1 seed in the Midwest region, they defeated Mount Saint Mary's and Ole Miss to advance to their second straight Sweet Sixteen.

In the Sweet Sixteen they defeated Oklahoma to advance to the school's first Elite Eight since 1979.

In the Elite Eight, they defeated Kentucky to earn a trip to the Final Four for the first time since 1979.

They defeated Eastern Michigan and Princeton to advance to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to No.

The Spartans, fresh off their first trip to the Sweet Sixteen since 1990, started the season ranked No.

[18][19] The Spartans won the Big Ten conference regular season by three games with a record of 15–1.

(Ohio State, who finished in second place with a 12–4 record, was later forced to vacate 29 games including all conference wins.)

MSU struggled in the game and appeared to be headed toward a second-straight early exit from only the second-ever Big Ten tournament, but Matteen Cleaves hit a clutch shot with 37 second remaining to give MSU a two-point win.

The Spartans held Wisconsin scoreless for nearly 11 minutes in the second half on their way to 56–41 win.

[23] The win gave the Spartans the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

In a First Round victory over Mount St. Mary's, MSU used tough defense to hold off the Mountaineers, 76–53.

Michigan State used a late 13–0 run to hold off the upset and defeat the Rebels, 73–66.

[25] Cleaves led the Spartans with 18 points as they advanced to their second straight Sweet Sixteen.

Michigan State trailed by as many 13 points early in the contest, but they fought back to beat Kentucky 73–66 to advance to the Final Four.