Michigan State Spartans men's basketball

1898–1950: Early Years

The first established coach for Michigan Agricultural College (MSU's name at the time), Charles Bemies was also the first athletic director in school history, while also coaching the football, baseball, and track teams. His two-year stint as basketball head coach ended in 1901. MAC’s second basketball coach was George Denman. Denman is the only basketball coach to go undefeated during his tenure, posting an 11–0 mark during his two seasons. His team still holds the record for largest margin of victory with a 102–3 defeat of Alma College in 1902.^[4] MAC’s first full-time athletic director and one of the Spartans’ most successful coaches, Chester Brewer led the football, basketball, and baseball squads to winning records. He holds the highest winning percentage of any Spartan basketball coach with at least four seasons at .736 (70–25). His team also defeated Michigan in the schools’ first meeting in 1909. George Gauthier was the first alumnus to lead a Michigan State basketball squad. He compiled a career record of 41–38 over four seasons. Gauthier left after 29 games in 1919– 20, posting a 15–14 record. Lyman Frimodig coached the final seven games of the season, going 6–1. He would also serve as head coach for the next two seasons. He remained active in the athletic department after his stint as basketball coach, serving Michigan State for 41 years as assistant athletic director and business manager

Benjamin Van Alstyne coached MSU for 22 years from 1926–1949. He is third in career victories with 231. Van Alstyne coached MSU’s first All-American, Roger Grove, in 1930. Some of his greatest victories included a 27–26 victory over Michigan in 1930 at the dedication of Demonstration Hall, and a 66–50 upset over Kentucky in 1945 that was named “CocaCola Upset of the Week.” His 47–45 loss to Kentucky in 1948 set the record for the largest crowd in Jenison Field House history.

In one season under Alton Kircher, the Spartans finished 4–18. Following the conclusion of the 1950 season, the Spartans would join the Big Ten Conference.

1950–1954: Pete Newell

Pete Newell was hired from San Francisco following a successful four years with the Dons where he went 70–37 and won the 1949 NIT.

His 1951–52 squad was the first ranked Spartan team and also registered a win over No. 14 Notre Dame, the first win over a ranked opponent in school history. One of his biggest wins was a 1952 defeat of No. 2-ranked Kansas State. After four seasons, California hired Newell as its head coach and MSU had to search for another coach. Newell is often considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of basketball.^[5][6][7]

1954–1965: Forrest "Forddy" Anderson

Forrest "Forddy" Anderson was hired away from Bradley following a trip to the 1954 Final Four with the Braves. His Bradley team had also made it to the 1950 championship game.

Two years after taking over the Spartans, in 1957, he led MSU to its first Big Ten Championship. After opening the season with a 4–7 record, the Spartans won 10 in a row and 12-of-13 to capture their first league title and advance to the school’s first NCAA Tournament. A bye in the first round of the Tournament preceded wins over Notre Dame and Kentucky to earn a trip to the Final Four. A loss to North Carolina in the Final Four left MSU in the National Third Place Game where they lost to San Francisco.

Two years later, led by All-American Johnny Green, the Spartans cruised to a Big Ten Championship, winning the league by four games. A win over Marquette in the 1959 NCAA Tournament put MSU in the Mideast regional finals against Kentucky. The Spartans lost and fell one game short of another trip to the Final Four.

Following his initial successes in East Lansing, his Spartan teams only finished with a winning record one time after 1959. He was fired following the 1964–65 season.

1965–1969: John Benington

John Benington, who had been an assistant to Anderson at Bradley before joining his staff at MSU, took over as head coach, and led MSU to a second-place Big Ten finish in his first season at the helm. The next season, he led the Spartans to a shared Big Ten title, but Indiana received the NCAA Tournament bid (at that time, only one Big Ten team received an NCAA bid). After four seasons leading the Spartans, he died of a heart attack after jogging at Jenison Fieldhouse in the summer of 1969 at the age of 47.

1969–1976: Gus Ganakas

Gus Ganakas, who served as an MSU basketball radio announcer until 2017, was an assistant under Benington and hired to take over following coach Benington's death.

In 1966–67, MSU won its last four games to claim a share of the Big Ten Championship. Indiana, however, earned the NCAA Tournament bid ending MSU’s year in the regular season. His most successful seasons were in 1973–74 with a fourth-place Big Ten finish and 1974–75 with a 17–9 overall record, the second-highest victory total at the time. His coaching career came to an end in 1976, but he continued to be a part of the Michigan State Athletics Department, serving as an assistant A.D. and then as an aide to coach Tom Izzo.

1976–1995: Jud Heathcote era

Jud Heathcote was hired to take over as coach in 1976 from Montana by athletic director Joseph Kearney in May 1976, after coaching the Grizzlies for five years.^[8] Heathcote had led the Grizzlies to two Big Sky championships and the 1975 NCAA Tournament, the Grizzlies first ever trip to the Tournament. He finished his tenure at Montana with an 80–53 record.

As a virtual unknown, Heathcote came to East Lansing looking to return MSU to greatness.^[4] 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.^[4][8] The 1977–78 Spartans won the Big Ten title, their first since 1967, qualified for the NCAA tournament for only the third time in school history, and advanced to the Elite Eight. They were led by Johnson and Greg Kelser. In 1979, the duo led the Spartans to a second consecutive Big Ten title and the NCAA National Championship. The NCAA championship marked the school's first in basketball.

Following the championship, Johnson left school to join the NBA and Kelser graduated. The result was a ninth place finish in the Big Ten the next year and struggles thereafter. MSU returned to postseason play in 1983, finishing with a 17–13 record and receiving an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament.

Following the expansion of the NCAA Tournament to 64 teams in 1985, Heathcote returned the Spartans, led by the future MSU all-time scoring leader, Scott Skiles, to the Tournament with a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten. MSU again reached the NCAA Tournament the following year after finishing third in the Big Ten with a 23–8 record. Led by Skiles and Darryl Johnson, they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing.

Heathcote returned MSU to postseason play in 1989, led by Steve Smith, losing the third place game of the NIT. Smith returned the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament in 1990 as a No. 1 seed. The Spartans narrowly avoided losing to No. 16-seeded Murray State, needing overtime to advance to the Second Round.^[9][10] They again narrowly advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Georgia Tech in overtime.^[11]

The Spartans again made an appearance in the 1991 NCAA Tournament. The Spartans finished in third place in Big Ten play and received an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed to the Tournament where they beat Green Bay on a buzzer beater by Steve Smith.^[12] In the Second Round, they lost to No. 10 Utah in double overtime.^[13]

The Spartans returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, marking three straight years in the NCAA Tournament, an MSU record at that time. Another third-place finish in Big Ten play resulted in an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed to the NCAA Tournament. There they beat Missouri State^[14] before losing to Cincinnati in the Second Round in a rematch of an earlier Spartan win.^[15]

A trip to the NIT in 1993 broke the streak, but Heathcote again led MSU to the NCAA Tournament in 1994. A fourth-place finish the Big Ten led to an at-large bid to the Tournament as a No. 7 seed. Led by Shawn Respert, they beat Seton Hall in the First Round^[16] before losing to second-seeded Duke in the Second Round.

In his final year at MSU in 1995, Heathcote returned the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years. A second-place finish in Big Ten play resulted in an at-large bid to the Tournament as a No. 3 seed where they were surprised by No. 14th-seeded Weber State in the First Round.^[17] 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."^[8]

In 2001, the National Association of Basketball Coaches awarded him with the Golden Anniversary Award for 50 years of service to college basketball. Also, in 2001, he was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Heathcote was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

1995–present: Tom Izzo era

In his first year as head coach after 11 years as an assistant coach, Michigan State struggled after losing All-American Shawn Respert. The Spartans finished the season at .500 (16–16, 9–9) and in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten. MSU received an invitation to the NIT where they defeated Washington before losing to Fresno State in the second round. The season marked the last time MSU would not finish with a winning record.

In 1997, the Spartans welcomed new recruits Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson to East Lansing. Along with sophomore Antonio Smith, the three made up three-fourths of Izzo's "Flintstones" who would win the National Championship in 2000 (without Smith). In what would be a rarity for MSU in Izzo's tenure, the Spartans played no ranked teams in the non-conference season. The Spartans finished in a tie for sixth place in the conference with a record of 16–11 overall and 9–9 in conference. They received an invitation to the NIT for the second consecutive year. MSU beat George Washington in the first round^[18] and lost in the second round to Florida State.^[19] As of 2017, this is the last year MSU failed to make the NCAA Tournament.

In 1998, MSU welcomed freshman recruit Charlie Bell, the fourth of Izzo's "Flintstones" and started slow. They lost to No. 7 Temple,^[20] and suffered surprising losses to UIC^[21] and Detroit in non-conference.^[22] However, MSU would win nine of their first 10 conference games before losing to eventual conference co-champion Illinois. In January, MSU entered the AP and Coaches rankings for the first time since the end of the 1994–95 season.^[23] The Spartans finished in a tie for the conference championship, their first since 1990, with a record of 13–3 in conference play.^[24] The Spartans earned the No. 1 seed in the inaugural Big Ten Tournament, but lost their first game in the quarterfinals to Minnesota.^[24] Izzo's team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed in the East Region, their first trip to the Tournament since 1995. MSU advanced to their first Sweet Sixteen since 1990 by beating Eastern Michigan^[25][26] and No. 8 Princeton.^[27][28][29] The Spartans were eliminated from the Tournament by No. 1 North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen.^[30] As of 2017, no MSU team has failed to make the NCAA tournament, a streak which began with the 1997–98 team.

As the 1998–99 season began, Izzo began his willingness to play anyone anywhere mantra as the Spartans played three top seven teams in their first seven games. However, MSU lost all three.^[31][32][33] MSU would recover and, after losing their first Big Ten game to No. 24 Wisconsin,^[34][35] the Spartans won the remaining 15 games in conference and won the Big Ten conference regular season by six games with a record of 15–1, their second consecutive Big Ten title. The Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and ranked No. 2 in the country, MSU defeated Mount St. Mary's,^[36] and Mississippi to advance to their second straight Sweet Sixteen.^[37] A win over Oklahoma^[38] and Kentucky led MSU to the Final Four for the first time since 1978.^[39][40] However, MSU fell short in their bid for an NCAA championship, losing to Duke in the Final Four.^[41][42]

In 1999–2000. Seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson led the way for the Spartans as they began the season ranked No. 3 in the country. However, Cleaves sustained a stress fracture in his right foot prior to the season which forced him to miss the non-conference schedule and MSU fell to 9–4 and ranked No. 11 in the country. After Cleaves' return, MSU finished the Big Ten regular season with a 13–3 conference record and 23–7 overall while being ranked No. 2 in the country and earned a share of the Big Ten title, their third consecutive Big Ten championship. The Spartans went on to win the third annual Big Ten Tournament as the No. 2 seed, defeating No. 25 Illinois for the championship for the second consecutive year.^[43] The Spartans were awarded the No. 1 seed, their second consecutive No. 1 seed, in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. From there, the Spartans cruised to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen with wins over Valparaiso,^[44][45] and Utah.^[46][47] MSU continued their National Championship push by reaching their second consecutive Final Four with wins over Syracuse^[48][49] and Iowa State.^[50][51] MSU won every game by double digits despite playing the best possible seed in each round. In their Final Four matchup, Michigan State faced off against fellow Big Ten foe, Wisconsin, beating them in a hard fought game, 53–41.^[52] In the National Championship game, the Spartans triumphed over the Florida 89–76, despite losing Cleaves to an ankle injury 3:42 into the second half.^[53] The win marked MSU's second National Championship in basketball and Izzo's first and only championship to date.

Losing both Cleaves and Peterson to graduation following the season, MSU still began the 2000–01 season ranked No. 3 in the country. Led by sophomore Jason Richardson, freshmen Zach Randolph, and seniors Charlie Bell and Andre Hutson, the Spartans finished the non-conference schedule undefeated and ranked No.1 in the country. MSU again earned a share the Big Ten title, their fourth consecutive, with a 13–3 conference record. They suffered a surprise defeat by Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament in their attempt to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.^[54] They received their third consecutive No. 1 seed, in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. Seeking a repeat National Championship, MSU easily dispatched Alabama State^[55] and Fresno State^[56] to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive year. A win over Gonzaga^[57] and Temple led to the school's third straight trip to the Final Four.^[58] However, they were unable to repeat as National Champions, losing to Arizona in the National Semifinal.^[59][60] Following the season, Randolph and Richardson each left school early and declared for the NBA Draft.

As a result of Randolph and Richardson's early departure, MSU struggled with Izzo's tough non-conference schedule. The Spartans lost four games, all to teams ranked in the top 25 and started the Big ten season with three straight losses. The loss to Wisconsin snapped MSU's 53-game home winning streak.^[61][62] Michigan State finished the conference schedule at 10–6 and in fourth place with an overall record of 19–10. MSU lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to No. 23 Indiana marking the first time since 1997 that Michigan State did not win either the Big Ten regular season or tournament title.^[63] The Spartans received an at-large bid as a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were eliminated in the First Round by NC State.^[64]

Following the disappointment of an early NCAA Tournament exit, the first time Izzo's squads had not won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament, the 2002–03 team played another tough non-conference schedule. This time the Spartans faced three ranked teams, only losing one. However, they suffered four losses and finished the non-conference schedule at 8–4 and ranked No. 25 in the country. MSU began the Big Ten regular season losing four of their first six games and fell out of the rankings. The Spartans finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten at 10–6 in conference and 18–11 overall. Michigan State beat Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals,^[65] but fell to Ohio State in the semifinals.^[66] The Spartans received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive year. MSU received a No. 7 seed in the South Region. A win over Colorado in the First Round^[67] was followed by a rout of No. 10 Florida to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in six years.^[68] The Spartans defeated No. 17 Maryland to advance to the Elite Eight for the fourth time in five years.^[69] However, MSU fell to No. 5 Texas in the Regional Final.^[70][71]

In 2004, Izzo looked to continue his dominant NCAA run. However, Izzo's penchant for touch scheduling hurt his team as they faced a murderer's row of a schedule which included three straight losses to No. 6 Duke,^[72] in overtime, to No. 14 Oklahoma at the Palace of Auburn Hills,^[73] and to No. 8 Kentucky at Ford Field in the Basketbowl.^[74][75] The Spartans followed this losing streak by losing two of their final four non-conference games including at No. 17 Syracuse and dropped out of the rankings.^[76] They finished the non-conference slate at 5–6. After a loss to open Big Ten play to No. 21 Wisconsin,^[77] the Spartans recovered to win seven of their next eight and six of their last seven Big Ten games. They finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten at 12–4 and 17–10 overall. A win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals^[78] was followed by a third loss of the season to No. 17 Wisconsin.^[79] The Spartans received a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the tournament for the seventh consecutive year. But, for the second time in three years, the Spartans were knocked out in the First Round, this time by Nevada.^[80][81]

In 2005, the Spartans again looked to rebound from a disappointing early NCAA Tournament exit. They started the season 3–2, but cruised through the Big Ten, only losing three games, including a loss to No. 1 Illinois^[82] and finished second in conference to Illinois. MSU finished the regular season with a 13–3 conference record and 22–5 overall while being ranked No. 13 in the country. The Spartans lost in the quarterfinals in the Big Ten Tournament to Iowa.^[83] Michigan State received an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed in the Austin Regional of the NCAA Tournament, their eighth straight appearance in the Tournament under Tom Izzo. Wins over Old Dominion^[84] and Vermont led the Spartans to the Sweet Sixteen for the sixth time in eight years.^[84] In the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans beat No. 3-ranked and No. 1-seeded Duke, which MSU had not defeated since 1958.^[85] The win marked Izzo's first and only win over Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (as of 2017).^[86] A double overtime victory over Kentucky^[87][88] sent the Spartans to their fourth Final Four in seven seasons. MSU would again fall in the Final Four, this time to No. 2-ranked and No. 1-seeded North Carolina.^[89][90]

The 2005–06 Spartans opened the season with a loss to Hawaii^[91] before losing to No. 8 Gonzaga led by Adam Morrison in triple overtime in the Maui Classic.^[92] Despite this, MSU ended the non-conference schedule at 12–2 and ranked No. 7 in the country. Early Big Ten losses followed by late season losses in conference left the Spartans 8–8 in the Big Ten. In the Big Ten Tournament, MSU defeated Purdue^[93] and No. 9 Illinois^[94] before being defeated by No. 20 Iowa in the semifinals.^[95] The Spartans received an at-large bid as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their ninth consecutive trip to the Tournament. In the Tournament, they lost to eventual Final Four Cinderella, George Mason, in the First Round.^[96] Following the season, Shannon Brown declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the Spartans one year prior to graduation, just the fourth player under Izzo to declare early.^[97][98]

The 2006–07 Spartans began the season 13–2, but were not ranked in the polls. A roller coaster Big Ten season resulted in MSU finishing 8–8 with a win against No. 1 Wisconsin which likely assured the Spartans a trip to the NCAA Tournament.^[99] MSU lost to Wisconsin^[100] after beating Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament.^[101] The Spartans received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive year and beat Marquette, coached by former Izzo assistant Tom Crean, in the First Round of the Tournament.^[102] A loss to No. 3 North Carolina in the Second Round ended the season.^[103]

In 2008, MSU finished the non-conference schedule 12–1 and ranked No. 6 in the country with wins over No. 24 NC State,^[104] No. 20 BYU,^[105] and No. 4 Texas.^[106] A hot start to the Big Ten schedule, winning six of seven, was followed by four losses in their next seven which left them in fourth place in the Big Ten with a record of 12–6. As the No. 4 seed tn the Big Ten Tournament, they beat Ohio State before losing to No. 8 Wisconsin.^[107] The Spartans received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament to mark their 11th consecutive trip to the Tournament under Tom Izzo. As a No. 5 seed, the Spartans beat Temple,^[108] and Pittsburgh to move on to the Sweet Sixteen for the seventh time in 11 years.^[109] A rout by a Derrick Rose-led Memphis ended the season.^[110]

By the beginning of the 2008–09 season, Izzo's teams, though having great success in the NCAA Tournament, had not won the Big Ten regular season title since 2001. A solid non-conference start left them at 9–2 and were ranked No. 10 in the country. MSU routed the Big Ten, winning their first five conference games, their best start in conference since 1978.^[111] MSU finished the conference season well, winning the Big Ten championship by four games with a 15–3 record, 25–5 overall, and ranked No. 7 in the country.^[112] Following the conclusion of the regular season, Kalin Lucas was named Big Ten Player of the Year^[113] and Tom Izzo was voted Big Ten Coach of the Year.^[114] As the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans defeated Minnesota.^[115] However, Michigan State's hopes for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament likely vanished as they were defeated by Ohio State, 82–70.^[116] Michigan State received an at-large bid as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament, their 12th straight appearance in the Tournament.^[117] With wins over Robert Morris^[118] and USC, the Spartans were able to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, the school's eighth trip to the Sweet Sixteen in the previous 12 years.^[119][120] MSU advanced to the Elite Eight with a win over No. 14-ranked and No. 3-seeded Kansas.^[121] In the Elite Eight, the Spartans defeated Louisville to advance to Final Four in nearby Detroit, only 90 miles from MSU's campus.^[122] The Spartans defeated UConn in the national semifinals to earn their third-ever trip to the National Championship game.^[123] With Izzo 1–0 in championship games and the Spartans 2–0 all-time, North Carolina scored more points than any team had ever scored in the first half of an NCAA championship game, scoring 55 and blowing out the Spartans 89–72, marking the Spartans first ever loss in the National Championship game.^[124][125]

In 2010, the Spartans finished the non-conference schedule at 10–3. The Spartans began the Big Ten season on fire, winning their first nine games and went on to earn a share of the Big Ten championship with a 14–4 and ranked 11th in the country. As the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they were defeated in overtime by No. 6 seed Minnesota in the quarterfinals.^[126] The Spartans received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, their 13th straight appearance, earning a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region. A win over New Mexico State^[127] and Maryland led MSU to the Sweet Sixteen for the ninth time in 13 years.^[128] However, Kalin Lucas suffered a serious knee injury and would miss the remainder of the Tournament. MSU did not seem to miss him and would go on to beat Northern Iowa and Tennessee to advance to their second consecutive Final Four and sixth in the prior 12 years.^[129] In the National semifinal, they were defeated by Butler by two points.^[130]

The 2010–11 Spartans finished the non-conference portion of their season 8–4 and ranked No. 20 in the country. However, the Spartans were inconsistent in conference play, suffering nine losses and finishing 9–9 in conference and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament. After beating Iowa^[131] and blowing out No. 9 Purdue^[132] in the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans fell to Penn State in the semifinals.^[133] The blowout win over Purdue likely ensured the Spartans inclusion in the NCAA Tournament.^[132] Michigan State received a No. 10 seed in the Southeast Region of the NCAA Tournament, their 14th straight appearance, but the lowest seeding the Spartans had received in the NCAA Tournament since 2002. MSU fell behind early to UCLA in the Second Round (formerly known as the First Round) and made a furious rally, but fell short, losing by two points.^[134] The loss marked only the fourth time MSU failed to win a game in their 14 trips to the NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo.

The 2011–12 Spartans, led by senior Draymond Green, started the season 0–2. However, MSU won the next 15 games in a row to jump into the top ten in the polls. A loss in the regular season finale at home to No. 10 Ohio State meant the Spartans would share the Big Ten regular season championship with Ohio State and Michigan, all of which finished the Big Ten season with a 13–5 conference record.^[135] In that loss to Ohio State, key freshman reserve, Branden Dawson, tore his ACL, ending his season.^[135] As the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, The Spartans beat Iowa,^[136] No. 14 Wisconsin,^[137] and No. 7 Ohio State to win the Tournament championship, their first Tournament championship since 2000.^[138] Draymond Green earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors, the fifth time a player had done so under Tom Izzo.^[139] Izzo was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year.^[139] MSU received a No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, where they beat LIU–Brooklyn in the First Round behind Green's triple-double.^[140] The Spartans overcame Saint Louis in the Second Round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.^[141] 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.^[142]

MSU began the 2012–13 season 11–2 and ranked No. 18 in the country. The Spartans remained ranked the entire year while finishing tied for second in the Big Ten with Ohio State, with a 13–5 conference record and ranked No. 10 in the country. As the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, they beat Iowa in the quarterfinals,^[143] but fell to eventual tournament champion, Ohio State, in the semifinals.^[144] The Spartans received a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their 16th straight appearance in the tournament. MSU defeated Valparaiso^[145] and Memphis to advance to their fifth Sweet Sixteen in six years and their 11th trip in 16 years.^[146] However, the Spartans were defeated by Duke, who was led by Seth Curry, in the Sweet Sixteen.^[147]

Michigan State began the 2013–14 season looking to continue Tom Izzo's Final Four streak: every player who had played four years for Izzo had made at least one Final Four. After beating No. 1 Kentucky in the Champions Classic, the Spartans moved to the No. 1 spot in the country.^[148] The Spartans held the No. 1 spot for three weeks before losing to North Carolina in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.^[149] The Spartans cruised through the remaining non-conference schedule, finishing 11–1, to begin the Big Ten season ranked No. 5 in the country. The Spartans won their first seven conference games, but due to injuries to Keith Appling, Adriean Payne, and Brendan Dawson, MSU lost five of their last eight conference games to finish in a second-place tie with Wisconsin at 12–6. The Spartans, finally healthy and at full strength, beat Northwestern,^[150] No. 12 Wisconsin,^[151] and No. 8 Michigan to capture the Big Ten Tournament championship.^[152] This marked Michigan State's fourth tournament championship. Michigan State earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament's East Region. With wins against Delaware^[153] and Harvard, they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the third straight year and the 12th time in 17 years.^[154] They defeated No. 1-seeded Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010.^[155] There they fell to No. 7 seed and eventual National Champion, Connecticut. With the loss, the Tom Izzo's Final Four streak ended.^[156] Shortly after the season, Gary Harris declared for the NBA Draft.^[157]

In 2015, MSU started the season well, but with a shocking loss to Texas Southern at home in overtime, finished the non-conference season at 9–4 ^[158] MSU rallied late in the Big Ten season, winning six of their last eight conference games. MSU finished the season in a tie for third place in conference and got hot in the Big Ten Tournament beating Ohio State^[159] and No. 8 Maryland, before losing to No. 6 Wisconsin for the tournament title.^[160] The Spartans received an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed in the East Region. The bid was MSU's 18th straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. MSU beat Georgia in the Second Round^[161] and surprised No. 2-seeded and No. 6-ranked Virginia in the Third Round.^[162] With the win, the Spartans advanced to their fourth straight Sweet Sixteen and seventh Sweet Sixteen in eight years.^[162] Wins over Oklahoma^[163] and Louisville in overtime gave MSU a trip to their seventh Final Four under Tom Izzo.^[164] In the Final Four, the Spartans fell to the eventual National Champions for the second straight season, losing a rematch of their Champions Classic game to Duke in the National semifinal.^[165]

With senior Denzel Valentine leading the 2015–16 Spartans, MSU went undefeated in the non-conference with the school's best start in history and moved to No. 1 in the polls.^[166] However, Valentine suffered a knee injury in late December and would miss four games as MSU lost its first game of the season in Big Ten play and fell from the top spot in the polls.^[167] Upon Valentine's return, MSU continued to struggle, losing four of their first seven conference games and marking their worst conference start since 2003.^[168][169] 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.^[170] Following the regular season, USA Today named Valentine National Player of the Year.^[171] The Big Ten also announced that Valentine was the Big Ten's Player of the Year.^[172] As the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, MSU defeated Ohio State for a third time on the season before dispatching Maryland and Purdue to win the Tournament championship. With the win, MSU set the record for most Big Ten Tournament championships with five (Ohio State has also won five, but one has been vacated due to NCAA violations). MSU, ranked No. 2 in the country, learned that it would not receive a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, instead receiving a No. 2 seed in the Midwest bracket. This marked the 19th consecutive year the Spartans made the NCAA Tournament. Despite receiving the No. 2 seed, MSU was considered by some the favorite to with the NCAA Championship.^[173][174] However, MSU was shocked by No. 15-seeded Middle Tennessee in the first round in what some argue was the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history.^[175]

The 2016–17 Spartans were decimated by departures from the prior year as seniors Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes, and Matt Costello all graduated and moved to the NBA. Freshman Deyonta Davis also declared his eligibility for the NBA after the year and sophomores Javon Bess and Marvin Clark transferred out of the program. In all, five of the Spartans' top six scorers from 2015–16 did not return. In response, MSU welcomed their most-heralded recruiting class ever as four top-50 ranked players entered the program: Miles Bridges, Joshua Langford, Cassius Winston, and Nick Ward. A young team would look to graduate transfer Ben Carter and seniors Gavin Schilling and Eron Harris to fill the holes left by departing players. However, Carter and Schilling suffered season-ending knee injuries before the season began and Harris would suffer one late in the season. As a result, MSU struggled up front as Ward at 6' 8" was the tallest on the team. Former walk-on Kenny Goins became the backup big man at 6' 6". Following losses in their first two games to top-10 teams, MSU suffered two other losses to top-20 teams. Bridges missed seven games with a knee injury near the end of the non-conference slate and the Spartans, who started the season ranked as high as 10 in some polls, entered Big Ten play with an 8–5 record. Izzo would lament his early-season schedule which involved trips to Hawaii, New York, and the Bahamas when his young team wouldn't get needed practice time. Wins to start conference play over Minnesota (twice) and Northwestern, which would prove to be two of their better wins on the season,^[176] and Bridges's return had MSU at 4–1 in conference play. However, inconsistency haunted the Spartans^[177] as their failure to win road games left the Spartans at 8–5 in conference play with a visit to conference leaders, Purdue. MSU was handled easily by the Boilermakers and Harris suffered his knee injury which appeared to spell the end of MSU's 19-year NCAA Tournament streak. However, Bridges, who averaged over 16 points and eight rebounds on the season, and Ward who averaged over 13 points and six rebounds, led the Spartans, they knocked off ranked Wisconsin to seal a trip to the NCAA Tournament. A 10–8 conference record left the Spartans in a tie for fifth place. A win over Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament preceded a loss to Minnesota, but was enough for the Spartans to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 20th consecutive year. As a No. 9 seed, a win over Miami in the first round led to a loss to No. 1-seeded Kansas and an end to the season. Bridges finished the season with perhaps the second-best freshman season in MSU history (behind Magic Johnson): 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.^[178][179]

Surprisingly, Bridges opted to not enter the NBA Draft and returned to Michigan State for his sophomore year in 2017–18. With newcomer Jaren Jackson Jr., a consensus top-25 player, joining the team, the Spartans were picked by several publications as the No. 1 team in the country. They began the season ranked No. 2 behind Duke. After a loss to Duke in the second game of the season, the Spartans won the Victory Bracket of the PK–80 Tournament holding No. 9-ranked North Carolina to a school-record low for shooting percentage as they shot 24.6% from the field, including 5.6% from three-point land.^[180][181] The Spartans won 14 straight games, mostly against over-matched non-conference foes, and ascended to No. 1 in the country. A road loss to surprise Big Ten contender Ohio State followed by a home loss to rival Michigan dropped MSU in the rankings and shook the team's confidence. However, the team rebounded well, finishing the season by winning their last 12 regular season games, including a win over Big Ten co-leader Purdue as Bridges took the ball and hit a three-pointer to win the game.^[182] On February 17, 2018 while playing at Northwestern, the Spartans overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Wildcats, at that time, the fifth largest comeback all-time in Division I history.^[183][184] The Spartans finished with a school-record 16 Big Ten wins and their first outright regular season Big Ten title since 2009.^[185] The team also finished 28–3, a record for regular season wins. The Spartans fell again to their rival Michigan in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and received only a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament due to their low strength of schedule. The NCAA trip marked the school's 21st consecutive trip to the Tournament, but following a win in the First Round over Bucknell, the Spartans fell to 11th-seeded Syracuse marking the third consecutive year and first time under Izzo that the Spartans had failed to reach the Sweet Sixteen in a three-year period. The Spartans led the nation in field goal defense, rebounding margin, and blocks. Freshman Jaren Jackson Jr. set the single-season MSU record for blocks and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Bridges was named first-team All-Big Ten and second team All-American. For much of the season, the on-court play was shrouded by reports that surfaced during the time of the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal that Tom Izzo's program had covered up sexual assault allegations ten years prior.^[186] Izzo refused to comment on the reports due to an ongoing investigation by several agencies including Michigan Attorney General's office ^[187] and the United States Education Department. ^[188], but repeatedly said he had no intention of leaving Michigan State and they he cooperated with all investigations including the previous allegation of sexual assault in 2010.^[189][190] The school was also implicated tangentially to the FBI-college basketball scandal as reports surfaced that Bridges had been paid to attend Michigan State, among other allegations.^[191] MSU conducted an investigation and presented their findings that the allegations were false to the NCAA, who cleared Bridges, ruling him eligible to play.^[192]

Jud Heathcote

Jud Heathcote won three Big Ten titles in his 19 years at MSU. His teams appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments, four Sweet Sixteens, one Elite Eight, one Final Four and won one National Championship. After his early success with Magic Johnson and company, Heathcote finished his career strong, appearing in five NCAA Tournaments in his final six years. However, he never advanced past the Sweet Sixteen after winning the championship in 1979. His teams also appeared in three NITs reaching the NIT Final Four in 1989.

Heathcote was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1978 and 1986. Heathcote was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2009.

Tom Izzo worked as an assistant under Heathcote for 12 years prior to being named his successor. Other assistants who worked under Heathcote went on to head coaching positions: Don Monson (Idaho and Oregon), Bill Berry (San Jose State), Mike Deane (Siena, Marquette, Lamar, and Wagner), Jim Boylan (Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks), Jim Boylen (Utah), Stan Joplin (Toledo), and Brian Gregory (Dayton, Georgia Tech, and South Florida).

Record by season under Heathcote:^[194][198]

See Michigan State Spartans men's basketball seasons

Tom Izzo

Since 1995, the team has been coached by Tom Izzo, who has an overall record of 571–223 as the head coach at Michigan State. Izzo coached the Spartans to their second national championship in 2000 with an 89–76 victory over Florida.

Izzo is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.^[199]

Izzo has guided the Spartans to seven NCAA Final Fours since 1999, an accomplishment unmatched by any other college basketball program during that span. Izzo has never had a losing season at MSU and has also appeared in a postseason tournament every year he has headed the MSU basketball program: two years in the NIT and 20 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His teams have won eight Big Ten regular-season championships and five Big Ten Tournament Championships and have reached the Sweet Sixteen 13 times, the Elite Eight nine times, the Final Four seven times, and played in two NCAA Championship games.

Izzo has received numerous awards including the 1998 Associated Press National Coach of the Year, the 1998 Basketball News National Coach of the Year, the 1998 United States Basketball Writers Association Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award (1998), three-time Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year (1998, 2009, 2012), the 1998 Basketball Times Mideast Coach of the Year, the 1999 Basketball News Coach of the Year Award, two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year Award (2001, 2012) and the 2005 Clair Bee Award.^[200]

Izzo also helped his assistants secure head coaching jobs across the basketball world. Three current Division I head coaches served as assistants under Izzo: Brian Gregory coached for Dayton and Georgia Tech and is the current head coach at South Florida, Mark Montgomery is the current head coach at Northern Illinois, and Tom Crean was head coach at Indiana for nine years and Marquette for nine years and is the current head coach at Georgia. Current Izzo assistant coach Mike Garland spent three seasons as head coach at Cleveland State following an initial seven-year stint at MSU. Former assistant Stan Heath was head coach at Kent State, Arkansas, and South Florida.^[201] Doug Wojcik was the head coach at Tulsa^[202] and College of Charleston.^[203]

NCAA Tournament

The Spartans have appeared in 32 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournaments, with a current streak of 21 straight years, with two NCAA basketball national championships. They have appeared in nine Final Fours and sport a 64–30 all-time NCAA tournament record.

NIT results

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

Big Ten regular-season championships

Michigan State has won 14 Big Ten regular-season championships, the seventh-most in Big Ten history.

Big Ten Tournament championships

Michigan State has won five Big Ten Tournament championships since its inception in 1998, the most championships in the Big Ten. The Spartans have appeared in six championship games, only losing the 2015 championship to Wisconsin. Michigan State has appeared in the quarterfinals of every Big Ten Tournament.

Retired numbers

National Player of the Year

• Denzel Valentine – AP, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times, NABC, NBC Sports (2016)
• Draymond Green – NABC (2012)
• Shawn Respert – Sporting News, NABC (1995)
• Scott Skiles – Basketball Times (1986)

Final Four Most Outstanding Player

• Earvin Johnson (1979)
• Mateen Cleaves (2000)

Big Ten Player of the Year

• Jay Vincent (1981)
• Scott Skiles (1986)
• Shawn Respert (1995)
• Mateen Cleaves (1998, 1999)
• Morris Peterson (2000)
• Kalin Lucas (2009)
• Draymond Green (2012)
• Denzel Valentine (2016)

Big Ten Coach of the Year

• Jud Heathcote (1978, 1986)
• Tom Izzo (1998, 2009, 2012)

Big Ten Freshman of the Year

• Gary Harris (2013)
• Miles Bridges (2017)
• Jaren Jackson Jr. (2018)

Defensive Player of the Year

• Ken Redfield (1990)
• Eric Snow (1995)
• Travis Walton (2009)
• Jaren Jackson Jr. (2018)

Spartans in the NBA

Spartans formerly or currently in the NBA include:

Demonstration Hall

The Spartans used this building, still in use on campus today, as their home from 1930 to the opening of Jenison Fieldhouse in 1940.

Jenison Fieldhouse

The arena opened in 1940 and was named for alumnus Frederick Cowles Jenison, whose estate, along with PWAP funds, funded the building. The building was the home of the Spartans from 1940 to 1989 when the Breslin Center opened.

The venue is most famous for its 1979 NCAA champion basketball team, which included Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and was coached by Jud Heathcote.

Jenison also hosted the 1963 NCAA Tournament's Mideast Regionals. A plaque outside the arena commemorates one of the 1963 regional semifinals; the "Game of Change," in which a segregated Mississippi State team played and lost to the eventual national champion, an integrated Loyola team. The losing Maroons (now known as the Bulldogs) had defied a court order prohibiting them from leaving the state to play an integrated team. The game is now seen as a watershed moment in the intersection of civil rights and sports during the Civil Rights Movement.^[214]

The building is still in use on campus today.

Breslin Center

The Spartans play home games at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center on campus. The arena is commonly referred to as "Breslin" and "the Bres", and was opened in 1989. It is named for Jacweir "Jack" Breslin, an MSU alumnus, former athlete and administrator, who first began pushing for the arena in 1969. Its capacity is 14,797 seats, and the stadium superseded Jenison Fieldhouse. The arena is currently undergoing a $50 million renovation to improve the visitor experience and to create a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History.^[215]

The arena's current basketball court is the same floor where the Spartans won the 2000 NCAA Tournament, which was at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The school purchased the floor from the NCAA and Final Four floor installer Horner Flooring after the title game. A plaque was installed on the baseline near the Michigan State tunnel to commemorate the floor's role in the school's history.^[216]

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.^[217] 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.^[218]

The arena is undergoing a $50 million renovation to improve the visitor experience and to create a Michigan State University Basketball Hall of History which is scheduled to be completed by June 2018.^[219][220]