Michigan State happy to be goin' back to Indiana

East Lansing — When Michigan State played its final regular-season home game March 4, Tom Izzo addressed the crowd at Breslin Center as part of the Senior Day celebration.

Michigan State had just defeated Purdue and would further cement its spot in the NCAA Tournament by closing the season a few days later with a victory at Indiana. But as Izzo took the microphone, he talked about the up-and-down year that was coming to a close and how it would translate into the Big Ten tournament the following week.

The ceremony was coming to a close and he told the crowd his team was "headed to Indy" to try and win a championship. The only problem was this year's Big Ten tournament was in Chicago.

It's an honest mistake for a coach who has seen his share of success in Indiana's capitol. After all, it's where Michigan State won the national championship in 2000. And it's where the Spartans have had some of their most memorable games — win or lose.

"Yeah, I love Indy," Izzo said Tuesday. "It's been fun with the Big Ten tournament, the fact we won a national championship there. We've played in some games there of the regionals, big game against Louisville."

The thoughts came quickly as Izzo jumbled up various memories into one thought, and that's to be expected when you look back at just his history in Indianapolis. But Michigan State had its share of success there before Izzo was around.

It was where Michigan State defeated No. 3 LSU, then top-seeded Notre Dame in the Mideast Regional of the 1979 NCAA Tournament at the old Market Square Arena. That run, of course, resulted in Michigan State's first national championship, led by Magic Johnson and Gregory Kelser.

From there, it was all Izzo as the Spartans returned to Indy for the first time in NCAA Tournament play in 2000 at the now defunct RCA Dome. It was the second straight Final Four appearance for Michigan State and, after beating Wisconsin in the semifinals, it knocked off Florida to win the school's second national title behind Mateen Cleaves and the Flintstones.

It was nine years before Michigan State would be back to central Indiana to play in the NCAA Tournament, but in 2009, it had another memorable weekend as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Michigan State defeated No. 3 Kansas in the Sweet 16 game and followed that with a 64-52 victory over No. 1 overall seed Louisville in the regional title game. It sent Michigan State to the Final Four in Detroit the next week, where it beat Connecticut before falling to North Carolina in the title game.

The next two trips to Indianapolis, however, didn't end as well.

Michigan State got back to the Final Four in 2010 and faced Butler in a matchup of No. 5 seeds at Lucas Oil Stadium. But the Bulldogs got the best of the Spartans, holding on for a 52-50 victory. Michigan State was back in the same building in 2013 in the Midwest Regional but lost to No. 2 Duke, the last time the teams met in the postseason.

NCAA Tournament success isn't the only thing the Spartans have enjoyed in Indianapolis. Two of their four Big Ten tournament championships — 2012 and 2014 — have come at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, while the football team also won the 2013 Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

"Winning in 2000 at the RCA Dome was one of those magical moments," athletic director Mark Hollis said. "But then to return here and play … it seems like whenever the Final Four is in Indianapolis Michigan State finds a way to land here. It's just an incredible experience.

"It's great for fans because of the proximity. I think our fans know Indianapolis as well as East Lansing and it's such a wonderful city to have a sporting event in because you can drive down here and leave your car, and kind of enjoy the city throughout the weekend. Football championships, Final Fours, regionals, the Big Ten tournament — Indianapolis has always been a great home for Michigan State."

And it hasn't only been a place to play, but it's been a place Izzo has been able to find players. Indianapolis native Chris Hill was a key part of the 2005 Final Four team and most recently, Gary Harris from nearby Fishers, Indiana, was the team's leading scorer the previous two seasons before leaving early for the NBA.

"I think it's great," Izzo said. "This has just worked out for us like nothing I've ever seen. I'm not a big believer in destiny gets it done. I think hard work gets it done. But it sure is fun to be in the right place at the right time in the right tournament."

mcharboneau@detroitnews.com

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Michigan State in Indy

NCAA Tournament

Note: Michigan State has also won two Big Ten tournament championships and one Big Ten football title game in Indianapolis.