The Spartans finished the 2009 – 10 season 28 – 9 , 14 – 4 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for the regular season championship . MSU lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to Minnesota . Michigan State received a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament , their 13th straight trip to the Tournament . There , they defeated New Mexico State , Maryland , Northern Iowa , and Tennessee to advance to the Final Four , their sixth overall trip and second consecutive trip under Tom Izzo . In the Final Four , they lost to Butler
Big Ten Tournament
2010 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2010–11 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team