After a loss to open Big Ten play to No. 21 Wisconsin , the Spartans recovered to win seven of their next eight and six of their last seven Big Ten games . They finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten at 12 – 4 and 17 – 10 overall . A win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals was followed by a third loss of the season to No. 17 Wisconsin
Big Ten Tournament
2004 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team