Last Time Michigan State Won National Championship Basketball
Michigan State University is a Division I college basketball team that has had great success over the years. The Spartans have made it to the Final Four ten times, and have won two national championships. The last time Michigan State won the national championship in basketball was in the year 2000.
The Team
The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team during the 2000 season was Tom Izzo. Izzo had been the head coach at Michigan State since 1995, and had already led the team to the Final Four once before in 1999. That year, the Spartans lost in the semifinals to Duke, but Izzo was determined to bring home a championship in 2000.
The Season
The 1999-2000 season was a successful one for the Michigan State Spartans. They finished the regular season with a record of 28-4, and won the Big Ten Conference regular season title. They then went on to win the Big Ten Conference Tournament, beating Illinois in the championship game.
In the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State was a #1 seed in the Midwest Region. They started off with a close win over Valparaiso in the first round, and then went on to beat Utah and Syracuse to advance to the Final Four. In the semifinals, they faced Wisconsin, who had beaten Purdue to get there. Michigan State won that game 53-41, setting up a championship game showdown with the Florida Gators.
The Key Players
The Michigan State Spartans had several key players during the 1999-2000 season. The most notable of these was Mateen Cleaves, the team's starting point guard. Cleaves was a senior that year, and was the heart and soul of the team. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, and was known for his toughness and leadership.
Another key player for the Spartans was Morris Peterson, a junior forward. Peterson was the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game. He was also a strong defender and rebounder, and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team that year.
Charlie Bell was another important player for the Spartans. He was a senior shooting guard, and was known for his three-point shooting and defensive skills. Bell was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team that year.
Finally, Andre Hutson was a junior power forward who played a key role in the Spartans' championship run. Hutson was a strong rebounder and defender, and was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team that year.
The Championship Game
The championship game between Michigan State and Florida was held on April 3, 2000, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Spartans got off to a slow start, and trailed the Gators by 13 points in the first half. However, they battled back and took the lead in the second half, thanks in large part to Mateen Cleaves' leadership and playmaking ability.
In the end, Michigan State won the game 89-76, and captured their second national championship in school history. Cleaves was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, and Tom Izzo had finally achieved his goal of bringing a championship to Michigan State.
Conclusion
The 1999-2000 Michigan State Spartans basketball team will always be remembered for their championship run. Led by head coach Tom Izzo and star player Mateen Cleaves, the Spartans overcame adversity and battled their way to the top of the college basketball world. It was a season that will never be forgotten by Michigan State fans, and one that will always be remembered as the last time the Spartans won the national championship.