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1997–98 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team

1997–98 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
Michigan-State-logo-block-s.svg
Big Ten regular season co-champions
Coca Cola Spartan Classic champions
NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 10
AP No. 16
1997–98 record 22–8 (13–3 Big Ten)
Head coach Tom Izzo (3rd year)
Assistant coach Tom Crean (3rd year)
Assistant coach Stan Heath (2nd year)
Assistant coach Mike Garland (2nd year)
Captain Antonio Smith
Captain Mateen Cleaves
Home arena Breslin Center
Seasons
← 1996–97
1998–99 →
1997–98 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
No. 16 Michigan State 13 3   .813     22 8   .733
No. 22 Illinois 13 3   .813     23 10   .697
No. 11 Purdue 12 4   .750     28 8   .778
Iowa 9 7   .563     20 11   .645
Indiana 9 7   .563     20 12   .625
Penn State 8 8   .500     19 13   .594
Minnesota** 6 10   .375     15 15   .500
Northwestern 3 13   .188     10 17   .370
Wisconsin 3 13   .188     12 19   .387
Ohio State 1 15   .063     8 22   .267
No. 12 Michigan* † 0 5   .000     0 8   .000
1998 Big Ten Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
*Michigan: 24 reg. season games inc. Big Ten Tourn. Champ.; 2 NCAA Tourn. games vacated due to sanctions against the program
**Minnesota: 5 NIT games vacated inc. NIT champ. vacated due to sanctions against the program
Disputed records: Michigan 25–9, 11–5; Minnesota 20–15, 6–10

The 1997–98 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played their home games at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan as members of the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by third-year head coach, Tom Izzo. The Spartans finished the season 22–8, 13–3 in Big Ten play to win a share the regular season Big Ten championship. MSU received a bid to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to North Carolina.

The Spartans finished the 1996–97 season 17–12, 9–9 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place. Michigan State received an invitation to the NIT and beat George Washington in the first round. In the second round, they lost to Florida State.

The Spartans lost Jon Garavaglia (10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game) and Ray Weathers (13.6 points per game) to graduation following the season.

The Spartans began the season looking for their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1995. They were led by sophomore Mateen Cleaves (16.1 points and 7.2 assists per game) and junior Jason Klein (11.2 points per game). This season marked the first year for all four of MSU's "Flintstones", Cleaves (sophomore), Charlie Bell (freshman), Antonio Smith (junior), and Morris Peterson (sophomore), who would end their careers with a National Championship in 2000.


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