Michigan State Spartans Basketball Tickets

East Lansing is one of college basketball’s hidden gems. If you’re anywhere near Central Michigan this season, you need to get to a Spartans’ game.

Michigan State’s basketball program dates back to 1898, when the school was known as Michigan Agricultural College. They joined the Big Ten Conference in 1950.

The Spartans reached the big stage in 1979, when a sophomore point guard from nearby Lansing named Earvin “Magic” Johnson led them to an NCAA Final matchup against Larry Bird and the Indiana State Sycamores. Michigan State ended Indiana State’s undefeated season with a 75-64 victory, and Johnson was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In terms of TV ratings, the game remains the most-watched in college basketball history.

After Johnson, the most legendary figure in Michigan State hoops history is head coach Tom Izzo, who took over the program in 1995 after 11 seasons as Jud Heathcote’s assistant. Izzo’s teams have been fixtures in the NCAA Tournament, and reached seven Final Fours in his first 20 seasons. They won the NCAA championship in 2000.

The Spartans play home games on campus at the Breslin Center, which opened in 1989 and holds just less than 15,000 fans for basketball. The student section – known as the Izzone – is one of the best of its kind.

The Breslin Center court is the same floor on which the Spartans won their 2000 national title. The school purchased the floor from the NCAA, and installed a plaque on the baseline commemorating the achievement.