Conference Big Ten Conference AP No. 18 Head coach Tom Izzo (13th year) | Coaches No. 19 2007–08 record 27–9 (12–6 Big Ten) | |
Associate head coach Mark Montgomery (7th year) | ||
The 2007–08 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan and were coached by 13th-year head coach, Tom Izzo. MSU finished the season 27–9, 12–6 to finish in fourth place in Big Ten play. They received a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th consecutive year and reached the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Memphis.
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Previous season
The Spartans finished the 2006–07 season with an overall record of 23–12, 8–8 in Big Ten play to finish in seventh place. Michigan State received a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their 10th straight trip to the Tournament, and advanced to the Second Round before losing to North Carolina.
Season summary
The Spartans were led by senior Drew Neitzel (13.9 points and 4 rebounds per game), sophomore Raymar Morgan (14.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game), and freshman Kalin Lucas (10.3 points and 3.8 assists per game).
Michigan State began the season ranked No. 8 in the country and participated in the CBE Classic, losing to No. 2 UCLA in the finals. They cruised through the remaining non-conference schedule with wins over No. 24 NC State, No. 20 BYU, and No. 4 Texas, finishing 12–1 and ranked No. 6 in the country.
MSU won six of their first seven Big Ten games, their lone loss an ugly 43–36 loss to Iowa on the road. They lost four of their next seven games thereafter at Penn State, at No. 19 Purdue, at No. 13 Indiana, and at No. 10 Wisconsin. They avenged their loss to Indiana by blowing them out 103–74 at the Breslin Center on March 2 after Indiana head coach Kelvin Sampson had resigned. They finished with a loss at Ohio State to finish in fourth place in the Big Ten with a record of 12–6 record and 24–7 overall. They finished the season ranked 18th in the country.
As the No. 4 seed tn the Big Ten Tournament, they beat Ohio State 67–60 led by Drew Netizel's season-high 28 points. In the semifinals, MSU led by as many as 12 in the second half, they were defeated by two points by No. 8 Wisconsin. The Spartans were called for 30 fouls in the game and had four players foul out.
The Spartans received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament to mark their 11th consecutive trip to the Tournament under Tom Izzo. As a No. 5 seed, the Spartans, led by Raymar Morgan's 15 points, beat No. 12-seeded Temple 72–61. In the Second Round, the Spartans looked to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the seventh time in 11 years. Led by Drew Neitzel's 21 points and Kalin Lucas' 19, the Spartans overcame No. 17 Pittsburgh to move on to the Sweet Sixteen. In the Sweet Sixteen, the Spartans faced No. 2-ranked Memphis. Led by Derrick Rose's 27 points, the Tigers routed the Spartans, leading 50–20 at the half and cruising to 18-point win over MSU. Goran Suton led the Spartans with 23 points and Chris Allen had 20. It marked senior Drew Neitzel's final game for the Spartans.
Player statistics
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Rankings
*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings
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