76 89 32 44 43 46 Date 3 April 2000 Arena RCA Dome | Florida 32 44 76 46 89 Location RCA Dome | |
Champion Michigan State Spartans men's basketball Announcers Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Billy Packer (color), Bonnie Bernstein, Armen Keteyian (sideline) People also search for 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game | ||
The 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game was the finals of the 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and it determined the national champion for the 1999-2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2000 National Title Game was played on April 3, 2000 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, The 2000 National Title Game was played between the 2000 Midwest Regional Champions, #1-seeded Michigan State and the 2000 East Regional Champions, #5-seeded Florida.
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Florida
The Gators were the SEC regular season champions, winning a share of the title with a 12–4 conference record. They earned a five seed in the 2000 NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the Final Four and then made the school's first ever appearance in the NCAA championship game where they lost to Michigan State.
Michigan State
As a result of their strong finish in the regular season, the Spartans were awarded the #1 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. From there, the Spartans cruised to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen with wins over Valparaiso, and Utah. MSU continued their National Championship push by reaching their second consecutive Final Four with wins over Syracuse and Iowa State. MSU won every game by double digits despite playing the best possible seed in each round. In their Final Four matchup, Michigan State faced off against Big Ten foe, Wisconsin, beating them in a close game, 53–41.
Game Summary
Michigan State senior Mateen Cleaves limped his way to the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Cleaves sprained his ankle with 16:18 to play in the 2nd half, and this was after Florida had trimmed Michigan State's double digit halftime lead to 50-44. Cleaves returned about four minutes later, and immediately helped lead the Spartans on a 16-6 run to put the game out of reach. The lone top-seed remaining would bring order to a tournament filled with upsets as they salted away the victory for the school's second National Championship (1979). Michigan State coach Tom Izzo earned his first title, from his second straight final four appearance. Morris Peterson led the Spartans with 21 points.