<P> In 1998, MSU welcomed freshman recruit Charlie Bell, the fourth of Izzo's "Flintstones" and started slow . They lost to No. 7 Temple, and suffered surprising losses to UIC and Detroit in non-conference . However, MSU would win nine of their first 10 conference games before losing to eventual conference co-champion Illinois . In January, MSU entered the AP and Coaches rankings for the first time since the end of the 1994--95 season . The Spartans finished in a tie for the conference championship, their first since 1990, with a record of 13--3 in conference play . The Spartans earned the No. 1 seed in the inaugural Big Ten Tournament, but lost their first game in the quarterfinals to Minnesota . Izzo's team received an at - large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed in the East Region, their first trip to the Tournament since 1995 . MSU advanced to their first Sweet Sixteen since 1990 by beating Eastern Michigan and No. 8 Princeton . The Spartans were eliminated from the Tournament by No. 1 North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen . As of 2017, no MSU team has failed to make the NCAA tournament, a streak which began with the 1997--98 team . </P> <P> As the 1998--99 season began, Izzo began his willingness to play anyone anywhere mantra as the Spartans played three top seven teams in their first seven games . However, MSU lost all three . MSU would recover and, after losing their first Big Ten game to No. 24 Wisconsin, the Spartans won the remaining 15 games in conference and won the Big Ten conference regular season by six games with a record of 15--1, their second consecutive Big Ten title . The Spartans won the Big Ten Tournament and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament . As the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region and ranked No. 2 in the country, MSU defeated Mount St. Mary's, and Mississippi to advance to their second straight Sweet Sixteen . A win over Oklahoma and Kentucky led MSU to the Final Four for the first time since 1978 . However, MSU fell short in their bid for an NCAA championship, losing to Duke in the Final Four . </P> <P> In 1999--2000 . Seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson led the way for the Spartans as they began the season ranked No. 3 in the country . However, Cleaves sustained a stress fracture in his right foot prior to the season which forced him to miss the non-conference schedule and MSU fell to 9--4 and ranked No. 11 in the country . After Cleaves' return, MSU finished the Big Ten regular season with a 13--3 conference record and 23--7 overall while being ranked No. 2 in the country and earned a share of the Big Ten title, their third consecutive Big Ten championship . The Spartans went on to win the third annual Big Ten Tournament as the No. 2 seed, defeating No. 25 Illinois for the championship for the second consecutive year . The Spartans were awarded the No. 1 seed, their second consecutive No. 1 seed, in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament . From there, the Spartans cruised to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen with wins over Valparaiso, and Utah . MSU continued their National Championship push by reaching their second consecutive Final Four with wins over Syracuse and Iowa State . MSU won every game by double digits despite playing the best possible seed in each round . In their Final Four matchup, Michigan State faced off against fellow Big Ten foe, Wisconsin, beating them in a hard fought game, 53--41 . In the National Championship game, the Spartans triumphed over the Florida 89--76, despite losing Cleaves to an ankle injury 3: 42 into the second half . The win marked MSU's second National Championship in basketball and Izzo's first and only championship to date . </P> <P> Losing both Cleaves and Peterson to graduation following the season, MSU still began the 2000--01 season ranked No. 3 in the country . Led by sophomore Jason Richardson, freshmen Zach Randolph, and seniors Charlie Bell and Andre Hutson, the Spartans finished the non-conference schedule undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country . MSU again earned a share the Big Ten title, their fourth consecutive, with a 13--3 conference record . They suffered a surprise defeat by Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament in their attempt to win the tournament for the third consecutive year . They received their third consecutive No. 1 seed, in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament . Seeking a repeat National Championship, MSU easily dispatched Alabama State and Fresno State to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth consecutive year . A win over Gonzaga and Temple led to the school's third straight trip to the Final Four . However, they were unable to repeat as National Champions, losing to Arizona in the National Semifinal . Following the season, Randolph and Richardson each left school early and declared for the NBA Draft . </P>

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