2001–02 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team

The Spartans finished the 2000–01 season 28–5, 13–3 in Big Ten play to finish in second place. Michigan State received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, their fourth straight trip to the Tournament, and advanced the Final Four, their third straight trip under Tom Izzo.

The Spartans lost Charlie Bell (13.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.1 APG) to graduation and freshman Zach Randolph (10.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.0 APG) and sophomore Jason Richardson (14.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.2 APG) to the NBA draft following the season.

After three consecutive years of trips to the Final Four, the Spartans began the season ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll. Michigan State was led by sophomore Marcus Taylor (16.8 points and 5.3 assists per game), freshman Chris Hill (11.5 points per game), and junior Adam Ballinger (11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game). The Spartans participated in the Preseason NIT where they defeated Detroit Mercy{{Cite web|title = Men's Basketball Defeats Detroit in Season Opener, 80-70 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111201aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} and No. 24 Oklahoma{{Cite web|title = Spartans Stop No. 25 Oklahoma, 67-55 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111401aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-09}} at Breslin Center, but then fell to No. 18 Syracuse{{Cite web|title = Men's Hoops Drops One To No. 18 Syracuse, 69-58 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112101aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} and No. 23 Fresno State at Madison Square Garden.{{Cite web|title = Spartans Drop Second Straight - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/112301aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} The Spartans also suffered non-conference losses to No. 6 Florida{{Cite web|title = Spartan Rally Falls Short Against No. 6 Florida, 74-70 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/120501aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} and No. 16 Stanford,{{Cite web|title = No. 13 Men's Hoops Downed By No. 16 Stanford, 75-64 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/122901aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} but did beat No. 6 Arizona in a rematch of their Final Four clash the previous Spring.{{Cite web|title = Michigan State Keeps Arizona In Check, 74-60|url = http://www.arizonawildcats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=30700&ATCLID=207952447|website = ArizonaWildcats.com|access-date = 2016-02-09}} MSU finished the non-conference season at 9–4 and ranked No. 19 in the country.

In Big Ten play, MSU started the season with three straight losses, the last to Wisconsin, which snapped MSU's 53-game home winning streak.{{Cite web|title = Badgers End MSU's Home Win Streak|url = http://www.uwbadgers.com/news/2002/1/12/Badgers_End_MSU_s_Home_Win_Streak.aspx|website = University of Wisconsin|access-date = 2016-02-09}}{{Cite web|title = Men's Hoops Edged By Wisconsin, 64-63 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/011202aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-09|archive-date = 2016-03-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307004131/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/011202aaa.html|url-status = dead}} The Spartans did defeat No. 12 Illinois,{{Cite web|title = Spartans Sink No. 12 Illinois, 67-61 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/020302aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} No. 18 Ohio State at home{{Cite web|title = Spartans Beat No. 16 Buckeyes, 67-64 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021002aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} and on the road,{{Cite web|title = Spartans Rally To Beat Buckeyes, 81-76 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/022602aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} and No. 23 Indiana.{{Cite web|title = Spartans Take Down No. 23 Indiana, 57-54 - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/022402aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18}} Michigan State finished the conference schedule at 10–6 and in fourth place with an overall record of 19–10. The Spartans slipped out of the ranking following their opening conference losses and remained unranked the remainder of the season. MSU lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament to No. 23 Indiana marking the first time since 1997 that Michigan State did not win either the Big Ten regular season or tournament title.{{Cite web|title = Spartans Fall To Indiana In Big Ten Tourney - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030802aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-18|archive-date = 2016-03-06|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306234413/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/030802aaa.html|url-status = dead}}

The Spartans received an at-large bid as a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their fifth consecutive trip. The Spartans were eliminated in the First Round by NC State.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/ncb/2002/20020315/recap/michiganstncstate.html |title=Espn.com |access-date=2016-02-09 |website=Wolfpack rally to dispatch Michigan State |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040111071527/http://espn.go.com/ncb/2002/20020315/recap/michiganstncstate.html |archive-date=2004-01-11 }}

Following the season, sophomore Marcus Taylor declared for the NBA draft.

{{CBB schedule start}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Michigan State Spartans}}| Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 2, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Magic Johnson All-Stars

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 89–87

| record =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 18, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Midwest All-Stars

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 72–62

| overtime = OT

| record =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Michigan State Spartans}}| Non-conference regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 12, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 15

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Detroit Titans|title=Detroit}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = Preseason NIT

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 80–70

| record = 1–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 14, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 15

| opponent = Oklahoma

| opprank = 24

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = Preseason NIT

| score = 67–55

| record = 2–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 21, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 13

| opponent = Syracuse

| opprank = 18

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, NY

| gamename = Preseason NIT semifinals

| score = 58–69

| record = 2–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 23, 2001

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 13

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Fresno State Bulldogs|title=Fresno State}}

| opprank = 21

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, NY

| gamename = Preseason NIT third place game

| score = 58–63

| record = 2–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 28, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 22

| opponent = Virginia
Canceled because of wet floor and unplayable conditions {{Cite web|url=https://virginiasports.com/news/2001/11/28/virginia-michigan-state-called-because-of-wet-floor/|title = Virginia-Michigan State Called Because of Wet Floor|date = 28 November 2001}}

| opprank = 9

| gamename = ACC–Big Ten Challenge

| status = p

| site_stadium = Richmond Coliseum

| site_cityst = Richmond, VA

| score =

| record =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 30, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 22

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=IPFW Mastodons|title=IPFW}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = Coca Cola Spartan Classic

| score = 81–68

| record = 3–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 1, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 22

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Lamar Cardinals|sex=none|title=Lamar}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = Coca Cola Spartan Classic championship

| score = 80–71

| record = 4–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 5, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| rank = 24

| opponent = Florida

| opprank = 4

| site_stadium = O'Connell Center

| site_cityst = Gainesville, FL

| score = 70–74

| record = 4–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 9, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 24

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Nicholls State Colonels|title=Nicholls State}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 92–38

| record = 5–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 15, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 23

| opponent = Arizona

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| tv = CBS

| score = 74–60

| record = 6–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 17, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 17

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=UNC Asheville Bulldogs|title=UNC Asheville}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 76-56

| record = 7–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 19, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 17

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Oakland Golden Grizzlies|title=Oakland}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing

| score = 78–50

| record = 8–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 22, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 17

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Seton Hall Pirates|title=Seton Hall}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 68–64

| record = 9–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 29, 2001

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 13

| opponent = Stanford

| opprank = 16

| site_stadium = The Arena in Oakland

| site_cityst = Oakland, CA

| gamename = Pete Newell Challenge

| score = 64–75

| record = 9–4

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Michigan State Spartans}}|2001–02 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 5, 2002

| away = yes

| rank = 19

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}

| site_stadium = Williams Arena

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| score = 67–70

| record = 9–5

| conference = 0–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 8, 2002

| away = yes

| rank = 25

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| score = 65–83

| record = 9–6

| conference = 0–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 12, 2002

| rank = 25

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 63–64

| record = 9-7

| conference = 0–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 16, 2002

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Purdue Boilermakers|title=Purdue}}

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 65–56

| record = 10–7

| conference = 1–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 19, 2002

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Penn State Nittany Lions|sex=none|title=Penn State}}

| site_stadium = Bryce Jordan Center

| site_cityst = State College, PA

| score = 77–65

| record = 11–7

| conference = 2–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 22, 2002

| away = yes

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Carver-Hawkeye Arena

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| score = 71–75

| record = 11–8

| conference = 2–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 30, 2002

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 71–44

| record = 12–8

| conference = 3–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 3, 2002

| away = yes

| opponent = Illinois

| opprank = 12

| site_stadium = Assembly Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| tv = CBS

| score = 67–61

| record = 13–8

| conference = 4–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 6, 2002

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2001|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = Welsh-Ryan Arena

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| score = 49–61

| record = 13–9

| conference = 4–5

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 10, 2002

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| tv = CBS

| score = 67–64

| record = 14–9

| conference = 5–5

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 12, 2002

| opponent = Illinois

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 61–63

| record = 14–10

| conference = 5–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 16, 2002

| away = yes

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Mackey Arena

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN

| score = 62–59

| record = 15–10

| conference = 6–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 21, 200

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 74–55

| record = 16–10

| conference = 7–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 24, 2002

| opponent = Indiana

| opprank = 23

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| tv = CBS

| score = 57–54

| record = 17–10

| conference = 8–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 26, 2002

| away = yes

| opponent = Ohio State

| opprank = 18

| site_stadium = Value City Arena

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| score = 81–76

| record = 18–10

| conference = 9–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 2, 2002

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Breslin Center

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| score = 93–79

| record = 19–10

| conference = 10–6

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Michigan State Spartans}}|2001 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 8, 2002

| neutral = yes

| seed = 5

| opponent = Indiana

| oppseed = 4

| site_stadium = Conseco Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN

| gamename = quarterfinals

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 56–67

| record = 19–11

| conference = 10–6

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Michigan State Spartans}}|2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 15, 2002

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| seed = 10 E

| opponent = NC State

| oppseed = 7 E

| site_stadium = MCI Center

| site_cityst = Washington, DC

| gamename = First Round

| tv = CBS

| score = 58–69

| record = 19–12

}}

{{CBB schedule end

| rank =

| poll=Coaches' Poll

| timezone = Eastern Time{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/michigan-state/2002-schedule.html|title=2001-02 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111801aaa.html |title=Men's Basketball Uses Overtime to Defeat Midwest All-Stars - Michigan State Official Athletic Site |access-date=2016-02-09 |archive-date=2016-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817034550/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111801aaa.html |url-status=dead }}

}}

{{See also|2001-02 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

• Marcus Taylor – All-Big Ten First Team{{Cite web|title = Marcus Taylor Named First-Team All-Big Ten; Ballinger Also Honored - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030502aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-09}}
• Marcus Taylor – USBWA All-District Team{{Cite web|title = Taylor Selected To USBWA All-District Team - Michigan State Official Athletic Site|url = http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/030602aaa.html|website = www.msuspartans.com|access-date = 2016-02-09}}
• Adam Ballinger – All-Big Ten Third Team (Media)

{{reflist}}

{{Michigan State Spartans men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2001-02 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team}}

Category:Michigan State Spartans men's basketball seasons

Michigan State Spartans

Category:2001 in sports in Michigan

Category:2002 in sports in Michigan

Michigan State