Tag: Jud Heathcote

Michigan State Men’s Basketball NCAA Tournament History

Michigan State has a long tradition with the NCAA Tournament. We took a look at every run the Spartans have made.

Michigan State Men’s Basketball is currently fighting to keep their 2021 NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Spartans are looking to preserve and continue a Tournament tradition in East Lansing that started all the way back in 1957 with Forddy Anderson’s squad.

Since then, the Spartans were able to record two National Championships, one with Jud Heathcote and one with Tom Izzo. They also recorded a ton of awesome moments for fans along the way.

Below, we took a look at every single NCAA Tournament run for MSU in the history of the program.

 

 

On this day in history: MSU beats Penn for first Final Four win ever

On March 24, 1979, Michigan State beat Pennsylvania to earn their first ever Final Four win.

March 24, 1979 is a momentous day in Michigan State Men’s Basketball history, as noted today by Phil Friend of the Lansing State Journal. On this day in history, the No. 2 ranked Spartans picked up their first ever Final Four victory against No. 9 Pennsylvania in a massive 101 – 67 victory in the National Semifinal.

This was nothing short than a beatdown, with MSU leading Penn 50-17 at halftime. Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson recorded a triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and Gregory Kelser added 28 points and 9 rebounds.

The Spartans would go on to beat Larry Bird and Indiana State 75-64 in the championship game to earn their first national title, the only championship of the Jud Heathcote era.

You can watch the highlights below:

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