The 2011–12 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Spartans' head coach was Tom Izzo, who was in his 17th year at Michigan State. The team played its home games at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan, and were members of the Big Ten Conference. MSU finished with a record of 29–8, 13–5 in 2011–12 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for first place. The Spartans also won the 2012 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament, Big Ten tournament. The Spartans received a No. 1 seed in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, NCAA tournament, their 15th consecutive trip to the Tournament, and reached the Sweet Sixteen, losing to 2011-12 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team, Louisville.

Previous season

The 2010–11 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, Spartans finished the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, 2010–11 season with an overall record of 19–15, 9–9 in 2010–11 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, Big Ten play to finish in fourth place. Michigan State received a No. 10 seed in the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, NCAA tournament, their 14th straight trip to the Tournament, and were eliminated in the Second Round.

Offseason

The Spartans lost Durrell Summers (11.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game) and Kalin Lucas (17.0 points and 3.4 assists per game) to graduation following the season.

2011 recruiting class

Season summary

Senior Draymond Green (16.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game) was the unquestioned leader for the Spartans. MSU started the season unranked and suffered a loss to No. 1 2011–12 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team, North Carolina in the Carrier Classic which was played on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in San Diego in the first game of the season. The teams wore special camouflage uniforms for the event. MSU followed that loss with a loss to No. 6 2011–12 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, Duke in the Champions Classic. Starting the season 0–2, the Spartans refused to fold. MSU won the next 15 games in a row to jump into the top ten in the polls. The wins in the streak included a win at No. 23 2011–12 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team, Gonzaga. The Spartans finished the non-conference schedule at 11–2 and ranked No. 16 in the country. The winning streak continued in 2011–12 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, Big Ten play with wins over No. 13 2011–12 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team, Indiana, and at No. 11 2011–12 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team, Wisconsin. MSU also beat No. 23 2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team, Michigan, No. 3 2011–12 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team, Ohio State, and No. 15 Wisconsin at Breslin Center. A loss in the regular season finale at home to No. 10 Ohio State meant the Spartans would share the 2011–12 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, Big Ten regular season championship with Ohio State and Michigan, all of which finished the Big Ten season with a 13–5 conference record. In that loss to Ohio State, key freshman reserve, Branden Dawson, tore his Anterior cruciate ligament injury, ACL, ending his season. The Spartans finished the season ranked No. 8 in the country. The Spartans, due to tiebreak rules, were the No. 1 seed in the 2011 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament, Big Ten tournament and beat 2011–12 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team, Iowa, No. 14 Wisconsin, and No. 7 Ohio State to win the Tournament championship. Draymond Green earned Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year honors, the fifth time a player had done so under Tom Izzo. Izzo was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year. MSU received a No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament, where they beat 2011–12 Long Island Blackbirds men's basketball team, LIU–Brooklyn in the First Round behind Green's triple-double. The Spartans overcame 2011–12 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team, Saint Louis in the Second Round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. This marked the 10th time in 15 seasons that the Spartans advanced to at least the Sweet Sixteen. The Spartans, missing Dawson and struggling offensively, became the first No. 1 seed to lose in the Tournament, falling to No. 17 and fourth-seeded Louisville, 57–44.

Roster

Schedule and results

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Player statistics

Source

Rankings

*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings Source

Awards and honors

Draymond Green

* Big Ten Player of the Year * AP All-American (unanimous) * Sporting News All-American First Team * USBWA All-American * NABC All-American First Team * NABC Player of the Year * USBWA District V Player of the Year * Big Ten All Defensive Team * NABC All-District First Team

Tom Izzo

* Big Ten Coach of the Year * USBWA District V Coach of the Year * NABC Division I Coach of the Year

Branden Dawson

* All Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media) * Big Ten All-Freshman Team

Keith Appling

* All Big Ten Third Team

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011-12 Michigan State Spartans Men's Basketball Team Michigan State Spartans men's basketball seasons 2011–12 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season, Michigan State 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament participants, Michigan State 2011 in sports in Michigan 2012 in sports in Michigan Big Ten men's basketball tournament championship seasons