The team played their home games at Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI and were members of the Big Ten Conference.

The Spartans finished the 2011–12 season with a record of 29–8, 13–5 to earn a share of the Big Ten Championship.

The Spartans lost Draymond Green (16.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 3.8 APG) to the NBA draft following the season.

Michigan State's top-10 ranked recruiting class, was headlined by 6'4" SG Gary Harris.

Notably, Matt Costello and Denzel Valentine finished first and second, respectively, in the voting for Michigan's Mr. Basketball, MSU's fourth straight Mr. Basketball signee (2011 winner Dwaun Anderson originally signed with Michigan State, but was released from his National Letter of Intent to go to Wagner College for personal reasons).

[15] The Spartans finished in a second place tie with Ohio State with a 13–5 conference record and ranked No.

After a brutal first half where the Spartans only mustered 20 points and trailed Iowa 30–20 at the break, MSU responded.

[16] Led by Keith Appling and Gary Harris' 13 points each, MSU rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half to pull out the 59–56 victory.

Led by Derrick Nix's 23 points and 15 rebounds in the game, as the Spartans cruised to a 65–54 win over Valparaiso in the first round.

[19] In the second round, Gary Harris led the Spartans with 23 points as MSU blew out Memphis to advance to their fifth Sweet Sixteen in six years.