MSU Basketball: 4th-Most Wins vs. 1-Seeds in NCAA Tournament

The Michigan State basketball program has taken down the fourth-most top-seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament of all-time.

In large part, Michigan State basketball is a winning program because of what Tom Izzo, now in his 26th season as head coach, has accomplished.

Before Izzo took over, the Spartans had one national title, two Final Four appearances (1957, 1979), four Elite Eight appearances, and six trips to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Hall of Famer has nearly doubled the amount of Big Ten regular-season championships MSU owned before (6 prior to Izzo) taking over the program (10).

Regardless, the Spartans always show up ready to play when it comes to March Madness, which is evident by the seven one-seeds they've taken down since 1979 (fourth-most all-time).

Izzo is responsible for five of those victories, while Jud Heathcote defeated Notre Dame and Indiana State on his way to a National title in '79.

Most Wins vs. No. 1 Seeds in NCAA Tournament

1. Duke: 9
2. Kansas: 8
3. North Carolina: 8
4. Arizona: 7
5. Michigan State: 7
6. Villanova: 6
7. Indiana: 5
8. Kentucky: 5
9. Syracuse: 5

From 2005-2019, Izzo and Michigan State defeated Duke (2005, 2019), Louisville, Connecticut, and Virginia on their way to multiple Final Four's and an Elite Eight.

Izzo Led MSU Teams vs. No. 1 Seeds in March

• 5 MSU vs. 1 Duke: 78-68 (2005)
• 2 MSU vs. 1 Louisville: 64-52 (2009)
• 2 MSU vs. 1 Connecticut: 82-73 (2009)
• 4 MSU vs. 1 Virginia: 61-59 (2014)
• 2 MSU vs. 1 Duke: 68-67 (2019)

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