Izzo: Michigan State-Notre Dame hoops rivalry revival could produce 'special' game

EAST LANSING – Tom Izzo said he and Mike Brey had tried to get together a Michigan State-Notre Dame basketball series for years. One thing or another would always prevent it.

Then Notre Dame joined the Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC and Big Ten already had an established partnership. And for the second time in more than 40 years, the Spartans and Fighting Irish will meet on the court.

MSU and Notre Dame will meet as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge for the second time in four seasons. The date and time will be announced at a later date.

“I grew up watching the 10-10 tie in football. I grew up watching Notre Dame football in the U.P. when they had the replays on Sunday. So I’ve always had a great respect,” Izzo said Friday on WVFN 730-AM in Lansing. “It’s two hours away. … I think it could be a great thing for the two schools, and I hope it will.”

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The Spartans will face the Fighting Irish in hoops for just the second time since March 18, 1979, when Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser defeated Kelly Tripucka and Bill Laimbeer in the NCAA Regional Final in Indianapolis to move on to the Final Four and an eventual national championship.

MSU has never hosted the Fighting Irish at Breslin Center. The last time Notre Dame played in East Lansing was at Jension Field House on Feb. 4, 1974, a game which the Spartans lost, 91-89.

The two programs, which have a storied football rivalry, have played 95 times in basketball. Their only meeting since that matchup in the 1979 NCAA Elite Eight came Dec. 3, 2014, at Joyce Center in South Bend, Indiana. The Irish defeated the Spartans 79-78 in overtime. The rivalry only renewed because Notre Dame joined the ACC a year earlier in all sports but football.

“I think our fans are going to enjoy it,” Izzo said. “I think we’re moving it to a date where we’re going to be the only Big Ten team on that night. So I think the Big Ten office is making it special. I’m looking forward to it. They’re gonna be good, we’re gonna be good.”

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!