The Michigan State University Spartans men’s basketball team is the college basketball program representing Michigan State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and plays home games at the Breslin Student Events Center. Tom Izzo has been the head coach since 1995. The Spartans have won two NCAA championships and 14 Big Ten Conference Championships and are 21st on the all-time Final Four appearances list, tied with several other programs. The first basketball team at Michigan Agricultural College (the precursor to Michigan State University) competed in 1897, beating Albion College by a score of 23–7 in their first game.
University Of Michigan State Basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team is the college basketball program representing Michigan State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and plays home games at the Breslin Student Events Center.
The Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team is the college basketball program representing Michigan State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and plays home games at the Breslin Student Events Center.
The Spartans have a rich history, having won two national championships (1957, 1979), 14 Big Ten Conference Championships, 21 Final Fours, six NCAA tournament championship game appearances (1996-2015), and nine conference tournament championships. They have also had numerous great coaches such as John Wooden, Jud Heathcote and Tom Izzo.
Tom Izzo has been the head coach since 1995. The Spartans have won two NCAA championships and 14 Big Ten Conference Championships and are 21st on the all-time Final Four appearances list, tied with several other programs. The first basketball team at Michigan Agricultural College (the precursor to Michigan State University) competed in 1897, beating Albion College by a score of 23–7 in their first game.
- Tom Izzo has been the head coach since 1995.
- The Spartans have won two NCAA championships and 14 Big Ten Conference Championships.
- The first basketball team at Michigan Agricultural College (the precursor to Michigan State University) competed in 1897, beating Albion College by a score of 23–7 in their first game.
The team was coached by William Watts, who was involved in the formation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Watts was also a member of faculty at MAC for nearly 20 years.
Watts was also a member of faculty for nearly 20 years. The team was coached by William Watts, who was involved in the formation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Watts was also a member of faculty at MAC for nearly 20 years.
After 19 years with Watts as head coach, Tillman Finney took over as head coach in 1916, but he only coached one year before being replaced by William Beauregard “Bennie” Oosterbaan, who would have one of the longest tenures as head coach in college basketball history. Beauregard would lead the team to four conference titles (1920, 1921, 1928, 1930) before resigning following an investigation of his program because players competed against former high school teammates before transferring to MAC.
After 19 years with Watts as head coach, Tillman Finney took over as head coach in 1916, but he only coached one year before being replaced by William Beauregard “Bennie” Oosterbaan, who would have one of the longest tenures as head coach in college basketball history. Beauregard would lead the team to four conference titles (1920, 1921, 1928, 1930) before resigning following an investigation of his program because players competed against former high school teammates before transferring to MAC.
In 1939, Michigan State hired John Hargiss to replace Beauregard. A year later he was replaced by Harry Combes who led them for three seasons until taking over at Illinois after that season ended. In 1944 Combes returned and continued coaching until 1945 when he took over at University of Chicago where he stayed until 1953 when he retired from coaching altogether.
In 1945 Fred Wilpon was hired as head coach and served until 1948 where they had their first losing season since 1931-1932 going 13–13 including 7–7 within the conference; however Wilpon did lead them to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance where they lost 63-62 against Oregon State on March 17th 1947. The following year Wilpon resigned due to health issues; however before leaving Michigan State he recruited Alvin “Bo” Reinhardt who still holds many records today including most points scored per game or single season (27).
Closing
The Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball team is the college basketball program representing Michigan State University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and plays home games at the Breslin Student Events Center. Tom Izzo has been the head coach since 1995. The Spartans have won two NCAA championships and 14 Big Ten Conference Championships and are 21st on the all-time Final Four appearances list, tied with several other programs. The first basketball team at Michigan Agricultural College (the precursor to Michigan State University) competed in 1897, beating Albion College by a score of 23–7 in their first game.