The Spartans were inconsistent in conference play , beating No. 14 Minnesota and No. 20 Wisconsin , but suffering nine losses in conference and finishing the regular season with a 17 – 13 overall record and 9 – 9 in conference and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament . After beating Iowa and blowing out No. 9 Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament , the Spartans fell to Penn State in the semifinals . The blowout win over Purdue likely ensured the Spartans inclusion in the NCAA Tournament
Big Ten Tournament
2011 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2010–11 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team