View source for Michigan State Spartans men's basketball

{{short description|NCAA Division I basketball program}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox college basketball team
|name = Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
|current = 2025–26 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
|logo= Michigan State Spartans wordmark.svg
|logo_size = 200
|university = [[Michigan State University]]
|conference = [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]]
|location = [[East Lansing, Michigan]]
|coach = [[Tom Izzo]]
|tenure = 31st
|firstseason = 1898
|record = {{Winning percentage|1851|1160|record=y}} <!--thru Februay 17, 2025-->
|arena = [[Breslin Center]]
|capacity = 14,759
|nickname = [[Michigan State Spartans|Spartans]]
|studentsection = [[Izzone]]
|bestfinish = 1
|NCAAchampion = [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|1979]], [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|2000]]
|NCAArunnerup = [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|2009]]
|NCAAfinalfour = 1957, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019
|NCAAeliteeight = 1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2025
|NCAAsweetsixteen = 1957, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2023, 2025
|NCAAtourneys = 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, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
|conference_tournament = 1999, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019
|conference_season = 1957, 1959, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2025
}}
The '''Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team '''is the [[college basketball|intercollegiate men's basketball]] program representing [[Michigan State University]]. The school competes in the [[Big Ten Conference]] of [[NCAA Division I]] [[college basketball]]. The Spartans have won two NCAA National championships,  17 Big Ten Regular Season Championships, and 6 Big Ten Tournament Championships. Their home games are played at the [[Jack Breslin Student Events Center]] ("Breslin Center") in [[East Lansing, Michigan]]. [[Tom Izzo]] has been the head coach since 1995. 

Their two [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|national championships]] came in the [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1979 NCAA tournament]] and the [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2000 NCAA tournament]]. The [[1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|1979 national championship game]] was the most watched college basketball game in history, with 35.11 million television viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ycn-8046136|title=NCAAB College Basketball 2018 Bracket Tournament|website=Yahoo Sports}}</ref> The [[1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team|Indiana State]], led by future [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Larry Bird]]. The [[1999–2000 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2000 National Championship team]] defeated [[1999–2000 Florida Gators men's basketball team|Florida]] in the final. The team was coached by Tom Izzo and led by players [[Morris Peterson]], [[Charlie Bell (basketball)|Charlie Bell]], [[Jason Richardson]], and tournament MVP [[Mateen Cleaves]].

The Spartans have participated in 38 NCAA tournaments (tied for 10th-most all-time) and appeared in 27 consecutive NCAA tournaments (the [[2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2020 NCAA tournament]] was canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]), the second-longest streak ever and the longest [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament consecutive appearances|active streak in college basketball]].<ref name=":37">{{Cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/03/12/michigan-state-spartans-basketball-ncaa-tournament-miami-hurricanes/99105714/|title=Spartans extend NCAA tournament streak, to play Miami (Fla.) in Tulsa|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2017-03-13|language=en}}</ref> Michigan State has the sixth most all-time [[NCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by school|Final Four appearances]] with 10 ([[1957 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|1957]], [[1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|1979]], [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1999]], [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2000]], [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2001]], [[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2005]], [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2009]], [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2010]], [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2015]], and [[2019 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2019]]). The program is also ninth all-time in [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament all-time team records|NCAA tournament winning percentage]] (.686, through 2023). Michigan State also has 15 NCAA Elite Eights (6th-most all-time), and 22 NCAA Sweet Sixteens (tied for 5th-most all-time with Indiana).

On February 15, 2025, Izzo set the record for most wins by a coach in Big Ten conference play with 354.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-16 |title=Michigan State coach Tom Izzo breaks Bob Knight's Big Ten wins record with victory over Illinois |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-breaks-bob-knights-big-ten-wins-record-with-victory-over-illinois-032343015.html |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> On March 5, 2025, Izzo moved into a three way tie with Ward Lambert and Bob Knight for the most Big Ten regular season championships, each with 11 championship teams.

== Team history ==

=== 1898–1954: 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.<ref name=MediaGuide>{{Cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/16-17MediaGuide.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130043829/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/16-17MediaGuide.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2016|title=16/17 Media Guide|publisher=Michigan State Spartans}}</ref> MAC's first full-time athletic director and one of the Spartan's 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 [[1908–09 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|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 University|Michigan State]] for 41 years as assistant athletic director and business manager.

[[Benjamin Van Alstyne]] coached MSU for 22 years from 1926 to 1949. He is third in career victories with 231. [[Benjamin Van Alstyne|Van Alstyne]] coached MSU's first All-American, [[Roger Grove]], in 1930. Some of his greatest victories included a 27–26 victory over [[1929–30 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] in 1930 at the dedication of [[Demonstration Hall]], and a 66–50 upset over [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]] in 1945 that was named “Coca-Cola 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 [[Al Kircher|Alton Kircher]], the Spartans finished 4–18. Following the conclusion of the 1950 season, the Spartans joined the [[Big Ten Conference]].

Pete Newell was hired from [[San Francisco Dons men's basketball|San Francisco]] following a successful four years with the Dons where he went 70–37 and won the [[1949 National Invitation Tournament|1949 NIT]]. His 1951–52 squad was the first ranked Spartan team and also registered a win over No. 14 [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|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 Wildcats men's basketball|Kansas State]]. After four seasons, [[California Golden Bears men's basketball|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.<ref name="gf">[https://www.espn.com/magazine/vol4no19bigmancamp.html The Godfather], espn.com, accessed October 9, 2010.</ref><ref name="scout">[http://collegehoops.scout.com/2/558707.html Pete Newell Still The Footwork Master] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716021133/http://collegehoops.scout.com/2/558707.html |date=July 16, 2011 }}, scout.com, accessed October 9, 2010.</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080220070154/http://www.sdhoc.com/main/articles/sandieganselsewhere/newellbasketballmind A beautiful basketball mind]}}, www.sdhoc.com, accessed October 9, 2010. <br>*Ortiz, Jorge L. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2001/12/28/SP190250.DTL Another legacy at Newell Many coaches with links to Heathcote], December 28, 2001. <br>* Chin. pg. 135 <br>*Mandelbaum. pg. 329</ref>

=== 1954–1965: Forrest "Forddy" Anderson era ===
[[Forddy Anderson|Forrest "Forddy" Anderson]] was hired away from [[Bradley Braves men's basketball|Bradley]] following a trip to the [[1954 NCAA basketball tournament|1954 Final Four]] with the Braves. His Bradley team had also made it to the [[1950 NCAA basketball tournament|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 [[1957 NCAA University Division basketball championship game|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 [[1956–57 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|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 (basketball)|Johnny Green]], the Spartans cruised to a Big Ten Championship, winning the league by four games. A win over [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]] in the [[1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|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.

=== 1965–1976: post-Anderson era ===
[[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 [[1966–67 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|next season]], he led the Spartans to a shared Big Ten title, but [[1966–67 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]] received the [[1967 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|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.

[[Gus Ganakas]] was an assistant under Benington and was hired to take over following Benington's death. His most successful seasons were in 1973–74 with a fourth-place Big Ten finish and 1974–75 with a 17–9 overall record. In [[1974–75 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1975]], 10 black members of his team walked out before a game against Indiana for what was perceived at the time as a racial disagreement over starting a white player.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|last=Solari|first=Chris|title=Gus Ganakas, former MSU basketball coach, dies at age 92|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/2019/01/11/gus-ganakas-michigan-state-msu/2551129002/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Lansing State Journal|language=en-US}}</ref> Ganakas was fired 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 from 1998 to 2000. He was an MSU basketball radio announcer until 2017. He died in 2019.<ref name=":17" />

=== 1976–1995: Jud Heathcote era ===
[[Jud Heathcote]] was hired to take over as coach in 1976 from [[Montana Grizzlies basketball|Montana]] by athletic director [[Joseph Kearney]] in May 1976, after coaching the Grizzlies for five years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/08/28/former-michigan-state-coach-jud-heathcoate-dies-age-90/610920001/|title=Former Michigan State basketball coach Jud Heathcote dies at age 90|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2017-08-29|language=en}}</ref> Heathcote had led the Grizzlies to two [[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]] championships and the [[1975 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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.<ref name=MediaGuide /> 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.<ref name=MediaGuide /><ref name=":0" /> The [[1977–78 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1977–78 Spartans]] won the Big Ten title, their first since 1967, and qualified for the [[1978 NCAA Division I basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] for only the third time in school history. They advanced to the Elite Eight and were led by Johnson and [[Greg Kelser]]. In [[1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1979]], the duo led the Spartans to a second consecutive Big Ten title and the [[1979 NCAA Division I basketball championship game|NCAA National Championship]]. The NCAA championship marked the school's first in basketball.

Following the championship, Johnson left school to join the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] and Kelser graduated. The result was a [[1979–80 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|ninth place]] finish in the Big Ten the next year and struggles thereafter. MSU returned to postseason play in [[1982–83 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1983]], finishing with a 17–13 record and receiving an invitation to the [[1983 National Invitation Tournament|National Invitation Tournament]].

Following the expansion of the NCAA tournament to 64 teams in [[1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1985]], Heathcote returned the [[1984–85 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Spartans]], led by the future MSU all-time scoring leader, [[Scott Skiles]], to the tournament with a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten. [[1985–86 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|MSU]] again reached the [[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] the following year after finishing third in the Big Ten with a 23–8 record. Led by Skiles and [[Darryl Johnson (basketball)|Darryl Johnson]], they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing.

Heathcote returned MSU to postseason play in [[1988–89 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1989]], led by [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]], losing the third-place game of the [[1989 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]]. Smith returned the [[1989–90 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Spartans]] to the NCAA tournament in [[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1990]] as a No. 1 seed. The Spartans narrowly avoided losing to No. 16-seeded [[Murray State Racers men's basketball|Murray State]], needing overtime to advance to the second round.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/16/sports/michigan-state-edges-murray-state-in-overtime.html|title=Michigan State Edges Murray State in Overtime|last=Times|first=Barry Jacobs, Special To The New York|date=1990-03-16|access-date=2016-07-07|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-16-sp-152-story.html|title=NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST REGIONAL : Popeye Can't Finish Off Michigan State|last=Penner|first=Mike|date=1990-03-16|access-date=2016-07-07|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> They again narrowly advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]] in overtime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-24-sp-619-story.html|title=NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : SOUTHEAST REGIONALS : Georgia Tech Beats Clock (?), Michigan State in Overtime|last=PENNER|first=MIKE|date=1990-03-24|access-date=2016-07-07|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The [[1990–91 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Spartans]] also made an appearance in the [[1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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 Phoenix men's basketball|Green Bay]] on a buzzer beater by Smith.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-16-sp-97-story.html|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA TOURNAMENT : WEST REGIONAL AT TUCSON : Michigan State Escapes Upset|last=WOJCIECHOWSKI|first=GENE|date=1991-03-16|access-date=2016-07-07|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In the second round, they lost to No. 10 [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]] in double overtime.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-18-sp-282-story.html|title=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.|last=WOJCIECHOWSKI|first=GENE|date=1991-03-18|access-date=2016-07-07|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

The [[1991–92 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Spartans]] made their third straight trip to the [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] in 1992. 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 Bears basketball|Missouri State]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/21/sports/ncaa-tournament-midwest-an-unlikely-scorer-helps-michigan-state.html|title=N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: MIDWEST; An Unlikely Scorer Helps Michigan State|date=1992-03-21|access-date=2016-07-07|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> before losing to [[1991-92 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team|Cincinnati]] in the second round in a rematch of an earlier Spartan win.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-23-sp-3070-story.html|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN'S TOURNAMENT : This Time, Cincinnati Holds Off Michigan State, 77–65|agency=Associated Press|date=1992-03-23|access-date=2016-07-07|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

A trip to the [[1993 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] in [[1992–93 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1993]] broke the NCAA tournament streak, but Heathcote again led [[1993–94 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|MSU]] to the NCAA tournament in [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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 Pirates men's basketball|Seton Hall]] in the first round<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/19/sports/ncaa-tournament-southeast-seton-hall-collapses-after-taking-early-lead.html|title=N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: SOUTHEAST; Seton Hall Collapses After Taking Early Lead|last=George|first=Thomas|date=1994-03-19|access-date=2016-07-07|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> before losing to second-seeded [[1993–94 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in the second round.

In his final year at MSU in [[1994–95 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1995]], Heathcote returned the Spartans to the [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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. 14-seeded [[Weber State Wildcats men's basketball|Weber State]] in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/03/18/weber-state-79-michigan-state-72/|title=Weber State 79, Michigan State 72|access-date=2016-07-07}}</ref> 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."<ref name=":0" />

In 2001, the [[National Association of Basketball Coaches]] awarded Heathcote 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 ===
Tom Izzo took over for Heathcote in 1995 after 11 years as an assistant coach under Heathcote.

Michigan State struggled in the first season with Izzo at the helm and 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 [[1996 NIT|NIT]] where they defeated [[Washington Huskies men's basketball|Washington]] before losing to [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]] in the second round. The season marked the last time MSU did not finish with a winning record.

In [[1996–97 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 (basketball)|Flintstones]]" who would win the [[2000 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|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 [[1997 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] for the second consecutive year. MSU beat [[George Washington Colonials men's basketball|George Washington]] in the first round<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/events/msu-m-baskbl-ev28.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103522/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/events/msu-m-baskbl-ev28.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and lost in the second round to [[Florida State Seminoles men's basketball|Florida State]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/events/msu-m-baskbl-ev29.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103523/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/events/msu-m-baskbl-ev29.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2025, this is the last year MSU failed to make the NCAA tournament.

In [[1997–98 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1998]], MSU welcomed freshman recruit [[Charlie Bell (basketball)|Charlie Bell]], the fourth of Izzo's "Flintstones" and started slow. They lost to No. 7 [[Temple Owls men's basketball|Temple]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/msu-m-baskbl-r1997124.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216062925/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/msu-m-baskbl-r1997124.html|archive-date=February 16, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and suffered surprising losses to [[UIC Flames men's basketball|UIC]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/msu-m-baskbl-r19971121.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216001821/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/msu-m-baskbl-r19971121.html|archive-date=February 16, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and [[Detroit Titans men's basketball|Detroit]] in non-conference.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/msu-m-baskbl-s19971213.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216015958/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/msu-m-baskbl-s19971213.html|archive-date=February 16, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> However, MSU won nine of their first 10 conference games before losing to eventual conference co-champion [[1997–98 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]. In January, MSU entered the AP and Coaches rankings for the first time since the end of the 1994–95 season.<ref name="msuspartans.com2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/9798spec-rel/msu-m-baskbl-spec-rel38.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203184906/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/9798spec-rel/msu-m-baskbl-spec-rel38.html|archive-date=February 3, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Spartans finished in a tie for the conference championship, their first since [[1989–90 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1990]], with a record of 13–3 in conference play.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030498aab.html|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203143615/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030498aab.html|archive-date=February 3, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Mateen Cleaves was named Big Ten Player of the Year. The Spartans earned the No. 1 seed in the inaugural [[1998 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], but lost their first game in the quarterfinals to [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball|Minnesota]].<ref name=":02" /> Izzo's team received an at-large bid to the [[1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] as a No. 4 seed in the East Region, their first trip to the Tournament since [[1994–95 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1995]]. MSU advanced to their first Sweet Sixteen since [[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1990]] by beating [[Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball|Eastern Michigan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031398aaa.html|title=Men's Hoops Avoids NCAA Upset – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216105727/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031398aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/519/1998-Michigan-State-vs-Eastern-Michigan-Round-of-64|title=1998 Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan Round of 64|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-23}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and No. 8 [[1997–98 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team|Princeton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031498aaa.html|title=Men's Basketball Knocks off Princeton to Advance to Sweet 16 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216020000/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031498aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-15-sp-29290-story.html|title=Backdoor Gets Slammed on Princeton|last=NORWOOD|first=ROBYN|date=1998-03-15|access-date=2016-02-23|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/15/sports/1998-ncaa-tournament-second-round-east-tar-heels-wrest-overtime-victory.html|title=1998 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: SECOND ROUND – EAST; Tar Heels Wrest Overtime Victory From Charlotte|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=1998-03-15|access-date=2016-02-23|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> The Spartans were eliminated from the Tournament by No. 1 [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] in the Sweet Sixteen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032098aaa.html|title=Men's Hoops Fall to No. 1 UNC, 73–58 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-23|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216091815/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032098aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As the [[1998–99 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112198aab.html|title=Temple Stuns No. 5 Michigan State, 60–59 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103217/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112198aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120398aaa.html|title=No. 4 Duke Holds on to Beat No. 9 MSU, 73–67 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103224/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120398aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120698aaa.html|title=Men's Basketball Falls to Top-Ranked UConn – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103225/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120698aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> MSU would recover and, after losing their first Big Ten game to No. 24 [[1998–99 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/010799aaa.html|title=Men's Basketball Suffers Upset at the Hands of No. 24 Wisconsin – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103241/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/010799aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stats.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-baskbl///1998-1999/01-06-99.html|title=UWBadgers.com – The Official Athletic Site of the Wisconsin Badgers – Men's Basketball|website=stats.uwbadgers.com|access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref> 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. For the second consecutive year, Mateen Cleaves was named Big Ten Player of the Year. The Spartans won the [[1999 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] and earned the conference's automatic bid to the [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]].  As the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and ranked No. 2 in the country, MSU defeated [[Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball|Mount St. Mary's]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031399aaa.html|title=Michigan State Passes First round Test – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103321/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031399aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball|Mississippi]] to advance to their second straight Sweet Sixteen.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031599aaa.html|title=Spartans Survive Battle with Ole Miss – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103323/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031599aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> A win over [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soonerstats.com/basketball/men/seasons/schedule.cfm?SeasonID=1999|title=1999 OU Men's Basketball Season – SoonerStats.com – Oklahoma Sooners Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Softball Scores, Records, and Stats|website=www.soonerstats.com|access-date=2016-02-22}}</ref> and [[1998–99 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] led MSU to the Final Four for the first time since 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032299aaa.html|title=See You in St. Pete! – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103335/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032299aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/938/1999-Michigan-State-vs-Kentucky-Elite-Eight|title=1999 Michigan State vs. Kentucky Elite Eight|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-22}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> However, MSU fell short in their bid for an NCAA championship, losing to [[1998–99 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in the Final Four.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032899aaa.html|title=Spartans Battle, Fall to Blue Devils – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-22|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103337/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032899aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/1219/1999-Duke-vs-Michigan-State-Final-Four|title=1999 Duke vs. Michigan State Final Four|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-22}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In [[1999–2000 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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. Peterson was named Big Ten Player of the Year, the third consecutive year a Spartan had received the award. The Spartans went on to win the third annual [[2000 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] as the No. 2 seed, defeating No. 25 [[1999–2000 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]] for the championship for the second consecutive year.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031200aaa.html|title=Peterson, Cleaves Lead Spartans To Second-Straight Big Ten Title – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303131530/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031200aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans were awarded the No. 1 seed, their second consecutive No. 1 seed, in the Midwest Region of the [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. From there, the Spartans cruised to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen with wins over [[Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball|Valparaiso]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/2364/2000-Michigan-State-vs-Valparaiso-Round-of-64|title=2000 Michigan State vs. Valparaiso Round of 64|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031600aaa.html|title=Spartans One Step Closer To Final Four – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202648/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031600aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/2312/2000-Michigan-State-vs-Utah-Round-of-32|title=2000 Michigan State vs. Utah Round of 32|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031800aaa.html|title=Men's Hoops Moves Past Utah Into Sweet 16, 73–61 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202652/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031800aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> MSU continued their national championship push by reaching their second consecutive Final Four with wins over [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/03/24/spt_michigan_state_75.html|title=Michigan State 75, Syracuse 58|website=enquirer.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032300aaa.html|title=Michigan State Moves To Elite Eight – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202655/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032300aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball|Iowa State]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/03/26/spt_michigan_state_75.html|title=Michigan State 75, Iowa State 64|website=enquirer.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032500aaa.html|title=Spartans Return To Final Four – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202659/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032500aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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, [[1999–2000 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]], beating them in a hard-fought game, 53–41.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040100aaa.html|title=Spartans Beat Badgers At Their Own Game, 53–41 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202703/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040100aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the national championship game, the Spartans triumphed over the [[1999–2000 Florida Gators men's basketball team|Florida Gators]] 89–76, despite losing Cleaves to an ankle injury 3:42 into the second half.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/04/sports/ncaa-basketball-tournament-championship-game-spartans-no-1-from-start-to-finish.html|title=N.C.A.A. BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: CHAMPIONSHIP GAME; Spartans No. 1 From Start to Finish|last=Drape|first=Joe|date=2000-04-04|access-date=2016-02-18|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> 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 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 Nittany Lions basketball|Penn State]] in the [[2001 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] in their attempt to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030901aaa.html|title=Spartans Sputter At Big Ten tournament – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202349/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030901aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They received their third consecutive No. 1 seed, in the South Region of the [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. Seeking a repeat National Championship, MSU easily dispatched [[Alabama State Hornets men's basketball|Alabama State]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101075/101075354.htm#RECAPS|title=NCAA Men's Basketball – Alabama State vs. Michigan State|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}</ref> and [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101077/101077354.htm#RECAPS|title=NCAA Men's Basketball – Fresno State vs. Michigan State|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}</ref> to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive year. A win over [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/ncb/2001/20010323/recap/gajmay.html|title=Gonzaga Gonzaga/Michigan State Michigan St Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN|website=a.espncdn.com|access-date=2016-02-18}}</ref> and [[2000–01 Temple Owls men's basketball team|Temple]] led to the school's third straight trip to the [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Final Four]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032501aae.html|title=Michigan State's Thomas Plays Career Game – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-09|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025536/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032501aae.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, they were unable to repeat as national champions, losing to [[2000–01 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team|Arizona]] in the National Semifinal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040201aab.html|title=Michigan State Falls Short In Title Defense – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-09|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025515/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040201aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2001/04/01/arizona-steals-the-show-80-61/|title=Arizona steals the show, 80–61|website=tribunedigital-baltimoresun|date=April 2001 |access-date=2016-02-09}}</ref> Following the season, Randolph and Richardson each left school early and declared for the [[2001 NBA draft|NBA draft]].

As a result of Randolph and Richardson's early departure, [[2001–02 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|MSU]] struggled with Izzo's tough non-conference schedule in 2002. 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 Badgers men's basketball|Wisconsin]] snapped MSU's 53-game home winning streak.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uwbadgers.com/news/2002/1/12/Badgers_End_MSU_s_Home_Win_Streak.aspx|title=Badgers End MSU's Home Win Streak|website=University of Wisconsin|date=January 12, 2002 |access-date=2016-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/011202aaa.html|title=Men's Hoops Edged By Wisconsin, 64–63 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-09|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307004131/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/011202aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 [[2002 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] to No. 23 [[2001–02 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]] marking the first time since 1997 that Michigan State did not win either the Big Ten regular season or tournament title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030802aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall To Indiana In Big Ten Tourney – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-18|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306234413/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030802aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid as a No. 10 seed in the [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] and were eliminated in the first round by [[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|NC State]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/ncb/2002/20020315/recap/michiganstncstate.html|title=Espn.com|website=Wolfpack rally to dispatch Michigan State|access-date=2016-02-09}}</ref>

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 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 Boilermakers men's basketball|Purdue]] in the [[2003 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] quarterfinals,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031403aaa.html|title=Spartans Move On With Fifth Straight Win Over Purdue – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225024508/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031403aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> but fell to [[2002–03 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031503aaa.html|title=Spartans Lose By Point In Big Ten Semifinals – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225034825/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031503aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans received a bid to the [[2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] for the sixth consecutive year. MSU received a No. 7 seed in the South Region. A win over [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado]] in the first round<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/22/sports/2003-ncaa-tournament-south-michigan-st-79-colorado-64.html|title=2003 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: SOUTH; MICHIGAN ST. 79, COLORADO 64|last=Spousta|first=Tom|date=2003-03-22|access-date=2016-02-17|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> was followed by a rout of No. 10 [[Florida Gators men's basketball|Florida]] to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in six years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/24/sports/2003-ncaa-tournament-south-michigan-state-hits-a-high-note.html|title=2003 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: SOUTH; Michigan State Hits a High Note|last=Spousta|first=Tom|date=2003-03-24|access-date=2016-02-17|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> The Spartans defeated No. 17 [[2002–03 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]] to advance to the [[Elite Eight]] for the fourth time in five years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/29/sports/2003-ncaa-tournament-south-inexperienced-michigan-state-remains-unfazed.html|title=2003 N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: SOUTH; Inexperienced Michigan State Remains Unfazed|last=George|first=Thomas|date=2003-03-29|access-date=2016-02-17|issn=0362-4331|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> However, MSU fell to No. 5 [[Texas Longhorns men's basketball|Texas]] in the Regional Final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/1228/2003-Texas-vs-Michigan-State-Elite-Eight|title=2003 Texas vs. Michigan State Elite Eight|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033003aaa.html|title=Spartans' Season Comes To An End In NCAA Regional Final – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225061529/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/033003aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In [[2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2004]], Izzo looked to continue his dominant NCAA run. However, Izzo's penchant for tough scheduling hurt his team as they faced a murderer's row of a schedule which included three straight losses to No. 6 [[2003–04 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]], in overtime,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120303aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall In Battle Of Sixes – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030755/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120303aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> to No. 14 [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]] at the [[The Palace of Auburn Hills|Palace of Auburn Hills]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120603aaa.html|title=Spartan Comeback Falls Short Against Oklahoma In OT – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030759/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120603aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and to No. 8 [[2003–04 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] at [[Ford Field]] in the [[Basketbowl]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/121303aaa.html|title=Men's Basketball Falls To No. 8 Kentucky, 79–74 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030801/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/121303aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=233470127|title=Wildcats make bid for No. 1 before record crowd|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The Spartans followed this losing streak by losing two of their final four non-conference games including at No. 17 [[2003–04 Syracuse Orangemen basketball team|Syracuse]] and dropped out of the rankings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/010304aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall At No. 17 Syracuse, 96–83 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030918/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/010304aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They finished the non-conference slate at 5–6. After a loss to open Big Ten play to No. 21 [[2003–04 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/011004aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall To No. 21 Wisconsin, 77–64 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030929/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/011004aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 Wildcats men's basketball|Northwestern]] in the [[2004 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] quarterfinals<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031204aaa.html|title=Spartans Advance Past Northwestern, 68–55 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024742/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031204aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> was followed by a third loss of the season to No. 17 Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031304aaa.html|title=Spartans Edged Out By Wisconsin, 68–66 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-17|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031100/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031304aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans received a No. 7 seed in the [[2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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 Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031804aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall To Nevada In NCAA First round – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216122501/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031804aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com/l/1217/2004-Nevada-vs-Michigan-State-Round-of-64|title=2004 Nevada vs. Michigan State Round of 64|website=ncaa-basketball-tournament.pointafter.com|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In [[2004–05 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[2004–05 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/020105aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall to Top-Ranked Illini – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-16|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103705/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/020105aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 [[2004 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] to [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|Iowa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031105aaa.html|title=Michigan State Edged By Iowa, 71–69 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-16|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024551/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031105aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Michigan State received an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed in the Austin Regional of the [[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], their eighth straight appearance in the Tournament under Tom Izzo. Wins over [[Old Dominion Monarchs men's basketball|Old Dominion]]<ref name="scores.espn.go.com">{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000035|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317150447/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000035|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2011|title=Spartans avoid repeating '04 ouster, top ODU|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-16}}</ref> and [[Vermont Catamounts men's basketball|Vermont]] led the Spartans to the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth time in eight years.<ref name="scores.espn.go.com" /> In the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans beat No. 3-ranked and No. 1-seeded [[2004–05 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]], which MSU had not defeated since 1958.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000038|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108052701/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=254000038|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2009|title=Michigan State takes down No. 1 seed Duke|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> The win marked Izzo's first win over Duke's [[Mike Krzyzewski]] (as of 2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/play-index/matchup_finder.cgi?request=1&year_min=1950&year_max=2016&school_id=michigan-state&opp_id=duke&comp_school=le&rank_school=ANY&comp_opp=le&rank_opp=ANY&game_type=A&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=&is_overtime=&order_by=date_game|title=Matchup Finder {{!}} College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2017-01-19}}</ref> A double overtime victory over [[2004–05 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/033005aad.html|title=Men's Basketball Makes Fourth Trip To Final Four In Last Seven Years – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-09|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216123036/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/033005aad.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=254000046|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216212606/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=254000046|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2016|title=Michigan St. outlasts Kentucky in double-OT thriller|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> 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 [[2004–05 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040205aaa.html|title=Michigan State Falls To North Carolina In Final Four Matchup – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216123033/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040205aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ESPN">{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=254000062|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113203625/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=254000062|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 13, 2016|title=Oh Roy! North Carolina stops Michigan State|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref>

The [[2005–06 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2005–06 Spartans]] opened the season with a loss to [[Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball|Hawaii]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111905aaa.html|title=Michigan State Falls To Hawaii, 84–62 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-16|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224061139/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111905aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> before losing to No. 8 [[2005–06 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team|Gonzaga]] led by [[Adam Morrison]] in triple overtime in the [[Maui Invitational Tournament|Maui Classic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=253260127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117161406/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=253260127|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2016|title=Gonzaga outlasts Michigan State in 3 OT in Maui|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-16}}</ref> 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 [[2006 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], MSU defeated [[2005–06 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030906aaa.html|title=Michigan State Advances In Big Ten tournament – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-16|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224084454/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030906aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and No. 9 [[2005–06 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031006aaa.html|title=Michigan State Knocks Off No. 9 Illinois, 61–56 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-16|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224081122/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031006aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> before being defeated by No. 20 [[2005–06 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|Iowa]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031106aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall To No. 20 Hawkeyes, 53–48 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-16|archive-date=February 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224081938/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031106aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed in the [[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], their ninth consecutive trip to the Tournament. In the Tournament, they lost to eventual [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Final Four]] [[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella]], [[2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team|George Mason]], in the first round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031706aab.html|title=Michigan State Falls To George Mason, 75–65 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216122754/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031706aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the season, Shannon Brown declared for the [[2006 NBA draft|NBA draft]], leaving the Spartans one year prior to graduation, just the fourth player under Izzo to declare early.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stories/042406aah.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926041600/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stories/042406aah.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2017|title=Shannon Brown To Test NBA Draft Waters :: Spartan junior will enter his name in draft, but will not hire an agent.|website=www.cstv.com|access-date=2016-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/04/gary_harris_becomes_just_the_f.html|title=Gary Harris becomes just the fifth player in Tom Izzo era to declare early for NBA draft|website=MLive.com|date=April 15, 2014 |access-date=2016-02-03}}</ref>

The [[2006–07 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[2006–07 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]] which likely assured the Spartans a trip to the NCAA tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=270510127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630145837/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=270510127|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2016|title=Neitzel, Michigan State stun No. 2 Wisconsin|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref> MSU lost to Wisconsin<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030907aaa.html|title=Spartans Face Wisconsin In Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref> after beating [[Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball|Northwestern]] in the [[2007 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030807aaa.html|title=Michigan State Tops Northwestern, 62–57, To Advance To Quarterfinals – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118084016/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030807aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid to the [[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] for the 10th consecutive year and beat [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]], coached by former Izzo assistant [[Tom Crean (basketball)|Tom Crean]], in the first round of the Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031507aaa.html|title=Spartans Top Marquette In First round – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118083959/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031507aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> A loss to No. 3 [[2006–07 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] in the second round ended the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=274000018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317200905/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=274000018|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2011|title=Hansbrough casts aside mask, then Michigan State|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref>

In [[2007–08 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2008]], MSU finished the non-conference schedule 12–1 and ranked No. 6 in the country with wins over No. 24 [[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|NC State]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=273320127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201190627/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=273320127|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 1, 2007|title=Suton's double-double sparks streaking Spartans|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> No. 20 [[2007–08 BYU Cougars men's basketball team|BYU]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=273420252|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211215742/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=273420252|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2007|title=Michigan St. turns in it up in 2nd half to beat BYU|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> and No. 4 [[2007–08 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team|Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/122207aab.html|title=Key First-Half Run Powers No. 9 Michigan State Past No. 4 Texas – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> 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 [[2008 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], they beat [[2007–08 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]] before losing to No. 8 [[2007–08 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031508aab.html|title=No. 19 Spartans Edged by No. 8 Badgers – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118083049/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031508aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid to the [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] to mark their 11th consecutive trip to the Tournament under Tom Izzo. As a No. 5 seed, the Spartans beat [[2007–08 Temple Owls men's basketball team|Temple]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032008aaa.html|title=Spartans Knock Out Temple, 72–61, To Advance To Second round – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> and [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|Pittsburgh]] to move on to the Sweet Sixteen for the seventh time in 11 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=284000021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409025517/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=284000021|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 9, 2016|title=Spartan guards shoot Michigan St. past Pittsburgh|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> A rout by a Derrick Rose-led [[2007–08 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]] ended the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=284000022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402212530/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=284000022|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2008|title=Memphis shows top-seed cred, spanks Spartans|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref>

[[File:Kalin Lucas Michigan State.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Kalin Lucas]]]]
By the beginning of the [[2008–09 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012009aag.html|title=Michigan State Hosts Northwestern|access-date=2017-02-03|language=en|archive-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085336/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012009aag.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> MSU finished the conference season well, winning the [[2008–09 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten championship]] by four games with a 15–3 record, 25–5 overall, and ranked No. 7 in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=290670127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085102/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=290670127|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 4, 2017|title=Purdue vs. Michigan State – Game Recap – March 8, 2009 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-02-03}}</ref> Following the conclusion of the regular season, [[Kalin Lucas]] was named Big Ten Player of the Year<ref name=":04">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030909aac.html|title=2008–09 Men's Basketball All-Big Ten Teams Dominated by Sophomore Standouts Big Ten Conference Official Site|publisher=[[Big Ten Conference]]|access-date=2016-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318201422/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030909aac.html|archive-date=March 18, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and Tom Izzo was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030909aab.html|title=Izzo, Lucas and Walton Earn Major Conference Awards – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|publisher=msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-10|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023107/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030909aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> As the No. 1 seed in the [[2008 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], the Spartans defeated [[2008–09 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team|Minnesota]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031309aaa.html|title=Spartans Advance With Win Over Minnesota|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208133559/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031309aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Michigan State's hopes for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament likely vanished as they were defeated by [[2008–09 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]], 82–70.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031409aaa.html|title=Spartans' Comeback Efforts Fall Short In Semifinals|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118082119/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031409aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Michigan State received an at-large bid as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the [[2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], their 12th straight appearance in the Tournament.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031509aaa.html|title=Spartans Earn NCAA Bid For 12th Straight Year|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208133557/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031509aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> With wins over [[Robert Morris Colonials men's basketball|Robert Morris]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=294000058|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326101121/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=294000058|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 26, 2009|title=Michigan St. grinds out Robert Morris in opener|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> and [[2008–09 USC Trojans men's basketball team|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.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032509aac.html|title=Spartans Face Kansas In Sweet 16 On Friday|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208133840/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/032509aac.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000059|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223230246/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000059|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2016|title=Walton's offense contributes to Michigan St. win|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> MSU advanced to the Elite Eight with a win over No. 14-ranked and No. 3-seeded [[2008–09 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000060|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223205712/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000060|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2016|title=Michigan State ousts defending champ Kansas|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> In the Elite Eight, the Spartans defeated [[2008–09 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]] to advance to Final Four in nearby [[Detroit]], only 90 miles from MSU's campus.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000061|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202223509/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000061|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2016|title=Spartans squeeze Louisville for Final Four berth|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2016-02-10}}</ref> The Spartans defeated [[2008–09 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|UConn]] in the national semifinals to earn their third-ever trip to the national championship game.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040409aab.html|title=Spartans Halt Huskies In Final Four, Advance To NCAA Title Game|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208133930/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040409aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> With Izzo 1–0 in championship games and the Spartans 2–0 all-time, [[2008–09 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|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.<ref name=":122">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000063|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915041827/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=294000063|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2016|title=Michigan State vs. North Carolina – Game Recap – April 6, 2009 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-02-07}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040609aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall to Tar Heels in NCAA Title Game|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en|archive-date=February 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208133204/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/040609aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In [[2009–10 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[2010 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], they were defeated in overtime by No. 6 seed [[2009–10 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team|Minnesota]] in the quarterfinals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031310aaa.html|title=Spartans Fall Late In OT To Minnesota 72–67 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid to the [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], their 13th straight appearance, earning a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. A win over [[2009–10 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team|New Mexico State]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=300780127|title=Lucas shines as Michigan St. hangs on vs. NMSU|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-01-31}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and [[2009–10 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]] led MSU to the Sweet Sixteen for the ninth time in 13 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=300800120|title=Michigan State sinks Maryland with 3 at buzzer|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-01-31}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> 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 [[2009–10 Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team|Northern Iowa]] and [[2009–10 Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team|Tennessee]] to advance to their second consecutive Final Four and sixth in the prior 12 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=300870127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401032222/http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=300870127|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 1, 2010|title=Morgan's FT sends Spartans back to Final Four|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-01-19}}</ref> In the National semifinal, they were defeated by [[2009–10 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team|Butler]] by two points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=300930127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926095612/http://scores.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=300930127|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2017|title=Butler vs. Michigan State – Game Recap – April 3, 2010 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-05-18}}</ref>

The [[2010–11 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2010–11 Spartans]]. let by senior Kalin Lucas, finished the non-conference portion of their season 8–4 and ranked No. 20 in the country. However, the Spartans were inconsistent in [[2010–11 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|conference play]], suffering nine losses and finishing 9–9 in conference and in danger of missing the NCAA tournament. After beating [[2010–11 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|Iowa]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031011aaa.html|title=Green's Double-Double Helps MSU Top Iowa, 66–61 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222140404/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031011aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and blowing out No. 9 [[2010–11 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031111aaa.html|title=Spartans Upset No. 9 Purdue, 74–56, Advance To Semifinals – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222141849/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031111aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the [[2011 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], the Spartans fell to [[2010–11 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team|Penn State]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031211aab.html|title=Michigan State Falls In Semifinals To Penn State, 61–48 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222140408/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031211aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The blowout win over Purdue likely ensured the Spartans inclusion in the NCAA tournament.<ref name=":2" /> Michigan State received a No. 10 seed in the Southeast Region of the [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], their 14th straight appearance, but the lowest seeding the Spartans had received in the NCAA tournament since [[2001–02 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2002]]. MSU fell behind early to [[2010–11 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]] in the second round (formerly known as the first round) and made a furious rally, but fell short, losing by two points.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=310760026|title=Michigan State vs. UCLA box score|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 18, 2011}}</ref> 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 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[2011–12 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]] meant the Spartans shared the [[2011–12 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten regular season championship]] with Ohio State and [[2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]], all of which finished the Big Ten season with a 13–5 conference record.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=320640127|title=Ohio State vs. Michigan State – Game Recap – March 4, 2012 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-06-06}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In that loss to Ohio State, key freshman reserve, [[Branden Dawson]], tore his [[Anterior cruciate ligament injury|ACL]], ending his season.<ref name=":4" /> As the No. 1 seed in the [[2011 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], The Spartans beat [[2011–12 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|Iowa]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030912aaa.html|title=No. 8 Spartans Knock Out Iowa, 92–75 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223125907/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030912aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> No. 14 [[2011–12 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031012aac.html|title=No. 8 Spartans Advance to Championship, Top No. 14 Badgers, 65–52 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223112123/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031012aac.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and No. 7 Ohio State to win the tournament championship, their first tournament championship since [[2000 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|2000]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031112aab.html|title=Spartans Claim Big Ten Title Over Buckeyes, 68–64 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223101752/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031112aab.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Draymond Green earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, the fifth time a player had done so under Tom Izzo.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030512aaa.html|title=Green Named Player Of The Year; Izzo Coach Of The Year – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-15|archive-date=February 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223125323/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030512aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Izzo was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year.<ref name=":15" /> MSU received a No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA tournament, where they beat [[2011–12 Long Island Blackbirds men's basketball team|LIU–Brooklyn]] in the first round behind Green's [[triple-double]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=320760127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319195250/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=320760127|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 19, 2012|title=Michigan St. advances on Green's triple-double|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref> The Spartans overcame [[2011–12 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team|Saint Louis]] in the second round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=320780127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223230755/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=320780127|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2016|title=Green, Michigan St. oust Saint Louis to move on|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=320820127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223210148/http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=320820127|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2016|title=Louisville makes Michigan St. first 1-seed to fall|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref>

MSU began the [[2012–13 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2012–13 season]] 11–2 and ranked No. 18 in the country with wins over No. 7 [[2012–13 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]] and [[2012–13 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team|Texas]] and were led by junior [[Keith Appling]] and freshman [[Gary Harris]]. The Spartans remained ranked the entire year while finishing tied for second in the [[2012–13 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten]] with [[2012–13 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|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 [[2012–13 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|Iowa]] in the quarterfinals,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031513aaa.html|title=No. 8 Michigan State Advances to Big Ten Semifinal Game – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> but fell to eventual tournament champion, Ohio State, in the semifinals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1569966-ohio-state-vs-michigan-state-live-score-analysis-for-big-ten-tournament-2013|title=OSU Beats MSU 61–58 – as It Happened|last=Polacek|first=Scott|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> The Spartans received a No. 3 seed in the [[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], their 16th straight appearance in the tournament. MSU defeated [[2012–13 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team|Valparaiso]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=330800127|title=Nix, Spartans roll over Valpo in NCAA tourney|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> and [[2012–13 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]] to advance to their fifth Sweet Sixteen in six years and their 11th trip in 16 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=330820127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327040955/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=330820127|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 27, 2013|title=Harris helps Michigan St. cruise past Memphis|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> However, the Spartans were defeated by [[2010–11 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]], who was led by [[Seth Curry]], in the Sweet Sixteen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=330880150|title=Curry powers No. 2 Duke past Michigan State|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref>

Michigan State began the [[2013–14 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[2013–14 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] in the [[Champions Classic]], the Spartans moved to the No. 1 spot in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/127/michigan-state-spartans|title=Michigan State Spartans College Basketball – Michigan State News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More – ESPN|work=ESPN.Go.com|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> The Spartans held the No. 1 spot for three weeks before losing to [[2013–14 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] in the [[ACC–Big Ten Challenge|ACC-Big Ten Challenge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400502715|title=UNC strikes again, topples Michigan State|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> The Spartans cruised through the remaining non-conference schedule, finishing 11–1, to begin the [[2013–14 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten season]] ranked No. 5 in the country. The Spartans won their first seven conference games, but due to injuries to [[Keith Appling]], [[Adreian Payne|Adriean Payne]], and Brendan Dawson, MSU lost five of their last eight conference games to finish in a second-place tie with [[2013–14 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]] at 12–6. The Spartans, finally healthy and at full strength, beat [[2013–14 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team|Northwestern]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031414aaa.html|title=Dawson, No. 22 Spartans Top Northwestern 67–51 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-11|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216124034/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031414aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> No. 12 [[2013–14 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031514aac.html|title=Michigan State Upsets Wisconsin in Big Ten Tourney, 83–75 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-11|archive-date=February 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216124324/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031514aac.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and No. 8 [[2013–14 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] to capture the [[2014 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400546820|title=Michigan St. drops Michigan to claim Big Ten|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> This marked Michigan State's fourth tournament championship. Michigan State earned a No. 4 seed in the [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]'s East Region. With wins against [[2013–14 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens men's basketball team|Delaware]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400546908|title=Payne's career game leads Michigan St. win|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> and [[2013–14 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team|Harvard]], they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year and the 12th time in 17 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400548471|title=Michigan State survives Harvard to advance|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> They defeated No. 1-seeded [[2013–14 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]] in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2010]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://btn.com/2014/03/28/live-michigan-state-vs-virginia/|title=Michigan State tops Virginia in Sweet 16 thriller|website=Big Ten Network|date=March 29, 2014 |access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> There they fell to No. 7 seed and eventual National Champion, [[2013–14 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|Connecticut]]. With the loss, the Tom Izzo's Final Four streak ended.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.freep.com/article/20140330/SPORTS07/303300139/michigan-state-spartans-uconn-huskies-ncaa-tournament|title=UConn 60, Michigan State 54: Players shocked by NCAA tournament ouster|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2015-12-14}}</ref> Shortly after the season, Gary Harris declared for the [[2014 NBA draft|NBA draft]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2014/04/michigan_states_gary_harris_de_1.html|title=Michigan State's Gary Harris declares for NBA draft|website=MLive.com|date=April 15, 2014 |access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref>

In [[2014-15 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2015]], MSU started the season well, but with a shocking loss to [[2014–15 Texas Southern Tigers basketball team|Texas Southern]] at home in overtime, finished the non-conference season at 9–4 <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400595422|title=Texas Southern stuns No. 25 Spartans in OT|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> 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 [[2014–15 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20150313_OHIOST@MICHST/michigan-state-beats-ohio-state-76-67-in-big-ten-tourney|title=Michigan State beats Ohio State 76–67 in Big Ten tourney|website=CBSSports.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> and No. 8 [[2014–15 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]], before losing to No. 6 [[2014–15 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]] for the tournament title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400785257|title=Wisconsin uses OT shutout to take Big Ten|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid in the [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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 [[2014–15 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team|Georgia]] in the second round<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400785441|title=Michigan State holds off Georgia 70–63 in NCAA East Region|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-11}}</ref> and surprised No. 2-seeded and No. 6-ranked [[2014–15 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]] in the Third Round.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032215aaa.html|title=Michigan State Tops Virginia 60–54 For Trip to Sweet 16 – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=2016-02-02|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202834/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/032215aaa.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> With the win, the Spartans advanced to their fourth straight Sweet Sixteen and seventh Sweet Sixteen in eight years.<ref name=":16" /> Wins over [[2014–15 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team|Oklahoma]]<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400786506|title=Spartans down Sooners in East semifinal|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> and [[2014–15 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]] in overtime gave MSU a trip to their seventh Final Four under Tom Izzo.<ref name=":33">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400787680|title=Michigan St., Izzo back to Final Four|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref> 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 [[2014–15 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in the National semifinal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400787887|title=Duke's quest for fifth title rolls on with MSU win|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-02-02}}</ref>

With senior [[Denzel Valentine]] leading the [[2015–16 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2015/12/22/michigan-state-oakland-recap/77785268/|title=No. 1 MSU edges Oakland 99–93 in OT thriller at Palace|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2016-01-07}}</ref> However, Valentine suffered a knee injury in late December and would miss four games as MSU lost its first game of the season in [[2015–16 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten play]] and fell from the top spot in the polls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2015/12/30/michigan-state-basketball-loss/78072114/|title=Was No. 1 MSU hoops' loss to unranked Iowa a big deal?|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2016-01-07}}</ref> Upon Valentine's return, MSU continued to struggle, losing four of their first seven conference games and marking their worst conference start since 2003.<ref name=":132">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400839303|title=No. 16 Iowa routs No. 4 Michigan State 76–59, sweeps series|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-01-15}}</ref><ref name=":163">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/mens-basketball/2016/01/20/cornhuskers-score-third-straight-win-over-spartans-72-71-stunner/79000832/|title=Nebraska 72, MSU 71: Spartans stunned, drop 3rd straight|website=Lansing State Journal|access-date=2016-01-21}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":332">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/mens-basketball/2016/03/05/class-act-msu-trounces-osu-senior-day/81366350/|title=Class act: MSU trounces OSU on senior day|website=Lansing State Journal|access-date=2016-03-06}}</ref> Following the regular season, ''[[USA Today]]'' named Valentine National Player of the Year.<ref name=":35">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/ncaab/bigten/2016/03/08/usa-today-sports-college-basketball-player-year-denzel-valentine-michigan-state/81458046/|title=USA TODAY Sports college basketball Player of the Year: Michigan State's Denzel Valentine|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2016-03-08}}</ref> The Big Ten also announced that Valentine was the Big Ten's Player of the Year.<ref name=":34">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2016/03/07/denzel-valentine-big-ten/81449266/|title=Michigan State's Denzel Valentine named Big Ten player of year|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2016-03-08}}</ref> As the No. 2 seed in the [[2016 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], MSU defeated [[2015–16 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]] for a third time on the season before dispatching [[2015–16 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]] and [[2015–16 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|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.&nbsp;1 seed in the [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], instead receiving a No.&nbsp;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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2016/03/16/michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-favorite/81872178/|title=Michigan State the favorite to win NCAA tournament, oddsmaker says|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports-betting/story/_/id/14990303/michigan-state-spartans-see-most-betting-action-ahead-ncaa-tournament|title=Vegas action favors Michigan St. ahead of tourney|website=ESPN.com|date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref> However, MSU was shocked by No. 15-seeded [[2015–16 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team|Middle Tennessee]] in the first round in what some argued was the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2016/3/18/11265176/middle-tennessee-state-upset-michigan-state-ncaa-tournament-march-madness|title=Middle Tennessee State's win over Michigan State is the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history|last=Rutherford|first=Mike|date=March 18, 2016|website=SBNation.com|access-date=March 21, 2016}}</ref>

The [[2016–17 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[National Basketball Association|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 the 2016 team 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 (basketball)|Nick Ward]]. A young team would look to graduate transfer [[Ben Carter (basketball)|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 wouldn't get needed practice time. Wins to start conference play over [[2016–17 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team|Minnesota]] (twice) and [[2016–17 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team|Northwestern]], which would prove to be two of their better wins on the season,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couch/2017/03/07/msu-basketball-big-ten-tournament-couch-column/98870554/|title=Couch: 5 takes on MSU basketball and the Big Ten tournament|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2017-05-18|language=en}}</ref> and Bridges's return had MSU at 4–1 in conference play. However, inconsistency haunted the Spartans<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couch/2017/01/07/msu-penn-state-basketball-palestra-couch-column/96289868/|title=Couch: MSU's freshman-heavy lineup not yet fab four|work=Lansing State Journal|access-date=2017-05-18|language=en}}</ref> as their failure to win road games left the Spartans at 8–5 in conference play with a visit to conference leaders, [[2016–17 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|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 as they knocked off No. 16-ranked [[2016–17 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]] to likely seal a trip to the [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. A 10–8 conference record left the Spartans in a tie for fifth place. A win over [[2016–17 Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team|Penn State]] in the [[2017 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] preceded a loss to Minnesota, but was enough for the Spartans to get an at-large bid to the [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] for the 20th consecutive year. As a No. 9 seed, a win over [[2016–17 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team|Miami]] in the first round led to a loss to No. 1-seeded [[2016–17 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wzzm13.com/sports/college/msus-miles-bridges-named-big-ten-freshman-of-the-year/420320110|title=MSU's Miles Bridges named Big Ten freshman of the year|last=TEGNA|work=WZZM|access-date=2017-05-18|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/college/msu/mens-basketball/2017/04/13/miles-bridges-michigan-state-nba-draft-decision/100402440/|title=Miles Bridges staying at MSU: 'I have unfinished business'|work=Lansing State Journal|access-date=2017-05-18|language=en}}</ref>

Surprisingly, Bridges opted to not enter the [[2017 NBA draft|NBA draft]] and returned to Michigan State for his sophomore year in [[2017–18 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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 [[2017–18 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]]. After a loss to Duke in the second game of the season, the Spartans won the Victory Bracket of the [[Phil Knight Invitational|PK–80 Tournament]] holding No. 9-ranked [[2017–18 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2017/11/27/michigan-state-basketball-north-carolina-defense-rebounding/896815001/|title=Michigan State's 'dirty work' stifles North Carolina for PK80 title|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2017-11-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/the-worst-shooting-in-unc-history-gives-michigan-state-pk80-victory-bracket-title/|title=The worst shooting in UNC history gives Michigan State PK80 Victory bracket title|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=2017-11-27|language=en}}</ref> The Spartans won 14 straight games, and ascended to No. 1 in the country. A road loss to surprise Big Ten contender [[2017–18 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]] followed by a home loss to rival [[2017–18 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|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 [[2017–18 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]] as Bridges took the ball and hit a three-pointer to win the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400986558|title=Purdue vs. Michigan State – Game Recap – February 10, 2018 – ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2018-02-12}}</ref> On February 17, 2018 while playing at [[2017–18 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team|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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2018/02/17/no-2-michigan-state-overcomes-27-point-deficit-to-stun-northwestern/|title=No. 2 Michigan State matches largest comeback in a decade with 27-point rally over Northwestern|date=2018-02-17|work=CollegeBasketballTalk|access-date=2018-02-19|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/bigten/2018/02/17/no-1-michigan-state-storms-back-27-point-deficit-biggest-comeback-big-ten-history/348338002/|title=No. 1 Michigan State storms back from 27-point deficit for biggest comeback in Big Ten history|work=USA TODAY|access-date=2018-02-19|language=en}}</ref> The Spartans finished with a school-record 16 Big Ten wins and their first outright regular season Big Ten title since 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2018/02/25/alone-top-msu-wins-big-ten-title-outright/110836358/|title=Sole owners! Spartans win Big Ten title outright|work=Detroit News|access-date=2018-02-26|language=en}}</ref> 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 [[2018 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] and received only a No. 3 seed in the [[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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 [[2017–18 Bucknell Bison men's basketball team|Bucknell]], the Spartans fell to 11th-seeded [[2017–18 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team|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 that Tom Izzo's program had covered up sexual assault allegations ten years prior.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/22214566/pattern-denial-inaction-information-suppression-michigan-state-goes-larry-nassar-case-espn|title=OTL: Spartan secrets extend far beyond Larry Nassar|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2018-01-29}}</ref> Izzo refused to comment on the reports due to an ongoing investigation by several agencies including Michigan Attorney General's office <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/6_questions_schuette_didnt_ans.html|title=7 questions AG Bill Schuette needs to answer about his Michigan State investigation|website=mlive.com|date=January 28, 2018 }}</ref> and the United States Department of Education,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/26/education-department-michigan-state-probe-425355|title=DeVos announces new Title IX probe at Michigan State|website=politico.com|date=February 26, 2018 }}</ref> but repeatedly said he had no intention of leaving Michigan State and that he had cooperated with all investigations including the previous allegation of sexual assault in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2018/01/sexual_assault_overshadows_mic.html|title=Sexual assault overshadows Michigan State basketball win|work=MLive.com|access-date=2018-01-29|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/news/michigan-state-coach-tom-izzo-not-retiring-ncaa-tournament-round-of-32-scores-syracuse/1p74yd36op5av1qy85x2460p4k|title=Michigan State coach Tom Izzo not retiring: 'I've never run from anything in my life'|date=2018-03-19|work=Sporting News|access-date=2018-03-20}}</ref> In August 2018 the NCAA cleared Izzo in his handling of the sexual assault allegations.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2018/08/mark_dantonio_tom_izzo_welcome.html |title = Mark Dantonio, Tom Izzo welcome NCAA findings of no violations|date = August 31, 2018}}</ref> The school was implicated tangentially to the [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball corruption scandal|FBI-college basketball scandal]] as reports surfaced that Bridges had been paid to attend Michigan State, among other allegations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couch/2018/02/23/miles-bridges-mother-michigan-state-tom-izzo-federal-investigation-couch-column/366350002/|title=Couch: Alleged payment to Miles Bridges' mom another ding to Michigan State's reputation|work=Lansing State Journal|access-date=2018-02-26|language=en}}</ref> MSU conducted an investigation and presented their findings that the allegations were false to the NCAA, who cleared Bridges, ruling him eligible to play.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/michigan-states-miles-bridges-has-been-cleared-and-will-play-sunday-at-wisconsin/|title=Michigan State's Miles Bridges has been cleared and will play Sunday at Wisconsin|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=2018-02-26|language=en}}</ref>

Following Bridges and Jackson's departures to the NBA, the [[2018–19 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2018–19 team]] began the season ranked No. 10 in the country. The season was dominated by injuries to the Spartans. Starting guard [[Joshua Langford]] only played 13 games before missing the rest of the season with a foot injury. Key starter Matt McQuaid missed three games with injury and key reserve Kyle Ahrens missed nine games with back and ankle injuries. With five games remaining in the [[2018–19 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten regular season]], big man Nick Ward suffered a hairline fracture in his shooting hand and missed the rest of the regular season. He returned in time for the postseason, but was not the same as he struggled to return to the lineup. Despite this, the Spartans earned a share of the Big Ten regular season championship with [[2018–19 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]] and defeated arch-rival [[2018–19 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] twice in the regular season. Led by Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus second team All-American [[Cassius Winston]], the Spartans also won the [[2019 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] for the sixth time, again defeating Michigan in the championship game to go 3–0 against their rival. As the No. 2 seed in the [[2019 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], the school's 22nd straight appearance in the Tournament, the Spartans defeated [[2018–19 Bradley Braves men's basketball team|Bradley]] and [[2018–19 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team|Minnesota]] to advance to their first Sweet Sixteen in four years. In the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans blew out No. 3 seed [[2018–19 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]] to face top-seeded [[2018–19 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in the Elite Eight. Despite having multiple first round NBA Draft picks, the Spartans knocked off the Blue Devils to earn a trip to the school's 10th Final Four and eighth under Izzo. The win over Duke improved Izzo's record to 2–11 against Duke coach [[Mike Krzyzewski]]. In the Final Four, the Spartans were upset by [[2018–19 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team|Texas Tech]], ending the school's bid for a third national championship. Winston led the Spartans, averaging 18.8 points and 7.5 assists per game.

The [[2019–20 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2020 team]] started the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time in school history. Senior point guard Cassius Winston was a popular pick as the preseason player of the year. However, shortly before the season, it was announced that Josh Langford had reinjured the foot that had caused him to miss most of the prior season. Langford would not play a game for the Spartans during the season. Due in part to Langford's injury, the Spartans struggled in the non-conference schedule, losing the first game of the season to No. 2 Kentucky before losing twice more in their first eight games and falling to 5–3. MSU also struggled as Cassius Winston dealt with the suicide of his brother, Zachary, on November 10, 2020. Winston did not miss a game due to the tragedy, but did struggle for a portion of the season. MSU rebounded as Winston struggled to return to his All-American form and the Spartans did not lose again until Big Ten play after starting the conference schedule 5–0. The Spartans then lost six of their next 10 games to all but assure they would be unable to win their third straight Big Ten regular season championship. The Spartans rebounded to win their final five games and come from a three-game deficit to earn a share of their third straight Big Ten championship. As the Spartans prepared for the postseason, they were once again a popular pick to win the [[2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. However, the season ended abruptly when all postseason tournaments, including the NCAA tournament, were canceled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]]. Cassius Winston finished his MSU career with the most assists in Big Ten history and was a consensus second team All-American for the second consecutive year.

In the COVID-19-shortened [[2020–21 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2020–21 season]], MSU began the season well, beating [[2020–21 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] at the [[Champions Classic]] for only the third time under Izzo. MSU finished the shortened non-conference schedule with a perfect 6–0 record and ranked No. 4 in the country. However, things changed abruptly when MSU began Big Ten play. The Spartans lost four of their first six games before pausing team activities for about two weeks due to positive COVID-19 tests in the program. Upon returning to play, MSU lost three straight dropping their conference record to 2–7 on the season and making it seem highly unlikely that they would continue the school's NCAA tournament appearance streak. Four games later, their odds had not improved as they sat at 4–9 in conference and 10–9 overall with seven games remaining. MSU, however, did the unthinkable: five of their last seven games including wins over No. 5 [[2020–21 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]], No. 4 [[2020–21 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]], and No. 2 [[2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] to finish the regular season with 15–11 overall record. At 9–11 in the Big Ten, MSU finished with a losing record for the first time under Izzo, but looked safe to move the NCAA tournament streak to 23 straight appearances. A loss in the second round of the [[2020 Big Ten men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] marked the first time ever that the Spartans would not compete in the quarterfinals and left them on shaky ground for the NCAA tournament. The Spartans received an at-large bid to the [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] as a No. 11 seed in the South region. For the first time, MSU was forced to participate in the [[First Four]], losing to [[2020–21 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]] in overtime.

Looking to rebound from one of the worst seasons in Izzo's tenure, the Spartans began the [[2021–22 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2021–22 season]] with a loss to No. 3 [[2021-22 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]]. Following the loss, they won five straight before losing to defending national champion [[2021–22 Baylor Bears men's basketball team|Baylor]]. They would not lose again until suffering a home loss to [[2021-22 Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team|Northwestern]] ended their perfect start to conference play leaving them at 14–, 5–1 on the season. They rebounded well in the next game, winning on the road against No. 8 [[2021-22 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]], but would lose six of their next nine games to drop to 9–7 in Big Ten play and falling out of the national polls. A win over No. 4 [[2021-22 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]] restored likely ensured a trip to the [[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], but the Spartans dropped two of their last three regular season games, finishing 11–9 in Big Ten play and finishing in a tie with [[2021–22 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] for seventh in the conference. They beat [[2021-22 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]] in the second round of the [[2022 Big Ten men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] before beating Wisconsin in the quarterfinals. However, their Big Ten tournament run ended in the semifinals with a loss to Purdue. The Spartans continued their streak of NCAA tournament appearances, extending it to 24 straight seasons as they received an at-large bid as the No. 7 seed in the West region. In the first round, they eked out a 74–73 win against [[2021–22 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team|Davidson]], featuring former MSU player [[Foster Loyer]]. In the second round of the tournament, they faced [[2021-22 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in what would be the final match-up between [[Mike Krzyzewski]] and Tom Izzo due to Krzyzewski's retirement after the season. MSU kept the game close and held a 70–65 with five minutes remaining before Duke outscored them 20–6 to end the game and eliminate the Spartans from the tournament.

The 2022–23 team played their second game of the season on the [[USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)|USS Abraham Lincoln]] against No. 2-ranked Gonzaga, but lost by a point. A win over Kentucky in the Champions Classic highlighted the early season. However, MSU was blown out by Alabama and Notre Dame early in the season and lost their first conference game to Northwestern. MSU recovered well, starting conference play 4–1 (12–4 overall) before losing five of their next seven games. A game scheduled to be played on campus on February 15 was canceled due to a [[2023 Michigan State University shooting|shooting]] on campus the day before that killed four students. The Spartans finished the regular season 19–11, 11–8 in conference play to finish in fourth place. A loss in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament preceded the team's 25th consecutive selection to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 7 seed in the East region, the Spartans defeated USC and upset No. 2-seeded Marquette to earn the school's first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2019. In a very entertaining game, the Spartans lost to Kansas State to finish their season.

Looking to improve on the previous year's Sweet Sixteen appearance, the [[2023–24 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Spartans]] returned all major contributors to the team except Joey Hauser. The Spartans began the 2023–24 season ranked No. 4 in both preseason polls. However, they started the season 1–2 including a loss in the season opener to James Madison. Another loss to No. 3-ranked Arizona and losses to Wisconsin and Nebraska in the early schedule left them at 4–5. They blew out No. 6-ranked Baylor in Detroit. However, the Spartans started the Big Ten season 1–4 before recovering to move to 9–6 in conference by the middle of February. With a win over [[2023–24 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] on January 30, 2024, his 69th birthday, Tom Izzo earned his 700th career win, all at MSU.<ref name="freep.com">{{Cite web |title=Tom Izzo's epic journey to 700 wins with Michigan State basketball |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2024/01/31/michigan-state-basketball-coach-tom-izzos-milestone-path-to-700-wins/72414642007/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> However, they lost four of their last five conference game to finish with a 10–10 conference record in a three-way tie for sixth place. As the No. 8 seed in the [[2024 Big Ten men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]], MSU defeated [[2023–24 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team|Minnesota]] in the second round<ref name=":23">{{Cite web |title=Michigan State 77-67 Minnesota (Mar 14, 2024) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401625680 |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> before losing to top-seeded [[2023–24 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]] in the quarterfinals.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |title=Purdue 67-62 Michigan State (Mar 15, 2024) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401625684 |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> The Spartans received an at-large bid to the [[2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Tournament]] as the No. 9 seed in the West region, extending Izzo's record-setting streak to 26 straight tournament appearances.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Kyle |date=2024-03-17 |title=Michigan State earns No. 9 seed as it extends NCAA Tournament streak to 26 |url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2024/03/michigan-state-earns-no-9-seed-as-it-extends-ncaa-tournament-streak-to-26.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref> They easily defeated [[2023–24 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team|Mississippi State]] in the first round before losing to No. 1-seeded [[2023–24 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] to finish the season a disappointing 20–15.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michigan State basketball falls to North Carolina in NCAA tournament, 85-69 |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2024/03/23/michigan-state-north-carolina-march-madness-ncaa-tournament-game-2024/73079064007/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> The Spartans bounced back from the 2nd round loss the previous year in the NCAA Tournament and finished the 2024–25 season 30–7, 17–3 in Big Ten play to win the regular season championship by three games and finished in the top 10 in the nation in the national polls after starting the season unranked. They defeated Oregon in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament before losing to Wisconsin. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed in the South region for the 27th consecutive tournament, the nation's longest active streak.[1] They defeated Bryant 87-62 in the first round[2] and New Mexico 71-63 in the second round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.[3] It marked the 16th Sweet Sixteen appearance under Izzo and the school's 22nd overall.[4] MSU defeated Ole Miss 73-70 to advance to the Elite Eight[5] where they lost to overall No. 1 seed Auburn 70-64.[6]

==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 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1994–95 season]]. His hand-picked successor, Izzo, an assistant with MSU since 1983, completed his 25th year as head coach of the Spartans in 2020.

On November 28, 2009, Izzo passed Heathcote's mark of 340 career wins by beating [[2009–10 UMass Minutemen basketball team|UMass]] 106–68.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/29/in-brief-izzo-passes-heathcote-for-spartan-record/|title=In brief: Izzo passes Heathcote for Spartan record|website=Spokesman.com|access-date=2016-03-16}}</ref> Izzo now leads all MSU basketball coaches in wins with 628 through 2020.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://msuspartans.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbaskbl-0708-mg-eight|title=Michigan State Official Athletic Site|work=CSTV.com|access-date=April 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412091639/http://msuspartans.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbaskbl-0708-mg-eight|archive-date=April 12, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/tom-izzo-1.html|title=Tom Izzo Coaching Record {{!}} College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=April 13, 2016}}</ref> On March 6, 2022, Izzo surpassed [[Bob Knight]] for the most wins by a men's basketball coach at a Big Ten school with 663.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Izzo's 663rd win with Spartans tops Knight mark |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33441302/tom-izzo-663rd-win-michigan-state-spartans-tops-bobby-knight-mark-wins-big-ten-school |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

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 Brewer|Chester L. Brewer]] won 70 of 95 games from 1903 to 1910.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|Name
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|Years
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|Overall Record
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|Conference Record
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|Note
|-
| {{No wrap|''None established''}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1898–99}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|0|2|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|Charles Bemies}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1899–1901}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|5|2|record=y}}}}
|
| Michigan State's first basketball coach
|-
| {{No wrap|George Denman}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1901–03}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|11|0|record=y}}}}
|
| Michigan State's only undefeated basketball coach.
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Chester Brewer]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1903–10}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|70|25|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|John Macklin}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1910–16}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|48|38|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|George Gauthier}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1916–20}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|47|39|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|Lyman Frimodig}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1920–22}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|24|20|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Mysterious Walker|Fred Walker]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1922–24}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|20|19|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|John  Kobs}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1924–26}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|11|26|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Benjamin Van Alstyne]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1926–49}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|231|163|record=y}}}}
|
| Avg. final score increased from 28 to 46 during his tenure<ref name = SpartanSE>{{cite book | last = Seibold | first = Jack | title = The Spartan Sports Encyclopedia | publisher = Sports Publishing LLC | date = October 1, 2003 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jhDHp7joHsgC | isbn = 978-1-58261-219-5}}
</ref>
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Al Kircher|Alton Kircher]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1949–50}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|4|18|record=y}}}}
|
|
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Pete Newell]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1950–54}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|45|42|record=y}}}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|26|34|record=y}}}}
| Went on to win the [[1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|1959 NCAA tournament]] as head coach at [[California Golden Bears|California]]; coached the U.S. to the gold medal at the [[1960 Summer Olympics]]
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Forddy Anderson]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1954–65}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|125|124|record=y}}}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|69|85|record=y}}}}
| Guided Michigan State to its first Final Four and [[1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|NCAA appearance]] in [[1956–57 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1957]]; 2 NCAA appearances; 2 Conference championships
|-
| {{No wrap|[[John E. Benington|John Benington]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1965–69}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|54|38|record=y}}}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|32|24|record=y}}}}
| Conference championship in [[1966–67 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1967]]
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Gus Ganakas]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1969–76}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|89|84|record=y}}}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|49|57|record=y}}}}
|
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Jud Heathcote]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1976–95}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|340|220|record=y}}}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|182|160|record=y}}}}
| [[1979 NCAA Division I basketball tournament|1979 NCAA Champions]]; 9 NCAA appearances; 3 conference championships
|-
| {{No wrap|[[Tom Izzo]]}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|1995–Present}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|737|302|record=y}}}}
| align="center" |{{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|361|173|record=y}}}}
| [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2000 NCAA Champions]], [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2009 National Runner-up]], 8 Final Four appearances; 27 straight NCAA tournament appearances; 11 conference championships; 6 conference tournament championships
|-
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|{{No wrap|Total}}
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"| {{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|1862|1162|record=y}}}}
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"| {{No wrap|{{Winning percentage|715|537|record=y}}}}
!style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|2}};"|2 NCAA tournament championships, 10 Final Fours, 38 NCAA tournament appearances, 17 conference championships, 6 conference tournament championships
|}
<small>''Through April 1, 2025''</small>
===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 Vandals men's basketball|Idaho]] and [[Oregon Ducks men's basketball|Oregon]]), [[Bill Berry (basketball)|Bill Berry]] ([[San Jose State Spartans men's basketball|San Jose State]]), [[Mike Deane]] ([[Siena Saints men's basketball|Siena]], [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]], [[Lamar Cardinals basketball|Lamar]], and [[Wagner Seahawks men's basketball|Wagner]]), [[Jim Boylan]] ([[Chicago Bulls]] and [[Milwaukee Bucks]]), [[Jim Boylen]] ([[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]), [[Stan Joplin]] ([[Toledo Rockets men's basketball|Toledo]]), and [[Brian Gregory]] ([[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]], [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]], and [[South Florida Bulls men's basketball|South Florida]]).

Record by season under Heathcote:<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/jud-heathcote-1.html|title=Jud Heathcote Coaching Record {{!}} College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2017-02-15}}</ref>

''See [[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball seasons]]''

===Tom Izzo===
Since [[1995–96 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1995]], the team has been coached by [[Tom Izzo]], who has an overall record of 727–300 (through February 17, 2025) as the head coach at Michigan State. Izzo coached the Spartans to their second national championship in [[2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|2000]] with an 89–76 victory over [[Florida Gators men's basketball|Florida]]. Izzo has turned Michigan State into a perennial basketball powerhouse.

On March 15, 2019, Izzo won his 600th game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Ryan |title=Michigan State's Tom Izzo just won his 600th game. Here's how he got here |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2019/03/15/tom-izzo-600-wins-michigan-state-basketball/3171617002/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref> On March 8, 2022, Izzo surpassed [[Bob Knight]] for the most wins by a men's basketball coach at a Big Ten school with 663.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Izzo's 663rd win with Spartans tops Knight mark |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33441302/tom-izzo-663rd-win-michigan-state-spartans-tops-bobby-knight-mark-wins-big-ten-school |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> On January 30, 2024, also his 69th birthday, Izzo won his 700th game by beating rival Michigan 81–62.<ref name="freep.com" /> Izzo set the record for most conference wins on February 15, 2025 with 354.<ref name=":18" />

Izzo was elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/spartans/2016/04/04/msus-izzo-elected-basketball-hall-fame/82606704/|title='It's surreal': MSU's Izzo makes Hall of Fame|website=Detroit News|access-date=2016-04-04}}</ref>

Izzo has guided the Spartans to eight NCAA [[Final Four]]s 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 [[National Invitation Tournament]] and 27 straight appearances in the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]]. His teams have won 11 Big Ten regular season championships, six Big Ten tournament championships and have reached the Sweet Sixteen 20 times, the Elite Eight 14 times, the Final Four eight times, and played in two NCAA Championship games. His 2000 team won the NCAA National Championship.

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111106aaa.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120085536/http://msuspartans.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111106aaa.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2009|title=Men's Basketball Returns To Action Against The Citadel|work=CSTV.com|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>

Numerous assistant coaches under Izzo have gone to be head coaches at other schools. [[Tom Crean (coach)|Tom Crean]], the former head coach at [[Georgia Bulldogs basketball|Georgia]], was head coach at [[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Indiana]] and [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]] for nine years each. [[Brian Gregory]] coached for [[Dayton Flyers men's basketball|Dayton]], [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets basketball|Georgia Tech]] and [[South Florida Bulls men's basketball|South Florida]]. Former assistant coach [[Mike Garland]] spent three seasons as head coach at [[Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball|Cleveland State]] following an initial seven-year stint as an assistant at MSU. Former assistant [[Stan Heath]] was head coach at [[Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball|Kent State]], [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball|Arkansas]], and South Florida.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Heath confirms firing from USF coaching job|url = https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10607942/stan-heath-confirms-firing-south-florida-coaching-job|website = ESPN.com|access-date = February 11, 2016|date = March 14, 2014}}</ref> Current associate head coach [[Doug Wojcik]] was the head coach at [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball|Tulsa]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Tulsa ousts coach Wojcik citing declining sales|url = https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7673202/tulsa-golden-hurricane-fire-head-coach-doug-wojcik|website = ESPN.com|access-date = February 11, 2016|date = March 11, 2012}}</ref> and [[College of Charleston Cougars men's basketball|College of Charleston]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Charleston pays Wojcik $400K in settlement|url = https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11537211/college-charleston-cougars-pay-doug-wojcik-400000-part-settlement|website = ESPN.com|access-date = 2016-02-11|date = September 16, 2014}}</ref> Longtime assistant [[Dwayne Stephens]] was named head coach at [[Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball|Western Michigan]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Tony |title=MSU's Dwayne Stephens a 'home run hire' as Western Michigan men's basketball coach |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2022/04/04/michigan-state-dwayne-stephens-western-michigan-broncos-basketball-coach/7271383001/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Mark Montgomery (basketball)|Mark Montgomery]] was the head coach at [[Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball|Northern Illinois]] from 2011 to 2021 and was named head coach of [[Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball|Detroit Mercy]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=Detroit Mercy hires Spartans asst. Montgomery |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39869736/detroit-mercy-hires-michigan-state-mark-montgomery-coach |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Several former assistants, including Garland, Montgomery, and Wojcik have returned to assistant roles under Izzo after being fired from head coaching positions.

== Season by season results ==
{{For|the entire season-by-season results|Michigan State Spartans men's basketball seasons}}

'''Under Tom Izzo:'''
{{:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball seasons}}

==Postseason history==

===NCAA tournament===
The Spartans have appeared in 38 [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]]s, with a current streak of 27 straight years, with two NCAA basketball national championships. They have appeared in ten Final Fours and sport a 77–37 all-time NCAA tournament record.

====National championships====

{| border="0" width="80%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%" style="text-align:center;"
|- align="center"
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Season'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Coach'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Opponent'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Score'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Site'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Overall Record'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Big Ten Record'''</span>
|- align="center"
| [[1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1978–79]] || [[Jud Heathcote]] ||[[1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team|Indiana State]]|| 75–64 || [[Salt Lake City, UT]] || 25–6 || 13–5
|- align="center"
| [[1999–2000 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1999–2000]] || [[Tom Izzo]] ||[[1999–2000 Florida Gators men's basketball team|Florida]]|| 89–76 || [[Indianapolis, IN]] || 31–7 || 13–3
|- align="center"
| colspan="5" bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''National Championships'''</span>
| colspan="2" bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''2'''</span>
|}
|}

{| style="border:'1' 'solid' 'gray' " width="650px" align="left
|+ '''1979 NCAA tournament results'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/brackets/historical/1979/DI|title=2008 College Basketball Tournament Brackets – CBSSports.com|website=sportsline.com}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
! bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Round
! bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Opponent
! bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Score
|-
| First round 
|Bye
|
|-
| Second round
| No. 10 [[Lamar Cardinals basketball|Lamar]]
| 95–64
|-
| Sweet Sixteen
| No. 3 [[LSU Tigers basketball|LSU]]
| 87–71
|-
| Elite Eight
| No. 1 [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]]
| 80–68
|-
| Final Four
| No. 9 [[Pennsylvania Quakers men's basketball|Penn]]
| 101–67
|-
| [[1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|Championship]]
| No. 1 [[1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team|Indiana State]]
| 75–64
|}

{| style="border:'1' 'solid' 'gray' " width="650px" align="left"
|+ '''2000 NCAA tournament results'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/brackets/historical/2000/DI|title=2008 College Basketball Tournament Brackets – CBSSports.com|website=sportsline.com|access-date=March 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516094752/http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/brackets/historical/2000/DI|archive-date=May 16, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|-
! bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Round
! bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Opponent
! bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Score
|-
| First round
| No. 16 [[Valparaiso Crusaders basketball|Valparaiso]]
| 65–38
|-
| Second round
| No. 8 [[Utah Utes basketball|Utah]]
| 73–61
|-
| Sweet Sixteen
| No. 4 [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]]
| 75–58
|-
| Elite Eight
| No. 2 [[Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball|Iowa State]]
| 75–64
|-
| Final Four
| No. 8 [[Wisconsin Badgers basketball|Wisconsin]]
| 53–41
|-
| [[2000 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|Championship]]
| No. 5 [[1999–2000 Florida Gators men's basketball team|Florida]]
| 89–76
|}
{{clear}}

====Complete NCAA tournament results====
The Spartans have appeared in the NCAA tournament 38 times. Their combined record is 77–37.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/michigan-state/|title=Michigan State Spartans Index {{!}} College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Michigan State Spartans|Year|Seed|Round|Opponent|Result}}
|- align="center"
| [[1957 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1957]] || || Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>National third-place game  || [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]]<br>[[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]]<br>[[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]]<br>[[San Francisco Dons men's basketball|San Francisco]] || '''W''' 85–83<br>'''W''' 80–68<br>L 70–74 <sup>3OT</sup><br>L 60–67
|- align="center"
| [[1959 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1959]] || || Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight  || [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]]<br>[[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville]] || '''W''' 74–69<br>L 81–88
|- align="center"
| [[1978 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1978]] || || First Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight || [[Providence Friars men's basketball|Providence]]<br>[[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball|WKU]]<br>[[1977–78 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] || '''W''' 77–63<br>'''W''' 90–69<br>L 49–52
|- align="center"
| [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1979]] || No. 2 || Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>[[1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|National championship game]] || No. 10 [[Lamar Cardinals basketball|Lamar]]<br>No. 3 [[LSU Tigers basketball|LSU]]<br>No. 1 [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]]<br>No. 9 [[Penn Quakers men's basketball|Penn]]<br>No. 1 [[1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team|Indiana State]] || '''W''' 95–64<br>'''W''' 87–71<br>'''W''' 80–68<br>'''W''' 101–67<br>'''W''' 75–64
|- align="center"
| [[1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1985]] || No. 10 || First Round || No. 7 [[UAB Blazers men's basketball|UAB]] || L 68–70
|- align="center"
| [[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1986]] || No. 5 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 12 [[Washington Huskies men's basketball|Washington]]<br>No. 4 [[1985–86 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team|Georgetown]]<br>No. 1 [[1985–86 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]] || '''W''' 72–70<br>'''W''' 80–68<br>L 86–96 <sup>OT</sup>
|- align="center"
| [[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1990]] || No. 1 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 16 [[Murray State Racers men's basketball|Murray State]]<br>No. 9 [[UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's basketball|UC Santa Barbara]]<br>No. 4 [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]] || '''W''' 75–71 <sup>OT</sup><br>'''W''' 62–58<br>L 80–81 <sup>OT</sup>
|- align="center"
| [[1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1991]] || No. 5 || First Round<br>Second Round || No. 12 [[Green Bay Phoenix women's basketball|Green Bay]]<br>No. 4 [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]] || '''W''' 60–58<br>L 84–85 <sup>2OT</sup>
|- align="center"
| [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1992]] || No. 5 || First Round<br>Second Round || No. 12 [[Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears|SW Missouri State]]<br>No. 4 [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball|Cincinnati]] || '''W''' 61–54<br>L 65–77
|- align="center"
| [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1994]] || No. 7 || First Round<br>Second round || No. 10 [[Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball|Seton Hall]]<br>No. 2 [[1993–94 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] || '''W''' 84–73<br>L 74–85
|- align="center"
| [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995]] || No. 3 || First Round || No. 14 [[Weber State Wildcats men's basketball|Weber State]] || L 72–79
|- align="center"
| [[1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1998]] || No. 4 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 13 [[Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball|Eastern Michigan]]<br>No. 5 [[Princeton Tigers men's basketball|Princeton]]<br>No. 1 [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] || '''W''' 83–71<br>'''W''' 63–56<br>L 58–73
|- align="center"
| [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1999]] || No. 1 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four || No. 16 [[Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers men's basketball|Mount St. Mary's]]<br>No. 9 [[Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball|Ole Miss]]<br>No. 13 [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]]<br>No. 3 [[1998–99 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]<br>No. 1 [[1998–99 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] || '''W''' 76–53<br>'''W''' 74–66<br>'''W''' 54–46<br>'''W''' 73–66<br>L 62–68
|- align="center"
| [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2000]] || No. 1 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>[[2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|National championship game]] || No. 16 [[Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball|Valparaiso]]<br>No. 8 [[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]<br>No. 4 [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]]<br>No. 2 [[1999–2000 Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team|Iowa State]]<br>No. 8 [[1999–2000 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]]<br>No. 5 [[1999–2000 Florida Gators men's basketball team|Florida]] || '''W''' 65–38<br>'''W''' 73–61<br>'''W''' 75–58<br>'''W''' 75–64<br>'''W''' 53–41<br>'''W''' 89–76
|- align="center"
| [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2001]] || No. 1 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four || No. 16 [[Alabama State Hornets basketball|Alabama State]]<br>No. 9 [[Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball|Fresno State]]<br>No. 12 [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga]]<br>No. 11 [[2000–01 Temple Owls men's basketball team|Temple]]<br>No. 2 [[2000–01 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team|Arizona]] || '''W''' 69–35<br>'''W''' 81–65<br>'''W''' 77–62<br>'''W''' 69–62<br>L 61–80
|- align="center"
| [[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2002]] || No. 10 || First Round || No. 7 [[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|NC State]] || L 58–69
|- align="center"
| [[2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2003]] || No. 7 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight || No. 10 [[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado]]<br>No. 2 [[Florida Gators men's basketball|Florida]]<br>No. 6 [[2002–03 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]<br>No. 1 [[2002–03 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team|Texas]] || '''W''' 79–64<br>'''W''' 68–46<br>'''W''' 60–58<br>L 76–85
|- align="center"
| [[2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2004]] || No. 7 || First Round || No. 10 [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]] || L 66–72
|- align="center"
| [[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2005]] || No. 5 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four || No. 12 [[Old Dominion Monarchs basketball|Old Dominion]]<br>No. 13 [[Vermont Catamounts men's basketball|Vermont]]<br>No. 1 [[2004–05 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]]<br>No. 2 [[2004–05 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]<br>No. 1 [[2004–05 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] || '''W''' 89–81<br>'''W''' 72–61<br>'''W''' 78–68<br>'''W''' 94–88 <sup>2OT</sup><br>L 71–87
|- align="center"
| [[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2006]] || No. 6 || First Round || No. 11 [[2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team|George Mason]] || L 65–75
|- align="center"
| [[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2007]] || No. 9 || First Round<br>Second Round || No. 8 [[Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball|Marquette]]<br>No. 1 [[2006–07 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] || '''W''' 61–49<br>L 67–81
|- align="center"
| [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2008]] || No. 5 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 12 [[2007–08 Temple Owls men's basketball team|Temple]]<br>No. 4 [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|Pittsburgh]]<br>No. 1 [[2007–08 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]] || '''W''' 72–61<br>'''W''' 65–54<br>L 74–92
|- align="center"
| [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2009]] || No. 2 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four<br>[[2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game|National championship game]] || No. 15 [[Robert Morris Colonials men's basketball|Robert Morris]]<br>No. 10 [[2008–09 USC Trojans men's basketball team|USC]]<br>No. 3 [[2008–09 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]]<br>No. 1 [[2008–09 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]]<br>No. 1 [[2008–09 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|Connecticut]]<br>No. 1 [[2008–09 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] || '''W''' 77–62<br>'''W''' 74–69<br>'''W''' 67–62<br>'''W''' 64–52<br>'''W''' 82–73<br>L 72–89
|- align="center"
| [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2010]] || No. 5 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four || No. 12 [[2009–10 New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team|New Mexico State]]<br>No. 4 [[2009–10 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]<br>No. 9 [[2009–10 Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team|Northern Iowa]]<br>No. 6 [[2009–10 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]]<br>No. 5 [[2009–10 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team|Butler]] || '''W''' 70–67<br>'''W''' 85–83<br>'''W''' 59–52<br>'''W''' 70–69<br>L 50–52
|- align="center"
| [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2011]] || No. 10 || First Round || No. 7 [[2010–11 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]] || L 76–78
|- align="center"
| [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2012]] || No. 1 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 16 [[2011–12 Long Island Blackbirds men's basketball team|Long Island]]<br>No. 9 [[2011–12 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team|Saint Louis]]<br>No. 4 [[2011–12 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]] || '''W''' 89–67<br>'''W''' 65–61<br>L 44–57
|- align="center"
| [[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2013]] || No. 3 || Second Round<br>Third Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 14 [[2012–13 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team|Valparaiso]]<br>No. 6 [[2012–13 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]<br>No. 2 [[2012–13 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] || '''W''' 65–54<br>'''W''' 70–48<br>L 61–71
|- align="center"
| [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2014]] || No. 4 || Second Round<br>Third Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight || No. 13 [[2013–14 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens men's basketball team|Delaware]]<br>No. 12 [[2013–14 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team|Harvard]]<br>No. 1 [[2013–14 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]<br>No. 7 [[2013–14 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|Connecticut]] || '''W''' 93–78<br>'''W''' 80–73<br>'''W''' 61–59<br>L 54–60
|- align="center"
| [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2015]] || No. 7 || Second Round<br>Third Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four || No. 10 [[2014–15 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team|Georgia]]<br>No. 2 [[2014–15 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]<br>No. 3 [[2014–15 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team|Oklahoma]]<br>No. 4 [[2014–15 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]]<br>No. 1 [[2014–15 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] || '''W''' 70–63<br>'''W''' 60–54<br>'''W''' 62–58<br>'''W''' 76–70 <sup>OT</sup><br>L 61–81
|- align="center"
| [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2016]] || No. 2 || First Round || No. 15 [[2015–16 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders men's basketball team|Middle Tennessee]]|| L 81–90
|- align="center"
|[[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2017]] || No. 9 ||First Round<br>Second Round || No. 8 [[2016–17 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team|Miami]]<br>No. 1 [[2016–17 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]] ||'''W''' 78–58<br>L 70–90
|- align="center"
|[[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2018]] ||No. 3 ||First Round<br>Second Round || No. 14 [[2017–18 Bucknell Bison men's basketball team|Bucknell]]<br> No. 11 [[2017–18 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team|Syracuse]] || '''W''' 82–78<br> L 53–55
|- align="center"
|[[2019 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2019]] ||No. 2 ||First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight<br>Final Four || No. 15 [[2018–19 Bradley Braves men's basketball team|Bradley]]<br> No. 10 [[2018-19 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team|Minnesota]]<br> No. 3 [[2018-19 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]]<br> No. 1 [[2018-19 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] <br> No. 3 [[2018-19 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team|Texas Tech]] || '''W''' 76–65<br> '''W''' 70–50<br> '''W''' 80–63<br> '''W''' 68–67 <br> L 51–61
|- align="center"
| [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2021]] || No. 11 || First Four || No. 11 [[2020–21 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]]|| L 80–86<sup>OT</sup>
|- align="center"
| [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2022]]|| No. 7 || First Round<br>Second Round|| No. 10 [[2021-22 Davidson Wildcats men's basketball team|Davidson]]<br>No. 2 [[2021-22 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] || '''W''' 74–73<br> L 76–85
|- align="center"
| [[2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2023]]|| No. 7 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen || No. 10 [[2022-23 USC Trojans men's basketball team|USC]]<br> No. 2 [[2022-23 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team|Marquette]]<br> No. 3 [[2022-23 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team|Kansas State]] || '''W''' 72–62<br> '''W''' 69–60<br> L 93–98 <sup>OT</sup>
|- align="center"
| [[2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2024]]|| No. 9 ||First Round<br>Second Round ||No. 8 [[2023–24 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team|Mississippi State]]<br> No. 1 [[2023-24 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]]|| '''W''' 69–51<br>L 69–85
|- align="center"
|| [[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2025]] || No. 2 || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Sweet Sixteen<br>Elite Eight ||No. 15 [[2024–25 Bryant Bulldogs men's basketball team|Bryant]]<br>No. 10 [[2024–25 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team|New Mexico]]<br>No. 6 [[2024–25 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team|Ole Miss]]<br>No. 1 [[2024–25 Auburn Tigers men's basketball team|Auburn]]||'''W''' 87–62<br>'''W''' 71–63<br>'''W''' 73–70<br>L 64–70
|}

====NCAA tournament history and seeds====
The [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] began seeding the tournament with the [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1979 edition]]. The Spartans have received a No. 1 seed in five Tournaments. Their average seed in the NCAA tournament is a 4.7. They have been a No. 5 seed the most times (six). The lowest seed the Spartans have received in the Tournament is 11.

Prior to seeding in NCAA tournaments, MSU appeared in the [[1957 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1957]], [[1959 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1959]], and [[1978 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1978]] NCAA tournaments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history/|title=NCAA Basketball – CBSSports.com|website=sportsline.com|access-date=March 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402235318/http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history|archive-date=April 2, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Since 1979, the Spartans have failed to qualify for the tournament 11 times. They have a current streak of 27 straight appearances in the tournament (as of 2025).
{| class="wikitable"
! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|border=0|color=white}};" |Years
![[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'79]]
![[1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'85]]
![[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'86]]
![[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'90]]
![[1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'91]]
![[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'92]]
![[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'94]]
![[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'95]]
![[1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'98]]
![[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'99]]
![[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'00]]
![[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'01]]
![[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'02]]
![[2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'03]]
![[2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'04]]
![[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'05]]
![[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'06]]
![[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'07]]
![[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'08]]
![[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'09]]
![[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'10]]
![[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'11]]
![[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'12]]
![[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'13]]
![[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'14]]
![[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'15]]
![[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'16]]
![[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'17]]
![[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'18]]
![[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'19]]
![[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'21]]
![[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'22]]
![[2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'23]]
![[2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'24]]
![[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'25]]
|- align="center"
| align="left" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Michigan State Spartans|border=0}};" |'''Seeds'''
|2*||10||5|||'''1'''||5||5||7||3||4||'''1'''||'''1'''*||'''1'''||10||7||7||5||6||9||5||2||5||10||'''1'''||3||4||7||2||9||3||2||11||7||7||9||2
|}

''<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>Won National Championship</small>''

The Spartans have appeared in 38 NCAA tournaments, reaching the Sweet Sixteen 22 times, the Elite Eight 15 times, the Final Four 10 times, and the national championship game three times. They have reached the Final Four three times as a No. 1 seed, three times 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 seed in 2000.

===NIT results===
The Spartans have appeared in the [[National Invitation Tournament]] (NIT) five times. Their combined record is 6–6.

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Michigan State Spartans|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}}
|- align="center"
| [[1983 National Invitation Tournament|1983]] || First Round<br>Second Round || Bowling Green<br>Fresno State || '''W''' 72–71<br>L 58–72
|- align="center"
| [[1989 National Invitation Tournament|1989]] || First Round<br>Second Round<br>Quarterfinals<br>Semifinals<br>3rd-place game || Kent State<br>Wichita State<br>Villanova<br>Saint Louis<br>UAB || '''W''' 83–69<br>'''W''' 79–67<br>'''W''' 70–63<br>L 64–74<br>L 76–78
|- align="center"
| [[1993 National Invitation Tournament|1993]] || First Round || Oklahoma || L 86–88
|- align="center"
| [[1996 National Invitation Tournament|1996]] || First Round<br>Second Round || Washington<br>Fresno State || '''W''' 64–50<br>L 70–80
|- align="center"
| [[1997 National Invitation Tournament|1997]] || First Round<br>Second Round || George Washington<br>Florida State || '''W''' 65–50<br>L 63–68
|}

===Big Ten regular-season championships===
Michigan State has won 17 Big Ten regular-season championships, the sixth-most in Big Ten history.
{| border="0" width="80%"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%"
|- align="center"
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Season'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Coach'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Overall record'''</span>
| bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Big Ten record'''</span>
|- align="center"
|1956–57||[[Forddy Anderson]]||16–10||10–4
|- align="center"
|1958–59||Forddy Anderson||19–4||13–3
|- align="center"
|1966–67||John Benington||16–7||10–4
|- align="center"
|[[1977–78 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1977–78]]|| [[Jud Heathcote]] || 25–5 || 15–3
|- align="center"
| [[1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1978–79]] ||Jud Heathcote||26–6||13–5
|- align="center"
|[[1989–90 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1989–90]]||Jud Heathcote||28–6||15–3
|- align="center"
|[[1997–98 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1997–98]]||[[Tom Izzo]]||22–8||13–3
|- align="center"
|[[1998–99 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1998–99]]||Tom Izzo||33–5||15–1
|- align="center"
|[[1999–2000 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1999–2000]]||Tom Izzo||32–7||13–3
|- align="center"
|[[2000–01 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2000–01]]||Tom Izzo||28–5||13–3
|- align="center"
|[[2008–09 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2008–09]]||Tom Izzo||31–7||15–3
|- align="center"
|[[2009–10 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2009–10]]||Tom Izzo||28–9||14–4
|- align="center"
|[[2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2011–12]]||Tom Izzo||29–8||13–5
|- align="center"
|[[2017–18 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2017–18]]||Tom Izzo||30–5||16–2
|- align="center"
|[[2018-19 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2018–19]]||Tom Izzo||32–7||16–4
|- align="center"
|[[2019-20 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2019–20]]||Tom Izzo||22–9||14–6
|- align="center" 
|[[2024–25 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2024–25]]||Tom Izzo||30–7||17–3
|- align="center"
| colspan="3" bgcolor="#666666" | <span style="color:white;">'''Big Ten regular season championships'''</span>
| colspan="1" bgcolor="#666666" | <span style="color:white;">'''17'''</span>
|}
|}

===Big Ten tournament championships===
Michigan State has won six Big Ten tournament championships since its inception in [[1998 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|1998]], the most championships in the Big Ten. The Spartans have appeared in seven championship games, only losing the [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2015 championship]] to [[2014–15 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team|Wisconsin]]. Michigan State had appeared in the quarterfinals of every Big Ten tournament until [[2021 Big Ten men's basketball tournament|2021]].
{| border="0"
|-
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="100%"
|-align="center"
|bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Season'''</span>
|bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Seed'''</span>
|bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Opponent'''</span>
|bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Score'''</span>
|bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Site'''</span>
|bgcolor="#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}}" | <span style="color:white;">'''Most Valuable Player'''</span>
|-align="center"
|[[1998–99 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1998–99]]||1||No. 11 [[1998–99 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]||67–50||[[United Center]],<br>[[Chicago, IL]]||[[Mateen Cleaves]]
|-align="center"
|[[1999–2000 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|1999–2000]]||2||No. 4 [[1999–2000 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]|| 76–61 ||United Center,<br>Chicago, IL||[[Morris Peterson]] 
|-align="center"
|[[2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2011–12]]||1||No. 3 [[2011–12 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]]||68–64||[[Conseco Fieldhouse]],<br>[[Indianapolis, IN]]||[[Draymond Green]] 
|-align="center"
|[[2013–14 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2013–14]]||3||No. 1 [[2013–14 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]||69–55||[[Bankers Life Fieldhouse]],<br>Indianapolis, IN||[[Branden Dawson]] 
|-align="center"
|[[2015–16 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2015–16]]||2||No. 4 [[2015–16 Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue]]||66–62||Bankers Life Fieldhouse,<br>Indianapolis, IN||[[Denzel Valentine]] 
|-align="center"
|[[2018–19 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|2018–19]]||1||No. 3 [[2018–19 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]]||65–60||United Center,<br>Chicago, IL||[[Cassius Winston]] 
|-align="center"
| colspan=5 bgcolor="#666666"| <span style="color:white;">'''Big Ten tournament Championships'''</span>
| colspan=2 bgcolor="#666666"| <span style="color:white;">'''6'''</span>
|}
|}

==Record vs. Big Ten opponents==
''<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>Through 2023–24 season</small>''

Michigan State only has losing records against four Big Ten teams.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Opponent
!Wins
!Losses
!Pct.
!Streak
|-
|Illinois
|66
|63
|{{Winning percentage|66|63}}
|W1
|-
|Indiana
|60
|73
|{{Winning percentage|60|73}}
|L1
|-
|Iowa
|77
|60
|{{Winning percentage|77|60}}
|L2
|-
|Maryland
|16
|8
|{{Winning percentage|16|8}}
|W6
|-
|Michigan
|90
|104
|{{Winning percentage|90|104}}
|W2
|-
|Minnesota
|76
|62
|{{Winning percentage|76|62}}
|L1
|-
|Nebraska
|23
|10
|{{Winning percentage|23|10}}
|L1
|-
|Northwestern
|95
|42
|{{Winning percentage|95|42}}
|W1
|-
|Ohio State
|81
|63
|{{Winning percentage|81|63}}
|W1
|-
|Oregon
|2
|2
|{{Winning percentage|2|2}}
|W2
|-
|Penn State
|45
|10
|{{Winning percentage|45|10}}
|W3
|-
|Purdue
|58
|76
|{{Winning percentage|58|76}}
|W1
|-
|Rutgers
|13
|3
|{{Winning percentage|13|2}}
|W1
|-
|UCLA
|4
|7
|{{Winning percentage|4|7}}
|L1
|-
|USC
|4
|3
|{{Winning percentage|4|3}}
|W1
|-
|Washington
|4
|2
|{{Winning percentage|4|2}}
|W4
|-
|Wisconsin
|86
|69
|{{Winning percentage|86|69}}
|L2
|-
|}
<small>Source</small><ref>{{Cite book |last=Michigan State University |url=http://archive.org/details/michigan-state-basketball-2023-24-media-guide-2023-11-05-c |title=Michigan State Basketball 2023-24 Media Guide |date=2023-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Michigan State Men's Basketball Head-to-Head Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/michigan-state/men/head-to-head.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Spartans of Note==

===Retired numbers===
{{main|List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="5" style= {{NCAA color cell|Michigan State Spartans}} | '''Michigan State Spartans retired numbers'''
|-
! width=40px style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}};" | No.
! width=150px style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}};" |Player
! width=100px style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}};" |Position
! width=100px style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}};" |Tenure
! width=100px style="background:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|3}}; color:#{{NCAA color|Michigan State Spartans|1}};" |Date Retired
|-
| '''4''' || [[Scott Skiles]] || [[Point guard|PG]] || 1982–86 ||{{nowrap|November 13, 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/news/1999/6/21/Spartan_Basketball_to_Retire_Scott_Skiles_4_Jersey.aspx|title=Spartan Basketball to Retire Scott Skiles' #4 Jersey|website=Michigan State University Athletics|date=June 21, 1999 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>}}
|-
| '''12''' || [[Mateen Cleaves]] || [[Guard (basketball)|G]] || 1996–2000 ||February 3, 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2007/1/30/men_s_basketball_to_retire_mateen_cleaves_jersey.aspx|title=Men's Basketball To Retire Mateen Cleaves' Jersey|website=Michigan State University Athletics|date=January 30, 2007 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
|-
| '''21''' || [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]] || [[Shooting guard|SG]] || 1987–91 ||January 2, 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2005/9/30/steve_smith_announces_nba_retirement_after_14_years.aspx|title=Steve Smith Announces NBA Retirement After 14 Years|website=Michigan State University Athletics|date=September 30, 2005 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
|-
|'''23''' || [[Draymond Green]] || [[Power forward (basketball)|PF]] || 2008–12 ||{{nowrap|December 3, 2019}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Draymond-to-have-his-No-23-jersey-retired-14875831.php|title=Draymond Green's No. 23 jersey to be retired by Michigan State|last1=Moffitt|first1=Mike|last2=SFGATE|date=2019-12-02|website=SFGate|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''24''' || [[Johnny Green (basketball)|Johnny Green]] || [[Small forward|SF]] || 1955–58 ||
|-
| [[Shawn Respert]] || [[Point guard|PG]] || 1991–95 ||November 28, 1998<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/news/1999/6/21/Basketball_to_Retire_Respert_s_Jersey.aspx|title=Basketball to Retire Respert's Jersey|website=Michigan State University Athletics|date=June 21, 1999 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
|-
| '''31''' || [[Jay Vincent]] || [[Small forward|SF]] || 1978–81 ||January 9, 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/news/1999/6/21/Basketball_to_Retire_Jay_Vincent_s_Jersey.aspx|title=Basketball to Retire Jay Vincent's Jersey|website=Michigan State University Athletics|date=June 21, 1999 |language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
|-
| '''32''' || [[Greg Kelser]] || [[Small forward|SF]] || 1976–79 ||
|-
| '''33''' || [[Magic Johnson]] || [[Point guard|PG]] || 1977–79 ||
|-
| '''42''' || [[Morris Peterson]] || [[Shooting guard|SG]], [[Small forward|SF]] || 1995–2000 ||January 17, 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2009/01/michigan_state_to_retire_morri.html|title=Michigan State to retire Morris Peterson's jersey|last=Slagter|first=Josh|date=2009-01-17|website=mlive|language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref>
|-
| – || [[Jud Heathcote]] || Head Coach  || 1976–95 ||
|-
|}

===National Player of the Year===
*[[Scott Skiles]] – Basketball Times (1986)
*[[Shawn Respert]] – [[Sporting News]], NABC (1995)
*[[Draymond Green]] – NABC (2012)
*[[Denzel Valentine]] – [[Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year|AP]], [[USA Today]], [[Sports Illustrated]], [[Basketball Times]], [[NABC Player of the Year|NABC]], [[NBC Sports]] (2016)

===Consensus All-Americans===
====Consensus First Team====
*[[Magic Johnson]] ([[1979 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1979]])
*[[Shawn Respert]] ([[1995 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1995]])
*[[Mateen Cleaves]] ([[1999 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1999]])
*[[Draymond Green]] ([[2012 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2012]])
*[[Denzel Valentine]] ([[2016 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2016]])

====Consensus Second Team====
*[[Johnny Green (basketball)|Johnny Green]] ([[1959 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1959]])
*[[Scott Skiles]] ([[1986 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1986]])
*[[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]] ([[1991 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1991]])
*[[Mateen Cleaves]] ([[1998 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1998]], [[2000 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2000]])
*[[Morris Peterson]] ([[2000 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2000]])
*[[Jason Richardson]] ([[2001 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2001]])
*[[Miles Bridges]] ([[2018 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2018]])
*[[Cassius Winston]] ([[2019 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2019]], [[2020 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|2020]])

===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)
*[[Cassius Winston]] (2019)

===Big Ten Coach of the Year===
*[[Jud Heathcote]] (1978, 1986)
*[[Tom Izzo]] (1998, 2009, 2012, 2025)

===Big Ten Freshman of the Year===
*[[Gary Harris]] (2013)
*[[Miles Bridges]] (2017)
*[[Jaren Jackson Jr.]] (2018)

===Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year===
*[[Ken Redfield]] (1990)
*[[Eric Snow]] (1995)
*[[Travis Walton (basketball)|Travis Walton]] (2009)
*[[Jaren Jackson Jr.]] (2018)
*[[Xavier Tillman]] (2020)

===Spartans in the NBA===
Spartans formerly in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] include:
{{div col|colwidth=14em}}
* [[Maurice Ager]]
* [[Matt Aitch|Mathew Aitch]]
* [[Bob Anderegg|Robert Anderegg]]
* [[Alan Anderson (basketball)|Alan Anderson]]
* [[Keith Appling]]
* [[Chet Aubuchon]]
* [[Charlie Bell (basketball)|Charlie Bell]]
* [[Bob Brannum|Robert Brannum]] 
* [[Shannon Brown]]
* [[Ed Burton|Edward Burton]]
* [[Mateen Cleaves]]
* [[Matt Costello]]
* [[Paul Davis (basketball)|Paul Davis]]
* [[Branden Dawson]]
* [[Jamie Feick]]
* [[Al Ferrari]]
* [[Terry Furlow]]
* [[Johnny Green (basketball)|Johnny Green]]
* [[Darryl Johnson (basketball)|Darryl Johnson]]
* [[Magic Johnson|Earvin Johnson]]
* [[Ken Johnson (basketball, born 1962)|Ken Johnson]]
* [[Greg Kelser]]
* [[Kalin Lucas]]
* [[Matt Mazza|Matthew Mazza]]
* [[Anthony Miller (basketball)|Anthony Miller]]
* [[Mike Peplowski]]
* [[Morris Peterson]]
* [[Zach Randolph]]
* [[Shawn Respert]]
* [[Jason Richardson]]
* [[Ralph Simpson]]
* [[Scott Skiles]]
* [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]]
* [[Eric Snow]]
* [[Matt Steigenga]]
* [[Jay Vincent]]
* [[Sam Vincent (basketball)|Sam Vincent]]
* [[Horace Walker (basketball)|Horace Walker]]
* [[Kevin Willis]]
{{div col end}}

Spartans currently in the NBA, G-League, unsigned, or are active in other professional leagues include:
{{clear}}
[[File:Marcus Bingham.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Marcus Bingham Jr.]]]]
* [[Draymond Green]] ([[Golden State Warriors]])
* [[Gary Harris]] ([[Orlando Magic]])
* [[Bryn Forbes]] (Free Agent)
* [[Jaren Jackson Jr.]] ([[Memphis Grizzlies]])
* [[Miles Bridges]] ([[Charlotte Hornets]])
* [[Xavier Tillman]] ([[Boston Celtics]])
* [[Max Christie]] ([[Dallas Mavericks]])
* [[Joey Hauser]] ([[Utah Jazz]])
* [[Durrell Summers]] ([[Mineros de Zacatecas (basketball)|Mineros de Zacatecas]])
* [[Kalin Lucas]] ([[Al-Jahra SC (basketball)|Al-Jahra SC]])
* [[Travis Trice]] ([[UCAM Murcia CB|UCAM Murcia]])
* [[Denzel Valentine]] ([[Sydney Kings]])
* [[Deyonta Davis]] ([[Taichung Suns]])
* [[Matt Costello]] ([[Cazoo Baskonia]])
* [[Gavin Schilling]] ([[Konyaspor (basketball)|Konyaspor]])
* [[Kenny Goins]] ([[BC Pieno žvaigždės]])
* [[Nick Ward (basketball)|Nick Ward]] ([[Vancouver Bandits]])
* [[Cassius Winston]] ([[Tofaş]])
* [[Aaron Henry (basketball)|Aaron Henry]] ([[Toyotsu Fighting Eagles Nagoya]])
* [[Gabe Brown]] ([[Pallacanestro Varese]])
* [[Marcus Bingham Jr.]] ([[Hapoel Haifa B.C.|Hapoel Haifa]])
{{clear}}

====Draft history====
* 67 total NBA draft picks.
* 22 first round picks.
* 1 overall No. 1 pick – Magic Johnson.
* 8 top ten picks.
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Round
! Pick
! Player
! Team
|-
|1952||8
| 75  ||  [[Gordon C. Stauffer|Gordon Stauffer]]
| [[Indianapolis Olympians]]
|-
|1955
|3
|15
|[[Al Ferrari]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|-
|1955
|12
|87
|[[Bob Armstrong (basketball, born 1933)|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
|1
|5
|[[Johnny Green (basketball)|Johnny Green]]
|[[New York Knicks]]
|-
|1959
|3
|20
|[[Bob Anderegg]]
|[[New York Knicks]]
|-
|1960
|4
|30
|[[Horace Walker (basketball)|Horace Walker]]
|[[St. Louis Hawks]]
|-
|1964
|14
|96
|[[Peter Gent|Pete Gent]]
|[[Washington Wizards|Baltimore Bullets]]
|-
|1966
|11
|48
|[[Stan Washington]]
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
|-
|1966
|13
|77
|Bill Curtis
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
|1967
|4
|114
|Charles Smith
|[[Washington Wizards|Baltimore Bullets]]
|-
|1967
|5
|135
|[[Matt Aitch|Matthew Aitch]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1969
|4
|50
|Lee Lafayette
|[[San Francisco Warriors]]
|-
|1971
|5
|75
|Rudy Benjamin
|[[San Diego Rockets]]
|-
|1972
|1
|11
|[[Ralph Simpson]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
|1973
|9
|145
|Bill Kilgore
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1974
|7
|111
|Mike Robinson
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
|-
|1975
|4
|64
|[[Lindsay Hairston]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1976
|1
|12
|[[Terry Furlow]]
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
|-
|1977
|5
|97
|Bob Chapman
|[[Kansas City Kings]]
|-
|1979
|1
|1
|[[Magic Johnson|Earvin Johnson]]
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
|-
|1979
|1
|4
|[[Greg Kelser]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1980
|4
|74
|[[Ron Charles (basketball)|Ron Charles]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
|1981
|2
|24
|[[Jay Vincent]]
|[[Dallas Mavericks]]
|-
|1981
|8
|181
|[[Mike Brkovich]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|-
|1982
|9
|193
|Kevin Smith
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1983
|6
|124
|Derek Perry
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1984
|1
|11
|[[Kevin Willis]]
|[[Atlanta Hawks]]
|-
|1984
|9
|203
|Ben Tower
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1985
|1
|20
|[[Sam Vincent]]
|[[Boston Celtics]]
|-
|1985
|2
|28
|[[Ken Johnson (basketball, born 1962)|Ken Johnson]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
|-
|1986
|1
|22
|[[Scott Skiles]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|-
|1986
|7
|155
|Larry Polec
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|1987
|3
|58
|[[Darryl Johnson (basketball)|Darryl Johnson]]
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
|-
|1987
|5
|97
|Vernon Carr
|[[Sacramento Kings]]
|-
|1991
|1
|5
|[[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]]
|[[Miami Heat]]
|-
|1992
|2
|52
|[[Matt Steigenga]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
|1993
|2
|52
|[[Mike Peplowski]]
|[[Sacramento Kings]]
|-
|1994
|2
|39
|[[Anthony Miller (basketball)|Anthony Miller]]
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
|-
|1995
|1
|8
|[[Shawn Respert]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
|-
|1995
|2
|43
|[[Eric Snow]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|-
|1996
|2
|48
|[[Jamie Feick]]
|[[Philadelphia 76ers]]
|-
|2000
|1
|14
|[[Mateen Cleaves]]
|[[Detroit Pistons]]
|-
|2000
|1
|21
|[[Morris Peterson]]
|[[Toronto Raptors]]
|-
|2001
|1
|5
|[[Jason Richardson]]
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
|-
|2001
|1
|19
|[[Zach Randolph]]
|[[Portland Trail Blazers]]
|-
|2001
|2
|51
|[[Andre Hutson]]
|[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
|-
|2002
|2
|51
|[[Marcus Taylor]]
|[[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
|-
|2005
|2
|46
|[[Erazem Lorbek]]
|[[Indiana Pacers]]
|-
|2006
|1
|25
|[[Shannon Brown]]
|[[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
|-
|2006
|1
|28
|[[Maurice Ager]]
|[[Dallas Mavericks]]
|-
|2006
|2
|34
|[[Paul Davis (basketball)|Paul Davis]]
|[[Los Angeles Clippers]]
|-
|2009
|2
|50
|[[Goran Suton]]
|[[Utah Jazz]]
|-
|2012
|2
|35
|[[Draymond Green]]
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
|-
|2014
|1
|15
|[[Adreian Payne]]
|[[Atlanta Hawks]]
|-
|2014
|1
|19
|[[Gary Harris]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
|2015
|2
|56
|[[Branden Dawson]]
|[[New Orleans Pelicans]]
|-
|2016
|1
|14
|[[Denzel Valentine]]
|[[Chicago Bulls]]
|-
|2016
|2
|31
|[[Deyonta Davis]]
|[[Boston Celtics]]
|-
|2018
|1
|4
|[[Jaren Jackson Jr.]]
|[[Memphis Grizzlies]]
|-
|2018
|1
|12
|[[Miles Bridges]]
|[[Los Angeles Clippers]]
|-
|2020
|2
|35
|[[Xavier Tillman]]
|[[Sacramento Kings]]
|-
|2020
|2
|53
|[[Cassius Winston]]
|[[Oklahoma City Thunder]]
|-
|2022
|2
|35
|[[Max Christie]]
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
|-
|2025
|1
|25
|[[Jase Richardson]]
|[[Orlando Magic]]
|}
{{clear}}

==Uniforms==
Tom Izzo's teams have worn many different styles of uniform<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spartanjerseys.com/michigan-state-basketball-jerseys/tom-izzo-michigan-state-basketball-jerseys.html|title=Tom Izzo, Michigan State Head Coach, Era Basketball Jersey Style (1995 – Present)|work=SpartanJerseys.com|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> during his 27 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.<ref name="msuspartans.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/view.gal?id=68126|title=MSU Athletics Unveils New Brand|work=MSUSpartans.com|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref> The road jersey is green with white uniform numbers and a white custom font "SPARTANS" across the chest.<ref name="msuspartans.com" /> The Spartans do not currently wear an official alternate uniform but the team has worn a silver alternate, a 1979 throwback, a 2000 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 Basketball|North Carolina]]. Beginning in the [[2014–15 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|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.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2016/01/22/michigan-state-mean-green-uniforms/79191170/| title = MSU to wear 'Mean Green' uniforms vs. Maryland| website = Detroit Free Press| access-date = February 24, 2016}}</ref> During the 2016–17 season, the Spartans frequently wore the MAC throwback uniforms at home.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2017/01/michigan_state_uniforms_minnes.html|title=Michigan State to wear retro MAC uniforms vs. Minnesota|work=MLive.com|access-date=2017-04-11|language=en-US}}</ref>

==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 [[Public Works of Art Project|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 Division I men's basketball tournament|1979 NCAA champion basketball team]], which included [[Earvin "Magic" Johnson]], and was coached by [[Jud Heathcote]].

Jenison also hosted the [[1963 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|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 [[Segregation in the United States|segregated]] [[Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball|Mississippi State]] team played and lost to the eventual national champion, an [[Racial integration|integrated]] [[1962–63 Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team|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]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8741183/game-change-mississippi-state-loyola-cannot-forgotten-college-basketball|title=O'Neil: Game of Change cannot be forgotten|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref>

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 [[Jack Breslin|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's current basketball court is the same floor where the Spartans won the [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ramsey |first=Ethan |title=Champs given shot to purchase Final Four court |url=http://www.dailyorange.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=78624dd8-759a-40c5-bc06-b176aad52db3 |publisher=The Daily Orange |date=2005-03-29 |access-date=2008-01-28 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/sioncampus/02/20/spring.break2/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916165744/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/sioncampus/02/20/spring.break2/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 16, 2008 | work=CNN | title=SI.com – Best Student Sections – Feb 22, 2006 | date=February 22, 2006 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=250160275|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022135519/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=250160275|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2012|title=Michigan State vs. Wisconsin – Game Recap – January 16, 2005 – ESPN|work=ESPN.Go.com|access-date=April 8, 2017}}</ref>

The arena underwent a $50 million renovation to improve the visitor experience and to create a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/103015aab.html|title=MSU board approves renovation, expansion of Breslin Center – Michigan State Official Athletic Site|website=www.msuspartans.com|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2015|url=http://www.mlive.com/spartans/index.ssf/2015/10/michigan_state_moving_forward.html|title=Michigan State moving forward with $50 million Breslin Center renovation|website=MLive.com|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons cat}}
* {{official website}}

{{Michigan State Spartans men's basketball navbox}}
{{Michigan State University}}
{{Big Ten Conference men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michigan State Spartans Basketball}}
[[Category:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball| ]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Basketball teams established in 1898]]