After a loss in their second Big Ten game , MSU cruised through the Big Ten season with wins over No. 17 Wisconsin , No. 25 Iowa , and at No. 22 Wisconsin . finishing 13 – 3 and sharing the Big Ten Championship with Illinois . The championship marked the fourth consecutive Big Ten championship for the Spartans . The Spartans remained ranked in the top 5 during the entire season , ultimately finishing with a 24 – 3 overall record and ranked No. 2 in the country . MSU suffered a surprise defeat by Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament in their attempt to win the tournament for the third consecutive year
Big Ten Tournament
2001 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2000–01 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team