Every four-year player recruited by Tom Izzo has appeared in at least one Final Four.
Michigan State has appeared in 12-straight NCAA Tournaments, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
2009 Final Four
Ever since the summer of 2003, when the NCAA announced that the 2009 Final Four would be held at Detroit’s Ford Field, Coach Tom Izzo had a dream of playing on college basketball’s ultimate stage just down the road from the Michigan State campus. By early April, the Spartans became just the 13th team in Final Four history to play within their state borders, and the first since 1994.
The Spartans entered the 2009 NCAA Tournament coming off a great regular-season, capturing the Big Ten title with a 15-3 league mark, and earned a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional. MSU opened the tournament with a dominating 77-62 victory over Robert Morris. In the second round, senior Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points to push MSU past a talented USC squad, 74-69.
In the Regional Semifinal, the Spartans trailed Kansas by as many as 13 points in the first half, but rallied in the second half. A crucial three-point play by Kalin Lucas in the final minute broke a 60-60 tie and gave MSU a 67-62 victory. Standing between Michigan State and a trip to the Final Four was the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed Louisville. Neither team led by more than three points in the first half. Leading 37-36 in the second, MSU went on a 21-7 run to take control of the contest. The Spartans held Louisville to just 38.3 percent shooting from the field. Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player Goran Suton recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Cardinals.
Having finally reached Detroit, the Spartans were pitted against another No. 1 seed from the BIG EAST conference, Connecticut. Michigan State made an early statement jumping out to a 9-2 lead and took a two-point lead into halftime. MSU slowly pulled away in the second half, extending the lead up to 11 in the final four minutes. The Huskies made a last-ditch effort and pulled to within three points in the final 70 seconds, but the Spartans held on for an 82-73 victory.
In the National Championship game, Michigan State faced its third No. 1 seed of the tournament, North Carolina. The Tar Heels jumped on the Spartans early. MSU attempted to rally in the second half, but eventually fell, 89-72. Suton closed out his career with a 17-point, 11-rebound effort, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team, while Lucas also earned a spot on the team, averaging 17.5 points and six assists in the Final Four.
2005 Final Four
No. 5 seed Michigan State opened the 2005 NCAA Tournament against Old Dominion. The Monarchs held a 42-37 halftime lead, but the Spartans mounted a surge in the last nine minutes to claim victory. In the next round, the Spartans used their depth and athleticism to wear down Vermont, 72-61. In the Sweet Sixteen, MSU used a 16-3 second-half run to pull away from Duke in a 78-68 win.
The Regional Final featured a rematch of the 1999 Elite Eight contest between MSU and Kentucky. The Spartans appeared on their way to St. Louis, until UK’s Patrick Sparks hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation. The first overtime could not produce a winner, sending the game into a second extra period, where MSU scored the first five points en route to a 94-88 win. Shannon Brown was named Most Outstanding Player of the Austin Regional after a 24-point performance, joining Maurice Ager and Paul Davis on the All-Regional team.
Making their fourth trip to the Final Four in seven years, the Spartans held a 38-33 halftime lead over North Carolina. With the game tied at 49, the Tar Heels took control with a 12-0 run, ending MSU’s season.
2001 Final Four
The defending NCAA Champions, Michigan State entered the 2001 NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed for the third straight season. The Spartans were missing 58 points from the 2000 title game, but did boast five seniors, including Charlie Bell and Andre Hutson, who earned postseason honors as juniors. MSU easily defeated Alabama State, 69-35, in the first round before handing Fresno State an 81-65 defeat to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for a fourth straight year.
In the Regional Semifinal, MSU took on No. 12 Gonzaga. The Bulldogs had a low seed, yet they were also making their third straight Sweet Sixteen appearance with a tournament-tested team. Michigan State fell behind early in the second half, but Bell scored 21 points as the Spartans eventually pulled away. In the Regional Final, State faced another surprise team in 11th-seeded Temple. The Spartans held off the Owls thanks in part to a career-high 19 points from David Thomas. For his efforts, Thomas was named to the All-Regional team, where he joined All-South Regional Most Outstanding Player, Charlie Bell. With a 69-62 victory, MSU’s NCAA Tournament record of nine straight victories by double figures was snapped, but the Spartans did become the ninth team to appear in three straight Final Fours and only the third since the field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
Suddenly, thoughts of a repeat NCAA Champion appeared more realistic. Unfortunately, MSU ran into a hot Arizona squad in Minneapolis. The Wildcats led by just two points at the half, but outscored the Spartans, 48-31, in the second half en route to an 80-61 victory.
2000 Final Four
The 2000 Spartans entered the NCAA Tournament determined to win a National Championship. For the second year in a row, they entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed, led by a trio of experienced seniors, Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and A.J. Granger. The Spartans had little trouble in their first round matchup, holding Valparaiso to 25 percent (13-of-52) shooting in a 65-38 victory. In the second round against Utah, Cleaves scored 21 points to rally MSU from a 35-32 halftime deficit and defeat the Utes, 73-61.
In the Regional Semifinal, MSU took on the fourth-seeded Syracuse Orangemen. SU took a 34-24 halftime lead and led by as many as 11 points with 15 minutes remaining. A halftime lockerroom tirade by Cleaves must have worked, however, as MSU finished the game by outscoring the Orangemen, 37-9, a run that was capped off with 17 unanswered points. In the Regional Final, No. 2 seed Iowa State held a nine-point lead with a little over five minutes to go. Once again, Michigan State used a late-game rally, outscoring the Cyclones, 23-5, over the final 5:49 in a 75-64 decision. Cleaves, Granger, Peterson and Andre Hutson all found a spot on the All-Regional team, with Peterson earning Most Outstanding Player honors.
In the National Semifinal, State faced Wisconsin for the fourth time of the season. MSU held a slim 19-17 lead at the break. Peterson took over in the second half, scoring 10 points in a 13-2 run to pull away from the Badgers and earn a spot in the NCAA Championship game.
After grinding it out with Wisconsin, MSU faced Florida’s run and gun offense and pressure defense in the title game. The Spartans opened an 11-point halftime lead. Early in the second half, Cleaves got tangled up with Florida’s Teddy Dupay, injuring Cleaves’ ankle and forcing him back to the lockerroom. Leading by six, MSU got five straight points from Mike Chappell and held a bigger lead when Cleaves returned four and a half minutes later. State never looked back, capturing its second National Championship in school history with an 89-76 victory. Cleaves was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four and was joined by Charlie Bell, Peterson and Granger on the All-Tournament team.
1999 Final Four
Michigan State returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1999 with lofty aspirations. For just the second time in school history, MSU was a No. 1 seed. The Spartans easily handled Mount St. Mary’s in the first round, 76-53. The second round was more of a challenge, as the Spartans fought off a stubborn Mississippi squad, 74-66. In the Sweet Sixteen, State took on Oklahoma in a defensive struggle, pulling away late for a 54-46 victory.
In the Regional Final, MSU played national power and defending National Champion Kentucky. Twenty-one years earlier, the Wildcats kept MSU out of the Final Four, defeating the Spartans in the 1978 Regional Final. MSU fell behind early, 17-4, but rallied to close the gap to one at the half. The comeback was completed in the second half as Morris Peterson’s 19 points and 10 rebounds led four players in double figures. The Midwest Region’s Most Outstanding Player, Peterson knocked down six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds to clinch a 73-66 win. Peterson was joined on the All-Regional team by A.J. Granger and Mateen Cleaves.
In its first Final Four appearance since 1979, MSU took on Duke in the semifinal game. The Blue Devils led by only two at halftime, but cold shooting doomed MSU in the second half, falling 68-62.
1979 Final Four
Michigan State opened its championship run with a 95-64 pounding of Lamar, led by Earvin Johnson’s triple-double and Greg Kelser’s 31 points. After defeating LSU, MSU met up with top seed Notre Dame in the Regional Final in what was being called the game to decide the NCAA Championship. The Spartans jumped out to a big lead early en route to an 80-68 victory. Kelser led the way with a Spartan NCAA Tournament-record 34 points, earning All-Region MVP honors, while Johnson joined him on the All-Region Team.
In the Final Four, the Spartans took on Pennsylvania, who entered the tournament as a nine seed. Johnson recorded his second triple-double of the tournament as MSU led 50-17 at the half, finishing with a tournament team record of 101 points. In the championship game, the Spartans took on No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Indiana State, led by Larry Bird. The Spartans jumped out to a big first-half lead on their way to capturing the school’s first National Championship. Kelser and Johnson were both named to the All-Tournament team, while Johnson was named Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the All-Decade Team.
1957 Final Four
In its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, it did not take long for Michigan State to find success. In their first game of the tournament, the Spartans took on Notre Dame in Lexington, Ky. MSU took control of the game in the second half and held on through a late Notre Dame rally to advance to the Regional Finals, 85-83. Next up for MSU was the home team, third-ranked Kentucky. The Spartans came back from 12 down at the half to defeat the Wildcats, 80-68, and advance to the Final Four in their first NCAA appearance.
MSU’s semifinal game was against top-ranked North Carolina and the two teams played one of the greatest games in Four Final History. The Spartans battled to the end but the Tar Heels were just too strong and took the game in three overtimes, 74-70. Michigan State dropped the consolation game to San Francisco, 67-60, to finish fourth. Johnny Green had an amazing tournament, totaling 77 rebounds during the tournament and averaging 19.3 boards per game. His 77 rebounds set an NCAA tournament record for most rebounds in four games, while his average ranks fourth all-time in tournament history. Green earned All-Tournament honors for his performance and he and Jack Quiggle were also named to the All-Regional team.
