2015, MSU started the season well, but with a shocking loss to Texas Southern at home in overtime, finished the non-conference season at 9 -- 4 MSU rallied late in the Big Ten season, winning six of their last eight conference games. MSU finished the season in a tie for third place in conference and got hot in the Big Ten Tournament beating Ohio State and No. 8 Maryland, before losing to No. 6 Wisconsin for the tournament title. The Spartans received an at - large bid in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed in the East Region. The bid was MSU 's 18th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. MSU beat Georgia in the Second Round and surprised No. 2 - seeded and No. 6 - ranked Virginia in the Third Round. With the win, the Spartans advanced to their fourth straight Sweet Sixteen and seventh Sweet Sixteen in eight years. Wins over Oklahoma and Louisville in overtime gave MSU a trip to their seventh Final Four under Tom Izzo. In the Final Four, the Spartans fell to the eventual National Champions for the second straight season, losing a rematch of their Champions Classic game to Duke in the National semifinal. With senior Denzel Valentine leading the 2015 -- 16 Spartans, MSU went undefeated in the non-conference with the school 's best start in history and moved to No. 1 in the polls. However, Valentine suffered a knee injury in late December and would miss four games as MSU lost its first game of the season in Big Ten play and fell from the top spot in the polls. Upon Valentine 's return, MSU continued to struggle, losing four of their first seven conference games and marking their worst conference start since 2003. The Spartans recovered well, losing only one more conference game and finished 13 -- 5 in conference, good enough for second place in the Big Ten. MSU 's 26 regular season wins tied the most for a Michigan State team in the regular season. Following the regular season, USA Today named Valentine National Player of the Year. The Big Ten also announced that Valentine was the Big Ten 's Player of the Year. As the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, MSU defeated Ohio State for a third time on the season before dispatching Maryland and Purdue to win the Tournament championship. With the win, MSU set the record for most Big Ten Tournament championships with five ( Ohio State has also won five, but one has been vacated due to NCAA violations ). MSU, ranked No. 2 in the country, learned that it would not receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, instead receiving a No. 2 seed in the Midwest bracket. This marked the 19th consecutive year the Spartans made the NCAA Tournament. Despite receiving the No. 2 seed, MSU was considered by some the favorite to with the NCAA Championship. However, MSU was shocked by No. 15 - seeded Middle Tennessee in the first round in what some argue was the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history. The 2016 -- 17 Spartans were decimated by departures from the prior year as seniors Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, and Matt Costello all graduated and moved to the NBA. Freshman Deyonta Davis also declared his eligibility for the NBA after the year and sophomores Javon Bess and Marvin Clark transferred out of the program. In all, five of the Spartans ' top six scorers from 2015 -- 16 did not return. In response, MSU welcomed their most - heralded recruiting class ever as four top - 50 ranked players entered the program : Miles Bridges, Joshua Langford, Cassius Winston, and Nick Ward. A young team would look to graduate transfer Ben Carter and seniors Gavin Schilling and Eron Harris to fill the holes left by departing players. However, Carter and Schilling suffered season - ending knee injuries before the season began and Harris would suffer one late in the season. As a result, MSU struggled up front as Ward at 6 ' 8 '' was the tallest on the team. Former walk - on Kenny Goins became the backup big man at 6 ' 6 ``. Following losses in their first two games to top - 10 teams, MSU suffered two other losses to top - 20 teams. Bridges missed seven games with a knee injury near the end of the non-conference slate and the Spartans, who started the season ranked as high as 10 in some polls, entered Big Ten play with an 8 -- 5 record. Izzo would lament his early - season schedule which involved trips to Hawaii, New York, and the Bahamas when his young team would n't get needed practice time. Wins to start conference play over Minnesota ( twice ) and Northwestern, which would prove to be two of their better wins on the season, and Bridges 's return had MSU at 4 -- 1 in conference play. However, inconsistency haunted the Spartans as their failure to win road games left the Spartans at 8 -- 5 in conference play with a visit to conference leaders, Purdue. MSU was handled easily by the Boilermakers and Harris suffered his knee injury which appeared to spell the end of MSU 's 19 - year NCAA Tournament streak. However, Bridges, who averaged over 16 points and eight rebounds on the season, and Ward who averaged over 13 points and six rebounds, led the Spartans, they knocked off ranked Wisconsin to seal a trip to the NCAA Tournament. A 10 -- 8 conference record left the Spartans in a tie for fifth place. A win over Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament preceded a loss to Minnesota, but was enough for the Spartans to get an at - large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 20th consecutive year. As a No. 9 seed, a win over Miami in the first round led to a loss to No. 1 - seeded Kansas and an end to the season. Bridges finished the season with perhaps the second - best freshman season in MSU history ( behind Magic Johnson ) : 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. Surprisingly, Bridges opted to not enter the NBA Draft and returned to Michigan State for his sophomore year in 2017 -- 18. With newcomer Jaren Jackson Jr., a consensus top - 25 player, joining the team, the Spartans were picked by several publications as the No. 1 team in the country. They began the season ranked No. 2 behind Duke. After a loss to Duke in the second game of the season, the Spartans won the Victory Bracket of the PK -- 80 Tournament holding No. 9 - ranked North Carolina to a school - record low for shooting percentage as they shot 24.6 % from the field, including 5.6 % from three - point land. The Spartans won 14 straight games, mostly against over-matched non-conference foes, and ascended to No. 1 in the country. A road loss to surprise Big Ten contender Ohio State followed by a home loss to rival Michigan dropped MSU in the rankings and shook the team 's confidence. However, the team rebounded well, finishing the season by winning their last 12 regular season games, including a win over Big Ten co-leader Purdue as Bridges took the ball and hit a three - pointer to win the game. On February 17, 2018 while playing at Northwestern, the Spartans overcame a 27 - point deficit to beat the Wildcats, at that time, the fifth largest comeback all - time in Division I history. The Spartans finished with a school - record 16 Big Ten wins and their first outright regular season Big Ten title since 2009. The team also finished 28 -- 3, a record for regular season wins. The Spartans fell again to their rival Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and received only a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament due to their low strength of schedule. The NCAA trip marked the school 's 21st consecutive trip to the Tournament, but following a win in the First Round over Bucknell, the Spartans fell to 11th - seeded Syracuse marking the third consecutive year and first time under Izzo that the Spartans had failed to reach the Sweet Sixteen in a three - year period. The Spartans led the nation in field goal defense, rebounding margin, and blocks. Freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. set the single - season MSU record for blocks and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Bridges was named first - team All - Big Ten and second team All - American. For much of the season, the on - court play was shrouded by reports that surfaced during the time of the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal that Tom Izzo 's program had covered up sexual assault allegations ten years prior. Izzo refused to comment on the reports due to an ongoing investigation by several agencies including Michigan Attorney General 's office and the United States Education Department., but repeatedly said he had no intention of leaving Michigan State and they he cooperated with all investigations including the previous allegation of sexual assault in 2010. The school was also implicated tangentially to the FBI - college basketball scandal as reports surfaced that Bridges had been paid to attend Michigan State, among other allegations. MSU conducted an investigation and presented their findings that the allegations were false to the NCAA, who cleared Bridges, ruling him eligible to play. Coaches Three Michigan State coaches have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. They are Pete Newell ( National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2006 ), Jud Heathcote ( National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2009 ), and Tom Izzo ( Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2016 ). Since 1976, the Spartans have had only two head basketball coaches, Heathcote and Izzo. Heathcote ( 1976 -- 1995 ) coached the Spartans for 19 seasons before retiring following the 1994 -- 95 season. His hand - picked successor, Izzo, an assistant with MSU since 1983, completed 23rd year as head coach of the Spartans in 2018. On November 28, 2009, Izzo passed Heathcote 's mark of 340 career wins by beating UMass 106 -- 68. Izzo now leads all MSU basketball coaches in wins with 574 through 2018. Izzo is second all time in Big Ten wins ( 272 through 2018 ), trailing only Bob Knight. Of all MSU coaches who have headed the Spartans basketball squad in at least a dozen games, Izzo is second in winning percentage and no MSU coach tops him since 1910. Former coach George E. Denman won all 11 games he coached between 1901 and 1903 and Chester L. Brewer won 70 of 95 games from 1903 to 1910. Name Years Overall Record Conference Record Note None established 1898 -- 99 0 -- 2 (. 000 ) Charles Bemies 1899 -- 1901 5 -- 2 (. 714 ) Michigan State 's first basketball coach George Denman 1901 -- 03 11 -- 0 ( 1.000 ) Michigan State 's only undefeated basketball coach. Chester Brewer 1903 -- 10 70 -- 25 (. 737 ) John Macklin 1910 -- 16 48 -- 38 (. 558 ) George Gauthier 1916 -- 20 47 -- 39 (. 547 ) Lyman Frimodig 1920 -- 22 24 -- 20 (. 545 ) Fred Walker 1922 -- 24 20 -- 19 (. 513 ) John Kobs 1924 -- 26 11 -- 26 (. 297 ) Benjamin Van Alstyne 1926 -- 49 231 -- 163 (. 586 ) Avg. final score increased from 28 to 46 during his tenure Alton Kircher 1949 -- 50 4 -- 18 (. 182 ) Pete Newell 1950 -- 54 45 -- 42 (. 517 ) 26 -- 34 (. 433 ) Went on to win the 1959 NCAA tournament as head coach at California ; coached the U.S. to the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics Forddy Anderson 1954 -- 65 125 -- 124 (. 502 ) 69 -- 85 (. 448 ) Guided Michigan State to its first Final Four and NCAA appearance in 1957 ; 2 NCAA appearances ; 2 Conference Championships John Benington 1965 -- 69 54 -- 38 (. 587 ) 32 -- 24 (. 571 ) Conference Championship in 1967 Gus Ganakas 1969 -- 76 89 -- 84 (. 514 ) 49 -- 57 (. 462 ) Jud Heathcote 1976 -- 95 340 -- 220 (. 607 ) 178 -- 164 (. 520 ) 1979 NCAA Champions ; 9 NCAA Appearances ; 3 Conference Championships Tom Izzo 1995 -- Present 574 -- 225 (. 718 ) 272 -- 122 (. 690 ) 2000 NCAA Champions, 2009 National Runner - up, 7 Final Four appearances ; 21 straight NCAA Tournament appearances ; 8 Conference Championships ; 5 Conference Tournament Championships Total 1695 -- 1083 (. 610 ) 625 -- 486 (. 563 ) 2 NCAA Tournament Championships, 9 Final Fours, 31 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 14 Conference Championships, 5 Conference Tournament Championships Jud Heathcote Jud Heathcote won three Big Ten titles in his 19 years at MSU. His teams appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments, four Sweet Sixteens, one Elite Eight, one Final Four and won one National Championship. After his early success with Magic Johnson and company, Heathcote finished his career strong, appearing in five NCAA Tournaments in his final six years. However, he never advanced past the Sweet Sixteen after winning the championship in 1979. His teams also appeared in three NITs reaching the NIT Final Four in 1989. Heathcote was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1978 and 1986. Heathcote was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2009. Tom Izzo worked as an assistant under Heathcote for 12 years prior to being named his successor. Other assistants who worked under Heathcote went on to head coaching positions : Don Monson ( Idaho and Oregon ), Bill Berry ( San Jose State ), Mike Deane ( Siena, Marquette, Lamar, and Wagner ), Jim Boylan ( Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks ), Jim Boylen ( Utah ), Stan Joplin ( Toledo ), and Brian Gregory ( Dayton, Georgia Tech, and South Florida ). Record by season under Heathcote : See Michigan State Spartans men 's basketball seasons Tom Izzo Since 1995, the team has been coached by Tom Izzo, who has an overall record of 571 -- 223 as the head coach at Michigan State. Izzo coached the Spartans to their second national championship in 2000 with an 89 -- 76 victory over Florida. Izzo is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Izzo has guided the Spartans to seven NCAA Final Fours since 1999, an accomplishment unmatched by any other college basketball program during that span. Izzo has never had a losing season at MSU and has also appeared in a postseason tournament every year he has headed the MSU basketball program : two years in the NIT and 20 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His teams have won eight Big Ten regular - season championships and five Big Ten Tournament Championships and have reached the Sweet Sixteen 13 times, the Elite Eight nine times, the Final Four seven times, and played in two NCAA Championship games. Izzo has received numerous awards including the 1998 Associated Press National Coach of the Year, the 1998 Basketball News National Coach of the Year, the 1998 United States Basketball Writers Association Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award ( 1998 ), three - time Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year ( 1998, 2009, 2012 ), the 1998 Basketball Times Mideast Coach of the Year, the 1999 Basketball News Coach of the Year Award, two - time National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year Award ( 2001, 2012 ) and the 2005 Clair Bee Award. Izzo also helped his assistants secure head coaching jobs across the basketball world. Two current Division I head coaches served as assistants under Izzo : Brian Gregory coached for Dayton and Georgia Tech and is the current head coach at South Florida, and Mark Montgomery at Northern Illinois. Current Izzo assistant coach Mike Garland spent three seasons as head coach at Cleveland State following an initial seven - year stint at MSU. Former assistant Stan Heath was head coach at Kent State, Arkansas, and South Florida. Doug Wojcik was the head coach at Tulsa and College of Charleston. Former assistant Tom Crean was head coach at Indiana for nine years and Marquette for nine years. Season by season results For the entire season - by - season results, see Michigan State Spartans men 's basketball seasons. Under Tom Izzo : Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason Tom Izzo ( Big Ten Conference ) ( 1995 -- present ) 1995 -- 96 Michigan State 16 -- 16 9 -- 9 7th NIT Second round 1996 -- 97 Michigan State 17 -- 12 9 -- 9 T -- 6th NIT Second round 1997 -- 98 Michigan State 22 -- 8 13 -- 3 T -- 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1998 -- 99 Michigan State 33 -- 5 15 -- 1 1st NCAA Final Four 1999 -- 2000 Michigan State 32 -- 7 13 -- 3 T -- 1st NCAA Champions 2000 -- 01 Michigan State 28 -- 5 13 -- 3 T -- 1st NCAA Final Four 2001 -- 02 Michigan State 19 -- 12 10 -- 6 5th NCAA First Round 2002 -- 03 Michigan State 22 -- 13 10 -- 6 T -- 3rd NCAA Elite Eight 2003 -- 04 Michigan State 18 -- 12 12 -- 4 T -- 2nd NCAA First Round 2004 -- 05 Michigan State 26 -- 7 13 -- 3 2nd NCAA Final Four 2005 -- 06 Michigan State 22 -- 12 8 -- 8 T -- 6th NCAA First Round 2006 -- 07 Michigan State 23 -- 12 8 -- 8 T -- 7th NCAA Second Round 2007 -- 08 Michigan State 27 -- 9 12 -- 6 4th NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2008 -- 09 Michigan State 31 -- 7 15 -- 3 1st NCAA Runner - Up 2009 -- 10 Michigan State 28 -- 9 14 -- 4 T -- 1st NCAA Final Four 2010 -- 11 Michigan State 19 -- 15 9 -- 9 T -- 4th NCAA Second Round 2011 -- 12 Michigan State 29 -- 8 13 -- 5 T -- 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2012 -- 13 Michigan State 27 -- 9 13 -- 5 T -- 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2013 -- 14 Michigan State 29 -- 9 12 -- 6 T -- 2nd NCAA Elite Eight 2014 -- 15 Michigan State 27 -- 12 12 -- 6 T -- 3rd NCAA Final Four 2015 -- 16 Michigan State 29 -- 6 13 -- 5 2nd NCAA First Round 2016 -- 17 Michigan State 20 -- 15 10 -- 8 T -- 5th NCAA Second Round 2017 -- 18 Michigan State 30 -- 5 16 -- 2 1st NCAA Second Round Tom Izzo : 574 -- 225 (. 718 ) 272 -- 122 (. 690 ) Total : 1698 -- 1085 (. 610 ) National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion Postseason history NCAA Tournament The Spartans have appeared in 32 NCAA Division I Men 's Basketball Tournaments, with a current streak of 21 straight years, with two NCAA basketball national championships. They have appeared in nine Final Fours and sport a 64 -- 30 all - time NCAA tournament record. National championships Season Coach Opponent Score Site Overall Record Big Ten Record 1978 -- 79 Jud Heathcote Indiana State 75 -- 64 Salt Lake City, UT 25 -- 6 13 -- 5 1999 -- 2000 Tom Izzo Florida 89 -- 76 Indianapolis, IN 31 -- 7 13 -- 3 National Championships 1979 NCAA Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round Bye Second Round No. 10 Lamar 95 -- 64 Sweet Sixteen No. 3 LSU 87 -- 71 Elite Eight No. 1 Notre Dame 80 -- 68 Final Four No. 9 Penn 101 -- 67 Championship No. 1 Indiana State 75 -- 64 2000 NCAA Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round No. 16 Valparaiso 65 -- 38 Second Round No. 8 Utah 73 -- 61 Sweet Sixteen No. 4 Syracuse 75 -- 58 Elite Eight No. 2 Iowa State 75 -- 64 Final Four No. 8 Wisconsin 53 -- 41 Championship No. 5 Florida 89 -- 76 Complete NCAA Tournament results The Spartans have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 31 times. Their combined record is 65 -- 31. Year Seed Round Opponent Result 1957 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Third Place Game Notre Dame Kentucky North Carolina San Francisco W 85 -- 83 W 80 -- 68 L 70 -- 74 L 60 -- 67 1959 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Marquette Louisville W 74 -- 69 L 81 -- 88 1978 First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Providence WKU Kentucky W 77 -- 63 W 90 -- 69 L 49 -- 52 1979 No. 2 Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game No. 10 Lamar No. 3 LSU No. 1 Notre Dame No. 9 Penn No. 1 Indiana State W 95 -- 64 W 87 -- 71 W 80 -- 68 W 101 -- 67 W 75 -- 64 1985 No. 10 First Round No. 7 UAB L 68 -- 70 1986 No. 5 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen No. 12 Washington No. 4 Georgetown No. 1 Kansas W 72 -- 70 W 80 -- 68 L 86 -- 96 1990 No. 1 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen No. 16 Murray State No. 9 UC Santa Barbara No. 4 Georgia Tech W 75 -- 71 W 62 -- 58 L 80 -- 81 1991 No. 5 First Round Second Round No. 12 Green Bay No. 4 Utah W 60 -- 58 L 84 -- 85 1992 No. 5 First Round Second Round No. 12 SW Missouri State No. 4 Cincinnati W 61 -- 54 L 65 -- 77 1994 No. 7 First Round Second Round No. 10 Seton Hall No. 2 Duke W 84 -- 73 L 74 -- 85 1995 No. 3 First Round No. 14 Weber State L 72 -- 79 1998 No. 4 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen No. 13 Eastern Michigan No. 5 Princeton No. 1 North Carolina W 83 -- 71 W 63 -- 56 L 58 -- 73 1999 No. 1 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four No. 16 Mount St. Mary 's No. 9 Ole Miss No. 13 Oklahoma No. 3 Kentucky No. 1 Duke W 76 -- 53 W 74 -- 66 W 54 -- 46 W 73 -- 66 L 62 -- 68 2000 No. 1 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game No. 16 Valparaiso No. 8 Utah No. 4 Syracuse No. 2 Iowa State No. 8 Wisconsin No. 5 Florida W 65 -- 38 W 73 -- 61 W 75 -- 58 W 75 -- 64 W 53 -- 41 W 89 -- 76 2001 No. 1 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four No. 16 Alabama State No. 9 Fresno State No. 12 Gonzaga No. 11 Temple No. 2 Arizona W 69 -- 35 W 81 -- 65 W 77 -- 62 W 69 -- 62 L 61 -- 80 2002 No. 10 First Round No. 7 NC State L 58 -- 69 2003 No. 7 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight No. 10 Colorado No. 2 Florida No. 6 Maryland No. 1 Texas W 79 -- 64 W 68 -- 46 W 60 -- 58 L 76 -- 85 No. 7 First Round No. 10 Nevada L 66 -- 72 2005 No. 5 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four No. 12 Old Dominion No. 13 Vermont No. 1 Duke No. 2 Kentucky No. 1 North Carolina W 89 -- 81 W 72 -- 61 W 78 -- 68 W 94 -- 88 L 71 -- 87 2006 No. 6 First Round No. 11 George Mason L 65 -- 75 2007 No. 9 First Round Second Round No. 8 Marquette No. 1 North Carolina W 61 -- 49 L 67 -- 81 2008 No. 5 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen No. 12 Temple No. 4 Pittsburgh No. 1 Memphis W 72 -- 61 W 65 -- 54 L 74 -- 92 2009 No. 2 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game No. 15 Robert Morris No. 10 USC No. 3 Kansas No. 1 Louisville No. 1 Connecticut No. 1 North Carolina W 77 -- 62 W 74 -- 69 W 67 -- 62 W 64 -- 52 W 82 -- 73 L 72 -- 89 No. 5 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four No. 12 New Mexico State No. 4 Maryland No. 9 Northern Iowa No. 6 Tennessee No. 5 Butler W 70 -- 67 W 85 -- 83 W 59 -- 52 W 70 -- 69 L 50 -- 52 2011 No. 10 Second Round No. 7 UCLA L 76 -- 78 2012 No. 1 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen No. 16 Long Island No. 9 Saint Louis No. 4 Louisville W 89 -- 67 W 65 -- 61 L 44 -- 57 2013 No. 3 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen No. 14 Valparaiso No. 6 Memphis No. 2 Duke W 65 -- 54 W 70 -- 48 L 61 -- 71 2014 No. 4 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight No. 13 Delaware No. 12 Harvard No. 1 Virginia No. 7 Connecticut W 93 -- 78 W 80 -- 73 W 61 -- 59 L 54 -- 60 2015 No. 7 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four No. 10 Georgia No. 2 Virginia No. 3 Oklahoma No. 4 Louisville No. 1 Duke W 70 -- 63 W 60 -- 54 W 62 -- 58 W 76 -- 70 L 61 -- 81 2016 No. 2 First Round No. 15 Middle Tennessee L 81 -- 90 2017 No. 9 First Round Second Round No. 8 Miami No. 1 Kansas W 78 -- 58 L 70 -- 90 2018 No. 3 First Round Second Round No. 14 Bucknell No. 11 Syracuse W 82 -- 78 L 53 -- 55 NCAA Tournament history and seeds The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition. The Spartans have received a No. 1 seed in five Tournaments. Their average seed in the NCAA Tournament is a 4.8. They have been a No. 5 seed the most times ( six ). The lowest seed the Spartans have received in the Tournament is a 10 ( three times ). Prior to seeding in NCAA Tournaments, MSU appeared in the 1957, 1959, and 1978 NCAA Tournaments. Since 1979, the Spartans have failed to qualify for the tournament 11 times. They have a current streak of 21 straight appearances in the tournament ( as of 2018 ). Years ' 79 ' 85 ' 86 ' 90 ' 91 ' 92 ' 94 ' 95 ' 98 ' 99 ' 00 ' 01 ' 02 ' 03 ' 04 ' 05 ' 06 ' 07 ' 08 ' 09 ' 10 ' 11 ' 12 ' 13 ' 14 ' 15 ' 16 ' 17 ' 18 Seeds 2 * 10 5 5 5 7 1 * 10 7 7 5 6 9 5 5 10 7 9 * Won National Championship The Spartans have appeared in 32 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Sweet Sixteen 19 times, the Elite Eight 13 times, the Final Four nine times, and the National Championship game three times. They have reached the Final Four three times as a No. 1 seed, twice as a No. 2 seed, twice as a No. 5 seed, and once as a No. 7 seed. They won the National Championship as a No. 2 seed in 1979 and as a No. 1 see in 2000. NIT results The Spartans have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament ( NIT ) five times. Their combined record is 6 -- 6. Year Round Opponent Result First Round Second Round Bowling Green Fresno State W 72 -- 71 L 58 -- 72 1989 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game Kent State Wichita State Villanova Saint Louis UAB W 83 -- 69 W 79 -- 67 W 70 -- 63 L 64 -- 74 L 76 -- 78 1993 First Round Oklahoma L 86 -- 88 First Round Second Round Washington Fresno State W 64 -- 50 L 70 -- 80 1997 First Round Second Round George Washington Florida State W 65 -- 50 L 63 -- 68 Big Ten regular - season championships Michigan State has won 14 Big Ten regular - season championships, the seventh-most in Big Ten history. Season Coach Overall record Big Ten record 1956 -- 57 Forddy Anderson 16 -- 10 10 -- 4 1958 -- 59 Forddy Anderson 19 -- 4 13 -- 3 1966 -- 67 John Benington 16 -- 7 10 -- 4 1977 -- 78 Jud Heathcote 25 -- 5 15 -- 3 1978 -- 79 Jud Heathcote 26 -- 6 13 -- 5 1989 -- 90 Jud Heathcote 28 -- 6 15 -- 3 1997 -- 98 Tom Izzo 22 -- 8 13 -- 3 1998 -- 99 Tom Izzo 33 -- 5 15 -- 1 1999 -- 2000 Tom Izzo 32 -- 7 13 -- 3 2000 -- 01 Tom Izzo 28 -- 5 13 -- 3 2008 -- 09 Tom Izzo 31 -- 7 15 -- 3 2009 -- 10 Tom Izzo 28 -- 9 14 -- 4 2011 -- 12 Tom Izzo 29 -- 8 13 -- 5 2017 -- 18 Tom Izzo 30 -- 3 16 -- 2 Big Ten regular season championships 14 Big Ten Tournament championships Michigan State has won five Big Ten Tournament championships since its inception in 1998, the most championships in the Big Ten. The Spartans have appeared in six championship games, only losing the 2015 championship to Wisconsin. Michigan State has appeared in the quarterfinals of every Big Ten Tournament. Season Seed Opponent Score Site Most Valuable Player 1998 -- 99 No. 11 Illinois 67 -- 50 United Center, Chicago, IL Mateen Cleaves 1999 -- 2000 No. 4 Illinois 76 -- 61 United Center, Chicago, IL Morris Peterson 2011 -- 12 No. 3 Ohio State 68 -- 64 Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Draymond Green 2013 -- 14 No. 1 Michigan 69 -- 55 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Branden Dawson 2015 -- 16 No. 4 Purdue 66 -- 62 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN Denzel Valentine Big Ten Tournament Championships 5 Record vs. Big Ten opponents * Through 2018 regular season Michigan State only has losing records against three Big Ten teams. Opponent Wins Losses Pct. Streak Illinois 61 59. 508 W2 Indiana 54 68. 443 W2 Iowa 73 55. 570 W1 Maryland 8 5. 615 W2 Michigan 81 100. 448 L3 Minnesota 69 60. 535 W1 Nebraska 15 9. 625 W3 Northwestern 90 38. 703 W9 Ohio State 73 59. 553 L1 Penn State 38 8. 826 W2 Purdue 54 68. 443 W1 Rutgers 7 0 1.000 W7 Wisconsin 80 64. 556 W3 Source Spartans of Note Retired numbers Michigan State Spartans retired numbers No. Player Position Tenure Scott Skiles PG 1982 -- 86 12 Mateen Cleaves 1996 -- 2000 21 Steve Smith SG 1987 -- 91 24 Johnny Green SF 1955 -- 58 Shawn Respert PG 1991 -- 95 31 Jay Vincent SF 1978 -- 81 32 Greg Kelser SF 1976 -- 79 33 Magic Johnson PG 1977 -- 79 42 Morris Peterson SG, SF 1995 -- 2000 -- Jud Heathcote Head Coach 1976 -- 95 National Player of the Year Denzel Valentine -- AP, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times, NABC, NBC Sports ( 2016 ) Draymond Green -- NABC ( 2012 ) Shawn Respert -- Sporting News, NABC ( 1995 ) Scott Skiles -- Basketball Times ( 1986 ) Final Four Most Outstanding Player Earvin Johnson ( 1979 ) Mateen Cleaves ( 2000 ) Big Ten Player of the Year Jay Vincent ( 1981 ) Scott Skiles ( 1986 ) Shawn Respert ( 1995 ) Mateen Cleaves ( 1998, 1999 ) Morris Peterson ( 2000 ) Kalin Lucas ( 2009 ) Draymond Green ( 2012 ) Denzel Valentine ( 2016 ) Big Ten Coach of the Year Jud Heathcote ( 1978, 1986 ) Tom Izzo ( 1998, 2009, 2012 ) Big Ten Freshman of the Year Gary Harris ( 2013 ) Miles Bridges ( 2017 ) Jaren Jackson Jr. ( 2018 ) Defensive Player of the Year Ken Redfield ( 1990 ) Eric Snow ( 1995 ) Travis Walton ( 2009 ) Jaren Jackson Jr. ( 2018 ) Spartans in the NBA Spartans formerly or currently in the NBA include : Maurice Ager Mathew Aitch Robert Anderegg Alan Anderson Keith Appling Chet Aubuchon Charlie Bell Robert Brannum Shannon Brown Edward Burton Mateen Cleaves Deyonta Davis Paul Davis Branden Dawson Jamie Feick Al Ferrari Bryn Forbes Terry Furlow Draymond Green Johnny Green Gary Harris Darryl Johnson Earvin Johnson Ken Johnson Greg Kelser Kalin Lucas Matthew Mazza Anthony Miller Adreian Payne Mike Peplowski Morris Peterson Zach Randolph Shawn Respert Jason Richardson Ralph Simpson Scott Skiles Steve Smith Eric Snow Matt Steigenga Denzel Valentine Jay Vincent Sam Vincent Horace Walker Kevin Willis Draft history 60 total NBA draft picks. 19 first round picks. 1 overall No. 1 pick -- Magic Johnson. 6 top ten picks. Year Round Pick Player Team 1952 -- -- Gordon Stauffer Indianapolis Olympians 1955 15 Al Ferrari Milwaukee Bucks 1955 12 87 Bob Armstrong Rochester Royals 1956 7 50 Julius McCoy St. Louis Hawks 1957 7 51 George Ferguson Milwaukee Bucks 1958 8 58 Jack Quiggle Detroit Pistons 1959 5 Johnny Green New York Knicks 1959 20 Bob Anderegg New York Knicks 1960 30 Horace Walker St. Louis Hawks 1964 14 96 Pete Gent Baltimore Bullets 1966 11 48 Stan Washington Los Angeles Lakers 1966 13 77 Bill Curtis Chicago Bulls 1967 114 Charles Smith Baltimore Bullets 1967 5 135 Matthew Aitch Detroit Pistons 1969 50 Lee Lafayette San Francisco Warriors 1971 5 75 Rudy Benjamin San Diego Rockets 1972 11 Ralph Simpson Chicago Bulls 1973 9 145 Bill Kilgor Detroit Pistons 7 111 Mike Robinson Cleveland Cavaliers 64 Lindsay Hairston Detroit Pistons 1976 12 Terry Furlow Philadelphia 76ers 1977 5 97 Bob Chapman Kansas City Kings 1979 Earvin Johnson Los Angeles Lakers 1979 Greg Kelser Detroit Pistons 1980 74 Ron Charles Chicago Bulls 1981 24 Jay Vincent Dallas Mavericks 1981 8 181 Mike Brkovich Milwaukee Bucks 1982 9 193 Kevin Smith Detroit Pistons 6 124 Derek Perry Detroit Pistons 1984 11 Kevin Willis Atlanta Hawks 1984 9 203 Ben Tower Detroit Pistons 1985 20 Sam Vincent Boston Celtics 1985 28 Ken Johnson Portland Trail Blazers 1986 22 Scott Skiles Milwaukee Bucks 1986 7 155 Larry Polec Detroit Pistons 58 Darryl Johnson Golden State Warriors 5 97 Vernon Carr Sacramento Kings 1991 5 Steve Smith Miami Heat 1992 52 Matt Steigenga Chicago Bulls 1993 52 Mike Peplowski Sacramento Kings 1994 39 Anthony Miller Golden State Warriors 1995 8 Shawn Respert Portland Trail Blazers 1995 43 Eric Snow Milwaukee Bucks 48 Jamie Feick Philadelphia 76ers 2000 14 Mateen Cleaves Detroit Pistons 2000 21 Morris Peterson Toronto Raptors 2001 5 Jason Richardson Golden State Warriors 2001 19 Zach Randolph Portland Trail Blazers 2001 51 Andre Hutson Milwaukee Bucks 2002 51 Marcus Taylor Minnesota Timberwolves 2005 46 Erazem Lorbek Indiana Pacers 2006 25 Shannon Brown Cleveland Cavaliers 2006 28 Maurice Ager Dallas Mavericks 2006 34 Paul Davis Los Angeles Clippers 2009 50 Goran Suton Utah Jazz 2012 35 Draymond Green Golden State Warriors 2014 15 Adreian Payne Atlanta Hawks 2014 19 Gary Harris Chicago Bulls 2015 56 Branden Dawson New Orleans Pelicans 2016 14 Denzel Valentine Chicago Bulls 2016 31 Deyonta Davis Boston Celtics Uniforms Tom Izzo 's teams have worn many different styles of uniform during his 21 years at Michigan State. Nike, Inc. started making jerseys for the team at the start of the 2000 -- 01 season. The current home jersey, introduced as part of a rebranding effort by the athletic department in April 2010, is white with green uniform numbers and a green custom font `` SPARTANS '' across the chest. The road jersey is green with white uniform numbers and a white custom font `` SPARTANS '' across the chest. The Spartans do not currently wear an official alternate uniform but the team has worn a silver alternate, a 1979 throwback, and a MAC ( Michigan Agricultural College ) uniform in the past. The team also wore specially - made camouflage jerseys for the 2011 Carrier Classic, played on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier against North Carolina. Beginning in the 2014 -- 15 season, the Spartans frequently wore their 1979 throwback jerseys as their home uniform. On January 23, 2016, MSU wore specially designed `` Mean Green '' uniforms. During the 2016 -- 17 season, the Spartans frequently wore the MAC throwback uniforms at home. Facilities The Spartans used the College Gymnasium prior to moving to Demonstration Hall for 10 years. Demonstration Hall The Spartans used this building, still in use on campus today, as their home from 1930 to the opening of Jenison Fieldhouse in 1940. Jenison Fieldhouse The arena opened in 1940 and was named for alumnus Frederick Cowles Jenison, whose estate, along with PWAP funds, funded the building. The building was the home of the Spartans from 1940 to 1989 when the Breslin Center opened. The venue is most famous for its 1979 NCAA champion basketball team, which included Earvin `` Magic '' Johnson, and was coached by Jud Heathcote. Jenison also hosted the 1963 NCAA Tournament 's Mideast Regionals. A plaque outside the arena commemorates one of the 1963 regional semifinals ; the `` Game of Change, '' in which a segregated Mississippi State team played and lost to the eventual national champion, an integrated Loyola team. The losing Maroons ( now known as the Bulldogs ) had defied a court order prohibiting them from leaving the state to play an integrated team. The game is now seen as a watershed moment in the intersection of civil rights and sports during the Civil Rights Movement. The building is still in use on campus today. Breslin Center The Spartans play home games at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center on campus. The arena is commonly referred to as `` Breslin '' and `` the Bres '', and was opened in 1989. It is named for Jacweir `` Jack '' Breslin, an MSU alumnus, former athlete and administrator, who first began pushing for the arena in 1969. Its capacity is 14,797 seats, and the stadium superseded Jenison Fieldhouse. The arena is currently undergoing a $50 million renovation to improve the visitor experience and to create a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History. The arena 's current basketball court is the same floor where the Spartans won the 2000 NCAA Tournament, which was at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The school purchased the floor from the NCAA and Final Four floor installer Horner Flooring after the title game. A plaque was installed on the baseline near the Michigan State tunnel to commemorate the floor 's role in the school 's history. The Breslin Center is home to the Izzone, a large student section named after Coach Izzo, the basketball team 's head coach since 1995. The student section had been named Spartan Spirits and Jud 's Jungle prior to Izzo 's prominence at the school. The Izzone routinely gets mentioned in discussions of the nation 's top student fan sections, and in 2006 was ranked as the 4th - best in the country. The section helped cheer the Spartans to a 53 - game home win streak between 1998 and 2002 and also a 28 - game winning streak from 2007 and 2009. The arena is undergoing a $50 million renovation to improve the visitor experience and to create a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History which is scheduled to be completed by June 2018. References Jump up ^ `` Color Palette -- The MSU Brand ''. Michigan State University. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Jump up ^ https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ycn-8046136 Jump up ^ `` Spartans extend NCAA tournament streak, to play Miami ( Fla. ) in Tulsa ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 13. ^ Jump up to : `` 16 / 17 Media Guide '' ( PDF ). Michigan State Spartans. Jump up ^ The Godfather, espn.com, accessed October 9, 2010. Jump up ^ Pete Newell Still The Footwork Master Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., scout.com, accessed October 9, 2010. Jump up ^ A beautiful basketball mind Archived February 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine., www.sdhoc.com, accessed October 9, 2010. * Ortiz, Jorge L. Another legacy at Newell Many coaches with links to Heathcote, December 28, 2001. * Chin. pg. 135 * Mandelbaum. pg. 329 ^ Jump up to : `` Former Michigan State basketball coach Jud Heathcote dies at age 90 ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 29. Jump up ^ Times, Barry Jacobs, Special To The New York ( 1990 - 03 - 16 ). `` Michigan State Edges Murray State in Overtime ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ PENNER, MIKE ( 1990 - 03 - 16 ). `` NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST REGIONAL : Popeye Ca n't Finish Off Michigan State ''. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458 - 3035. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ PENNER, MIKE ( 1990 - 03 - 24 ). `` NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST REGIONALS : Georgia Tech Beats Clock ( ? ), Michigan State in Overtime ''. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458 - 3035. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ WOJCIECHOWSKI, GENE ( 1991 - 03 - 16 ). `` COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA TOURNAMENT : WEST REGIONAL AT TUCSON : Michigan State Escapes Upset ''. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458 - 3035. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ WOJCIECHOWSKI, GENE ( 1991 - 03 - 18 ). `` COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN 'S TOURNAMENT : No. 10 Utah Works Overtime on Its Image : West : Utes get 29 points from Grant to beat Michigan State, 85 -- 84, in two extra periods and advance to play Nevada Las Vegas ''. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458 - 3035. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ `` N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT : MIDWEST ; An Unlikely Scorer Helps Michigan State ''. The New York Times. 1992 - 03 - 21. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ Press, From Associated ( 1992 - 03 - 23 ). `` COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN 'S TOURNAMENT : This Time, Cincinnati Holds Off Michigan State, 77 -- 65 ''. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458 - 3035. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ George, Thomas ( 1994 - 03 - 19 ). `` N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST ; Seton Hall Collapses After Taking Early Lead ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Weber State 79, Michigan State 72 ''. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 27. ^ Jump up to : `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Hoops Avoids NCAA Upset -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` 1998 Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan Round of 64 ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Knocks off Princeton to Advance to Sweet 16 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ NORWOOD, ROBYN ( 1998 - 03 - 15 ). `` Backdoor Gets Slammed on Princeton ''. Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458 - 3035. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ Curry, Jack ( 1998 - 03 - 15 ). `` 1998 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT : SECOND ROUND -- EAST ; Tar Heels Wrest Overtime Victory From Charlotte ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Hoops Fall to No. 1 UNC, 73 -- 58 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Temple Stuns No. 5 Michigan State, 60 -- 59 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` No. 4 Duke Holds on to Beat No. 9 MSU, 73 -- 67 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Falls to Top - Ranked UConn -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Suffers Upset at the Hands of No. 24 Wisconsin -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` UWBadgers.com -- The Official Athletic Site of the Wisconsin Badgers -- Men 's Basketball ''. stats.uwbadgers.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Passes First Round Test -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Survive Battle with Ole Miss -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` 1999 OU Men 's Basketball Season -- SoonerStats.com -- Oklahoma Sooners Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Softball Scores, Records, and Stats ''. www.soonerstats.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` See You in St. Pete ! -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` 1999 Michigan State vs. Kentucky Elite Eight ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Battle, Fall to Blue Devils -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` 1999 Duke vs. Michigan State Final Four ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Peterson, Cleaves Lead Spartans To Second - Straight Big Ten Title -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` 2000 Michigan State vs. Valparaiso Round of 64 ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Spartans One Step Closer To Final Four -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` 2000 Michigan State vs. Utah Round of 32 ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Hoops Moves Past Utah Into Sweet 16, 73 -- 61 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 75, Syracuse 58 ''. enquirer.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Moves To Elite Eight -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 75, Iowa State 64 ''. enquirer.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Return To Final Four -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Beat Badgers At Their Own Game, 53 -- 41 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ Drape, Joe ( 2000 - 04 - 04 ). `` N.C.A.A. BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ; Spartans No. 1 From Start to Finish ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Sputter At Big Ten Tournament -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` NCAA Men 's Basketball -- Alabama State vs. Michigan State ''. usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` NCAA Men 's Basketball -- Fresno State vs. Michigan State ''. usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Gonzaga Gonzaga / Michigan State Michigan St Men 's College Basketball recap on ESPN ''. a.espncdn.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 's Thomas Plays Career Game -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Falls Short In Title Defense -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Arizona steals the show, 80 -- 61 ''. tribunedigital - baltimoresun. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Badgers End MSU 's Home Win Streak ''. University of Wisconsin. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Hoops Edged By Wisconsin, 64 -- 63 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall To Indiana In Big Ten Tourney -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Espn.com ''. Wolfpack rally to dispatch Michigan State. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Move On With Fifth Straight Win Over Purdue -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Lose By Point In Big Ten Semifinals -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ Spousta, Tom ( 2003 - 03 - 22 ). `` 2003 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT : SOUTH ; MICHIGAN ST. 79, COLORADO 64 ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ Spousta, Tom ( 2003 - 03 - 24 ). `` 2003 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT : SOUTH ; Michigan State Hits a High Note ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ George, Thomas ( 2003 - 03 - 29 ). `` 2003 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT : SOUTH ; Inexperienced Michigan State Remains Unfazed ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` 2003 Texas vs. Michigan State Elite Eight ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans ' Season Comes To An End In NCAA Regional Final -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall In Battle Of Sixes -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartan Comeback Falls Short Against Oklahoma In OT -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Falls To No. 8 Kentucky, 79 -- 74 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Wildcats make bid for No. 1 before record crowd ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall At No. 17 Syracuse, 96 -- 83 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall To No. 21 Wisconsin, 77 -- 64 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Advance Past Northwestern, 68 -- 55 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Edged Out By Wisconsin, 68 -- 66 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall To Nevada In NCAA First Round -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` 2004 Nevada vs. Michigan State Round of 64 ''. ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall to Top - Ranked Illini -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Edged By Iowa, 71 -- 69 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` Spartans avoid repeating ' 04 ouster, top ODU ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State takes down No. 1 seed Duke ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Matchup Finder College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Makes Fourth Trip To Final Four In Last Seven Years -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Michigan St. outlasts Kentucky in double - OT thriller ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Falls To North Carolina In Final Four Matchup -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Oh Roy ! North Carolina stops Michigan State ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Falls To Hawaii, 84 -- 62 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Gonzaga outlasts Michigan State in 3 OT in Maui ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Advances In Big Ten Tournament -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Knocks Off No. 9 Illinois, 61 -- 56 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall To No. 20 Hawkeyes, 53 -- 48 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Falls To George Mason, 75 -- 65 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Shannon Brown To Test NBA Draft Waters : : Spartan junior will enter his name in draft, but will not hire an agent ''. www.cstv.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Gary Harris becomes just the fifth player in Tom Izzo era to declare early for NBA draft ''. MLive.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Neitzel, Michigan State stun No. 2 Wisconsin ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Face Wisconsin In Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Tops Northwestern, 62 -- 57, To Advance To Quarterfinals -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Top Marquette In First Round -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Hansbrough casts aside mask, then Michigan State ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Suton 's double - double sparks streaking Spartans ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Michigan St. turns in it up in 2nd half to beat BYU ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Key First - Half Run Powers No. 9 Michigan State Past No. 4 Texas -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` No. 19 Spartans Edged by No. 8 Badgers -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Knock Out Temple, 72 -- 61, To Advance To Second Round -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Spartan guards shoot Michigan St. past Pittsburgh ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Memphis shows top - seed cred, spanks Spartans ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Hosts Northwestern ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 03. Jump up ^ `` Purdue vs. Michigan State -- Game Recap -- March 8, 2009 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 03. Jump up ^ `` 2008 -- 09 Men 's Basketball All - Big Ten Teams Dominated by Sophomore Standouts Big Ten Conference Official Site ''. bigten.org. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Izzo, Lucas and Walton Earn Major Conference Awards -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Advance With Win Over Minnesota ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Spartans ' Comeback Efforts Fall Short In Semifinals ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Earn NCAA Bid For 12th Straight Year ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Michigan St. grinds out Robert Morris in opener ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Face Kansas In Sweet 16 On Friday ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Walton 's offense contributes to Michigan St. win ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State ousts defending champ Kansas ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Spartans squeeze Louisville for Final Four berth ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Halt Huskies In Final Four, Advance To NCAA Title Game ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State vs. North Carolina -- Game Recap -- April 6, 2009 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall to Tar Heels in NCAA Title Game ''. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Fall Late In OT To Minnesota 72 -- 67 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Lucas shines as Michigan St. hangs on vs. NMSU ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State sinks Maryland with 3 at buzzer ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Morgan 's FT sends Spartans back to Final Four ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Butler vs. Michigan State -- Game Recap -- April 3, 2010 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Green 's Double - Double Helps MSU Top Iowa, 66 -- 61 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. ^ Jump up to : `` Spartans Upset No. 9 Purdue, 74 -- 56, Advance To Semifinals -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Falls In Semifinals To Penn State, 61 -- 48 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State vs. UCLA box score ''. ESPN. Retrieved March 18, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Ohio State vs. Michigan State -- Game Recap -- March 4, 2012 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 06. Jump up ^ `` No. 8 Spartans Knock Out Iowa, 92 -- 75 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` No. 8 Spartans Advance to Championship, Top No. 14 Badgers, 65 -- 52 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Spartans Claim Big Ten Title Over Buckeyes, 68 -- 64 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. ^ Jump up to : `` Green Named Player Of The Year ; Izzo Coach Of The Year -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Michigan St. advances on Green 's triple - double ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Green, Michigan St. oust Saint Louis to move on ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Louisville makes Michigan St. first 1 - seed to fall ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` No. 8 Michigan State Advances to Big Ten Semifinal Game -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ Polacek, Scott. `` OSU Beats MSU 61 -- 58 -- as It Happened ''. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Nix, Spartans roll over Valpo in NCAA tourney ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Harris helps Michigan St. cruise past Memphis ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Curry powers No. 2 Duke past Michigan State ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Spartans College Basketball -- Michigan State News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More -- ESPN ''. ESPN.Go.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` UNC strikes again, topples Michigan State ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Dawson, No. 22 Spartans Top Northwestern 67 -- 51 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Upsets Wisconsin in Big Ten Tourney, 83 -- 75 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Michigan St. drops Michigan to claim Big Ten ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Payne 's career game leads Michigan St. win ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State survives Harvard to advance ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State tops Virginia in Sweet 16 thriller ''. Big Ten Network. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` UConn 60, Michigan State 54 : Players shocked by NCAA tournament ouster ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 14. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 's Gary Harris declares for NBA draft ''. MLive.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Texas Southern stuns No. 25 Spartans in OT ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State beats Ohio State 76 -- 67 in Big Ten tourney ''. CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Wisconsin uses OT shutout to take Big Ten ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State holds off Georgia 70 -- 63 in NCAA East Region ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. ^ Jump up to : `` Michigan State Tops Virginia 60 -- 54 For Trip to Sweet 16 -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Spartans down Sooners in East semifinal ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Michigan St., Izzo back to Final Four ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Duke 's quest for fifth title rolls on with MSU win ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 02. Jump up ^ `` No. 1 MSU edges Oakland 99 -- 93 in OT thriller at Palace ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Was No. 1 MSU hoops ' loss to unranked Iowa a big deal ? ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 07. Jump up ^ `` No. 16 Iowa routs No. 4 Michigan State 76 -- 59, sweeps series ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 15. Jump up ^ `` Nebraska 72, MSU 71 : Spartans stunned, drop 3rd straight ''. Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Class act : MSU trounces OSU on senior day ''. Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 06. Jump up ^ `` USA TODAY Sports college basketball Player of the Year : Michigan State 's Denzel Valentine ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 's Denzel Valentine named Big Ten player of year ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State the favorite to win NCAA tournament, oddsmaker says ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 9, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Vegas action favors Michigan St. ahead of tourney ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved May 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Rutherford, Mike ( March 18, 2016 ). `` Middle Tennessee State 's win over Michigan State is the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history ''. SBNation.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Couch : 5 takes on MSU basketball and the Big Ten tournament ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Couch : MSU 's freshman - heavy lineup not yet fab four ''. Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 18. Jump up ^ TEGNA. `` MSU 's Miles Bridges named Big Ten freshman of the year ''. WZZM. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Miles Bridges staying at MSU : ' I have unfinished business ' ''. Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 's ' dirty work ' stifles North Carolina for PK80 title ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 27. Jump up ^ `` The worst shooting in UNC history gives Michigan State PK80 Victory bracket title ''. CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Purdue vs. Michigan State -- Game Recap -- February 10, 2018 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 12. Jump up ^ `` No. 2 Michigan State matches largest comeback in a decade with 27 - point rally over Northwestern ''. CollegeBasketballTalk. 2018 - 02 - 17. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 19. Jump up ^ `` No. 1 Michigan State storms back from 27 - point deficit for biggest comeback in Big Ten history ''. USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Sole owners ! Spartans win Big Ten title outright ''. Detroit News. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 26. Jump up ^ `` OTL : Spartan secrets extend far beyond Larry Nassar ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 29. Jump up ^ http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/6_questions_schuette_didnt_ans.html Jump up ^ https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/26/education-department-michigan-state-probe-425355 Jump up ^ `` Sexual assault overshadows Michigan State basketball win ''. MLive.com. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State coach Tom Izzo not retiring : ' I 've never run from anything in my life ' ''. Sporting News. 2018 - 03 - 19. Retrieved 2018 - 03 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Couch : Alleged payment to Miles Bridges ' mom another ding to Michigan State 's reputation ''. Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State 's Miles Bridges has been cleared and will play Sunday at Wisconsin ''. CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 26. Jump up ^ `` In brief : Izzo passes Heathcote for Spartan record ''. Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2016 - 03 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. CSTV.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Tom Izzo Coaching Record College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tom Izzo moved up to No. 2 in all - time Big Ten wins but did n't like how he did it ''. MLive.com. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 07. Jump up ^ Seibold, Jack ( October 1, 2003 ). The Spartan Sports Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 978 - 1 - 58261 - 219 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Jud Heathcote Coaching Record College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ `` ' It 's surreal ' : MSU 's Izzo makes Hall of Fame ''. Detroit News. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Returns To Action Against The Citadel ''. CSTV.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Heath confirms firing from USF coaching job ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved February 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tulsa ousts coach Wojcik citing declining sales ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved February 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Charleston pays Wojcik $400 K in settlement ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 11. Jump up ^ 2008 College Basketball Tournament Brackets -- CBSSports.com Jump up ^ 2008 College Basketball Tournament Brackets -- CBSSports.com Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Spartans Index College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ NCAA Basketball -- CBSSports.com Jump up ^ `` Michigan State Spartans Head - to - Head Results College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com ''. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State men 's basketball 2017 / 18 Media Guide '' ( PDF ). Jump up ^ `` Tom Izzo, Michigan State Head Coach, Era Basketball Jersey Style ( 1995 -- Present ) ''. SpartanJerseys.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` MSU Athletics Unveils New Brand ''. MSUSpartans.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` MSU to wear ' Mean Green ' uniforms vs. Maryland ''. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 24, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State to wear retro MAC uniforms vs. Minnesota ''. MLive.com. Retrieved 2017 - 04 - 11. Jump up ^ `` O'Neil : Game of Change can not be forgotten ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 24. Jump up ^ `` MSU board approves renovation, expansion of Breslin Center -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 19. Jump up ^ Ramsey, Ethan ( 2005 - 03 - 29 ). `` Champs given shot to purchase Final Four court ''. The Daily Orange. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 28. Jump up ^ `` SI.com -- Best Student Sections -- Feb 22, 2006 ''. CNN. February 22, 2006. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State vs. Wisconsin -- Game Recap -- January 16, 2005 -- ESPN ''. ESPN.Go.com. Retrieved April 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` MSU board approves renovation, expansion of Breslin Center -- Michigan State Official Athletic Site ''. www.msuspartans.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Michigan State moving forward with $50 million Breslin Center renovation ''. MLive.com. October 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016. External links Official website Visual history of MSU Basketball by MSUAA http://www.finalfouru.com/ Michigan State Spartans men 's basketball Venues Armory ( 1899 -- 1918 ) IM Circle ( 1918 -- 1930 ) Demonstration Hall ( 1930 -- 1940 ) Jenison Fieldhouse ( 1940 -- 1989 ) Breslin Student Events Center ( 1989 -- present ) Rivalries Michigan Culture & lore Basketbowl Champions Classic `` The Flintstones '' Izzone Michigan State student riots People Head coaches Retired numbers Seasons 1898 -- 99 1899 -- 00 1900 -- 01 1901 -- 02 1902 -- 03 1903 -- 04 1904 -- 05 1905 -- 06 1906 -- 07 1907 -- 08 1908 -- 09 1909 -- 10 1910 -- 11 1911 -- 12 1912 -- 13 1913 -- 14 1914 -- 15 1915 -- 16 1916 -- 17 1917 -- 18 1918 -- 19 1919 -- 20 1920 -- 21 1921 -- 22 1922 -- 23 1923 -- 24 1924 -- 25 1925 -- 26 1926 -- 27 1927 -- 28 1928 -- 29 1929 -- 30 1930 -- 31 1931 -- 32 1932 -- 33 1933 -- 34 1934 -- 35 1935 -- 36 1936 -- 37 1937 -- 38 1938 -- 39 1939 -- 40 1940 -- 41 1941 -- 42 1942 -- 43 1943 -- 44 1944 -- 45 1945 -- 46 1946 -- 47 1947 -- 48 1948 -- 49 1949 -- 50 1950 -- 51 1951 -- 52 1952 -- 53 1953 -- 54 1954 -- 55 1955 -- 56 1956 -- 57 1957 -- 58 1958 -- 59 1959 -- 60 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 1970 -- 71 1971 -- 72 1972 -- 73 1973 -- 74 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1988 -- 89 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 NCAA national championships in bold ; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics hide Big Ten Conference men 's basketball Teams Illinois Fighting Illini Indiana Hoosiers Iowa Hawkeyes Maryland Terrapins Michigan Wolverines Michigan State Spartans Minnesota Golden Gophers Nebraska Cornhuskers Northwestern Wildcats Ohio State Buckeyes Penn State Nittany Lions Purdue Boilermakers Rutgers Scarlet Knights Wisconsin Badgers Championships & awards Regular season champions Big Ten Conference Men 's Basketball Tournament Player of the Year Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball ( defunct ) Seasons 1904 -- 05 1905 -- 06 1906 -- 07 1907 -- 08 1908 -- 09 1909 -- 10 1910 -- 11 1911 -- 12 1912 -- 13 1913 -- 14 1914 -- 15 1915 -- 16 1916 -- 17 1917 -- 18 1918 -- 19 1919 -- 20 1920 -- 21 1921 -- 22 1922 -- 23 1923 -- 24 1924 -- 25 1925 -- 26 1926 -- 27 1927 -- 28 1928 -- 29 1929 -- 30 1930 -- 31 1931 -- 32 1932 -- 33 1933 -- 34 1934 -- 35 1935 -- 36 1936 -- 37 1937 -- 38 1938 -- 39 1939 -- 40 1940 -- 41 1941 -- 42 1942 -- 43 1943 -- 44 1944 -- 45 1945 -- 46 1946 -- 47 1947 -- 48 1948 -- 49 1949 -- 50 1950 -- 51 1951 -- 52 1952 -- 53 1953 -- 54 1954 -- 55 1955 -- 56 1956 -- 57 1957 -- 58 1958 -- 59 1959 -- 60 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 1970 -- 71 1971 -- 72 1972 -- 73 1973 -- 74 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1988 -- 89 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michigan_State_Spartans_men%27s_basketball&oldid=837383739 '' Categories : 1898 establishments in Michigan Michigan State Spartans men 's basketball Sports clubs established in 1898 Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2017 Use mdy dates from April 2017 Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia Talk Contents About Wikipedia Italiano Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 20 April 2018, at 13 : 56. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when was the last time michigan state made the final four
Answer: 2015