Ranking Michigan State’s Most Impressive Final Fours Under Tom Izzo

Mar 26, 2015; Syracuse, NY, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo during practice for the semifinals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

5. 2009 Michigan State Spartans (31-7)

The 2009 Michigan State Spartans were a talented bunch and were ranked top-five in the preseason polls with the dynamic trio of Kalin Lucas, Durrell Summers and Chris Allen to go along with a supporting cast of Raymar Morgan, Goran Suton, Delvon Roe and Draymond Green.

This team was absolutely loaded with talent and it’s hard to believe that Green wasn’t even a major contributor to this team, more of a role player second or third off the bench.

Losing to North Carolina by 30-plus points at Ford Field in Detroit early on in the season gave the Spartans a black eye as they dropped from No. 12 in the country all the way to No. 20 in the nation after the embarrassing blowout.

Little did this team know that the Tar Heels and Spartans would meet again for the national title on the same exact court in Detroit. This was though to be a team of destiny, but it fell just a bit short.

Michigan State earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big Ten regular season crown, facing Robert Morris in the first round and putting a beatdown on the Colonials. They then faced a tough, athletic USC team and just squeaked out a close one, 74-69.

The game versus three-seed Kansas in the Sweet 16 turned out to be a classic as MSU won by five, earning the right to face No. 1 seed Louisville in the Elite Eight. Izzo’s squad won once again, upsetting the Cardinals, 64-52.

Connecticut was the only team standing between the Spartans and a rematch with the Tar Heels at Ford Field in the title game and MSU took care of business, beating the Huskies by nine.

It’s too bad this team didn’t win basically on their home floor against UNC because the entire state was behind it. Impressive run, nonetheless.

Next: 2005 MSU Spartans