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Michigan State basketball is again in a really acquainted place.
For the seventeenth time in Tom Izzo’s 31 seasons as head coach, the Spartans will play within the NCAA event’s second weekend — the Sweet 16.
Izzo’s first Sweet 16 look got here in 1998, when sophomore Mateen Cleaves and his Spartan teammates have been a No. 4 seed and fell 73-58 to a star-filled and No. 1-seeded North Carolina group that included Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood.
The most up-to-date Sweet 16 journey got here final season when MSU, as a 2-seed, pulled out a good 73-30 win over 6-seed Mississippi on its technique to an Elite Eight loss to Auburn two days later.
In between these two video games, there have been 14 different Sweet 16 appearances that included among the extra memorable NCAA event video games of Izzo’s tenure.
Here’s a glance again at few of these (in chronological order).
2000: No. 1 MSU 75, No. 4 Syracuse 58
One of the important thing video games on the postseason run to Tom Izzo’s solely nationwide championship got here near residence on the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Spartans have been title favorites, however regarded able to be bounced from the event early, trailing Syracuse by 10 factors at halftime and by as many as 14 early within the second half. But after rallying again, MSU, broke open a 58-58 tie by scoring the sport’s remaining 17 factors to arrange an Elite Eight showdown with 2-seed Iowa State.
2003: No. 7 MSU 60, No. 6 Maryland 58
The 2003 Spartans misplaced 12 instances throughout the common season and confronted defending nationwide champion Maryland in San Antonio. MSU was in management all through till letting a 13-point lead slip away within the remaining eight minutes. Then with the rating tied, freshman middle Paul Davis banked in a shot with 4.7 seconds left to provide MSU the lead. After Steve Blake’s 3-point strive missed on the buzzer, the Spartans have been on to their fourth Elite Eight in 5 seasons the place they fell to No. 1 seed Texas, 85-76.
2005: No. 5 MSU 78, No. 1 Duke 68
A Sweet 16 traditional within the minds of many MSU followers got here in 2005 when the Spartans surprised Duke in Austin, Texas, in Tom Izzo’s first-ever win over Blue Devils coach Mike Mike Krzyzewski. The signature spotlight got here when MSU guard Maurice Ager took a go on a quick break and rose excessive above star Duke guard (and now L.A. Lakers coach) J.J. Redick for an emphatic dunk throughout the Spartans’ second-half run. MSU then received one other traditional two days later within the Elite Eight, beating 2-seed Kentucky, 94-88 in double time beyond regulation, to achieve Izzo’s fourth Final Four.
2009: No. 2 MSU 67, No. 3 Kansas 62
MSU’s magical run to the 2009 Final Four at Ford Field in Detroit, included a number of signature wins. One of these was a Sweet 16 victory over Kansas in a Midwest Regional semifinal in Indianapolis. MSU trailed by 13 factors within the first half and by seven at halftime earlier than roaring again within the second half. Goran Suton had 20 factors and 9 rebounds and Kalin Lucas added 18 factors, together with going 5-for-5 on the free-throw line within the remaining minute. MSU went on to prime Louisville within the regional remaining and UConn within the Final Four earlier than falling to North Carolina within the nationwide championship recreation.
2014: No. 4 MSU 61, No. 1 Virginia 59
Many name MSU’s 2014 group one in all Tom Izzo’s most proficient. A group that battled accidents to key gamers for a lot of the season put issues collectively for an important NCAA run that included a suffocating defensive efficiency in a win over Malcolm Brogon and Virginia, one of many pre-tournament favorites, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Spartans held the Cavaliers to simply 35% taking pictures and junior Branden Dawson dominated with 24 factors and 10 rebounds. Adreian Payne added 16 factors as MSU moved on to the Elite Eight the place it misplaced to eventual nationwide champ UConn.
2023: No. 3 Kansas State 98, No. 7 MSU 93 (OT)
Not all memorable video games need to be wins, proper? MSU’s heartbreaking Sweet 16 loss to Kansas State — once more at Madison Square Garden — nonetheless sticks within the minds of many. The Spartans led for a lot of the second half and had 5 gamers rating in double figures, together with a profession efficiency from A.J. Hoggard, who had 25 factors. Joey Hauser additionally hit 4 3-pointers on his technique to 18 factors. But the Spartans have been unable to decelerate KSU level guard Markquis Nowell, who scored 20 factors and had an NCAA tournament-record 19 assists. His key performs down the stretch ended MSU’s season.
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