▁a ▁result , ▁they ▁received ▁the ▁conference ' s ▁automatic ▁bid ▁to ▁the ▁NCAA ▁Tournament , ▁their ▁ 1 9 th ▁straight ▁NCAA ▁Tournament ▁appearance . ▁As ▁the ▁No . ▁ 2 ▁seed ▁in ▁the ▁Mid west ▁Region , ▁they ▁were ▁ups et ▁by ▁No . ▁ 1 5 ▁seed ▁Middle ▁Tennessee , ▁in ▁what ▁was ▁considered ▁at ▁the ▁time ▁to ▁be ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁biggest ▁ups ets ▁in ▁NCAA ▁Tournament ▁history . ▁ ▁Pre vious ▁season ▁ ▁The ▁Spart ans ▁finished ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 – 1 5 ▁season ▁ 2 7 – 1 2 , ▁ 1 2 – 6 ▁in ▁Big ▁Ten ▁play ▁to ▁finish ▁in ▁third ▁place . ▁They ▁received ▁an ▁at - large ▁bid ▁as ▁the ▁No . ▁ 7 ▁seed ▁in ▁the ▁NCAA ▁Tournament , ▁their ▁ 1 8 th ▁straight ▁trip ▁to ▁the ▁Tournament . ▁The ▁Spart ans ▁advanced ▁to ▁the ▁Final ▁Four , ▁their ▁sevent h ▁trip ▁to ▁the ▁Final ▁Four ▁under ▁Tom ▁Iz zo , ▁before ▁losing ▁to ▁event ual ▁National ▁Champion , ▁Duke . ▁ ▁Off season ▁ ▁The ▁Spart ans ▁lost ▁Br anden ▁Daw son ▁( 1 1 . 9 ▁points ▁and ▁ 9 . 1 ▁reb ounds ▁per ▁game ) ▁to ▁the ▁NBA ▁D raft ▁and ▁Tra vis ▁Tr ice ▁( 1 5 . 3 ▁points ▁and ▁ 5 . 1 ▁assist ▁per ▁game ) ▁to ▁gradu ation ▁following ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁Depart ures ▁ ▁Leg al ▁troubles ▁The ▁Spart ans ▁encountered ▁a ▁few ▁legal ▁troubles ▁during ▁the