2006–07 record 23–12 (8–8 Big Ten) | ||
Assistant coach Dwayne Stephens (4th year) | ||
The 2006–07 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Tom Izzo who was in his 12th year. The team played their home games at Breslin Center in East Lansing, MIichigan. MSU finished the season with a record of 23–12, 8–8 to finish in a tie for seventh place in Big Ten play. The Spartans received their tenth consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament where they lost in the Second Round to North Carolina.
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Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2005–06 season with a record of 22–12, 8–8 to finish in sixth place in Big Ten play. Michigan State received an at-large bid as a No. 6 seed to the NCAA Tournament, their ninth straight trip to the Tournament, and lost in the First Round.
The Spartans lost seniors Paul Davis (17.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.6 APG), Maurice Ager (19.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.5 APG) and junior Shannon Brown (17.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.7 APG) to the NBA Draft following the season.
Season summary
MSU was led by junior Drew Neitzel (18.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.3 APG) and freshman Raymar Morgan (11.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.9 APG). The Spartans participated in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden where they defeated No. 19 Texas and lost to Maryland. A loss at Boston College left the Spartans 1–2 in their only trips outside the state of Michigan in the non-conference schedule. MSU finished the non-conference schedule with a record of 13–2, but was not ranked in the polls.
Following back-to-back losses to open the Big Ten season the prior year, the Spartans again suffered back-to-losses to open the season, this time on the road to Iowa and Indiana. The remaining Big Ten season was a roller coaster with a four-game winning streak immediately followed by a four-game losing streak and losses to Ohio State (ranked No. 4 and No. 5). A win against No. 1 Wisconsin highlighted the Big Ten season and likely assured the Spartans a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans finished 8–8 in conference, good enough for sixth place in Big Ten play. MSU lost to Wisconsin after beating Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament.
Helped by the win over No. 1 Wisconsin, the Spartans received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th consecutive year, receiving a No. 9 seed, their lowest seed since 2002. A victory over Marquette, coached by former Izzo assistant Tom Crean, in the First Round of the Tournament was followed by a loss to No. 3 North Carolina in the Second Round.
Player statistics
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Rankings
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings