Michigan State was crowned NCAA champions for the second time - and first since Magic Johnson's Spartans beat Larry Bird's Indiana State Sycamores in 1979 - by cruising past Florida 89-76. In a tournament full of upsets, Tom Izzo's Michigan State survived in the second of three straight Final Four trips. Mateen Cleaves was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
64-Team Field For Final Time
The NCAA field included 64 teams for the 15th consecutive - and final - year. The tournament ran from March 16 to April 3 with the Final Four being played at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Michigan State No. 1 Seed In Midwest
Tom Izzo's Spartans had lost in the semifinals in 1999 but the team rich with juniors and senior came into the 2000 tournament as a No. 1 seed in the Midwest. Michigan State used a stifling defense to beat Valparaiso 65-38 in the first round. In the second round, Utah was downed 73-61 and the Spartans cruised past Syracuse 75-58 in the Sweet Sixteen. In the Elite Eight, Izzo's men found a way to slow down Marcus Fizer and second seeded Iowa State 75-64 to return to the Final Four.
Upsets Galore
The 2000 NCAA tournament will be remembered for the staggering amount of upsets. In the East, No. 10 seed Seton Hall knocked off 2 seed Temple in the second round and fifth-seeded Florida surprised top seed Duke in the Sweet Sixteen before beating No. 3 seed Oklahoma State to reach the Final Four. The South saw the top eight seeds advance but then had the top three go down in the second round. The South final had No. 8 North Carolina knocking off No. 7 Tulsa for a berth in the semifinals.
Things went normally in the Midwest as No. 6 UCLA's win over third-seeded Maryland was the only upset seeds-wise in the regional. But the West had its share of upsets as well. In the second round, No. 8 Wisconsin upset No. 1 seed Arizona and No. 10 Gonzaga downed No. 2 St. John's. Wisconsin would eventually take on and beat No. 6 seed Purdue to reach the Final Four.
Two No. 8s, A 5 Seed And Michigan State
Michigan State was the only No. 1 seed to survive and the Spartans were joined by No. 8 seeds North Carolina and Wisconsin and fifth-seeded Florida. It was the second straight year that two Big Ten teams had reached the semifinals after Michigan State and Ohio State lost in the semis in 1999.
Michigan State Wins Ugly, Florida Out-Run North Carolina
In the national semifinals, Wisconsin controlled the tempo against Michigan State and led 19-17 at the break. But a 13-2 run to start the second half with 10 points by Morris Peterson opened up the game, which ended with State winning 53-41. Florida out-ran North Carolina, 71-59, holding the Tar Heels to just six points in the final 10 minutes to reach its first ever national title game.
Cleaves Return Sparks Michigan State
In the final, Michigan State senior Mateen Cleaves came back from a sprained ankle and led the Spartans on a 16-6 run to secure an 89-76 victory. Cleaves knocked down three three-pointers in scoring 18 points and Morris Peterson led the Spartans with 21 points.
Flintstones Join Magic In Spartans History
By giving Michigan State its first NCAA crown since Magic Johnson's title in 1979, the 2000 class of Spartans will be forever remembered, especially the trio of Cleaves, Peterson and Charlie Bell, who called themselves the Flintstones since they hail from Flint, Michigan.
