When was the last time Michigan State won the NCAA Tournament? (Odds to win March Madness)
By Reed Wallach
We all know the famous saying by now, “January, February, IZZO, April” and so on.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo has been a successful NCAA Tournament coach since arriving in 1995, making the team into a perennial college basketball program. This year is another one of his impressive coaching jobs, as he has the No. 7 seed Spartans into the Sweet 16 getting ready to face No. 3 Kansas State as betting favorites.
The Spartans were seen as a longshot to make a NCAA Tournament run, but following an impressive win over USC and an upset victory over No. 2 seed Marquette, many are starting to believe in Izzo and the Spartans once again.
However, it’s been quite some time since the Michigan State coach has cut down the nets.
When Was the Spartans’ Last National Championship
Despite being a contender at several different points since, Michigan State hasn’t won the National Championship since 2000, the last time a Big Ten program has won the title. The only other time the program has won it all was in 1979 with Earvin “Magic” Johnson at the helm.
Sparty made it to the title game in 2009 before losing to North Carolina and the Final Four the year after in 2010. The team also made Final Four appearances in 2015 and 2019.
While successful year over year, it’s been over 20 years since Michigan State has been crowned National Champions.
Michigan State’s Odds to Win National Championship
As the East Region continues to open up, Michigan State becomes more and more live to win a National Championship. No. 1 seed Purdue was eliminated in the first round by No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson and the next choice, No. 5 Duke, lost to No. 4 Tennessee.
While the Spartans are a No. 7 seed, oddsmakers value the guard play of A.J. Hoggard and Tyson Walker as well as the seasoned coach with tourney success like Izzo as the team is a small favorite against No. 3 Kansas State in the Sweet 16.
For more on Michigan State vs. Kansas State, check out our game preview!