Michigan State to take on Texas Tech in Final Four

While Michigan State fans have waited a decade for another chance at a third national title, and first since 2000, Texas Tech fans have to be even more hungry.

The No. 2 Spartans (32-6) face off against the No. 3 Red Raiders at 8:49 p.m. ET Saturday in the second half of the national semifinals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

For Texas Tech, it’s the first ever Final Four berth in program history. It also follows a 2018 season that saw the Red Raiders reach the Elite Eight for the first time.

Texas Tech can knock off a Michigan team for the second time in three games, having beat the second-seeded Michigan Wolverines 63-44 in the Sweet 16. They followed that up with a 75-69 win over No. 1 Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.

The Big 12 regular season co-champions bounced back from their upset loss to West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals once the NCAA Tournament began, opening up with a 72-57 win over No. 14 Northern Kentucky followed by a 78-58 victory over No. 6 Buffalo.

Tom Izzo is seeking to guide the Spartans to their second national title in his 24th season as head coach. He previously won a championship with the team in 2000 when Michigan State beat Florida 89-76 and then fell to North Carolina 89-72 in the 2009 championship game.

The Spartans, playing in their 22nd straight NCAA Tournament and 10th overall Final Four, also won a national title with Magic Johnson leading the way in 1979.

Michigan State, which finished the Big Ten regular season tied atop the standings with Purdue before winning the conference tournament, is the last team standing among the eight Big Ten teams that made the tournament.

The Spartans opened their NCAA Tournament with a 76-65 win over No. 15 Bradley followed by a 70-50 victory over No. 10 Minnesota. They then beat No. 3 LSU 80-63 in the Sweet 16 and No. 1 Duke 68-67 in the Elite Eight.

By outlasting the Blue Devils, this year’s top overall seed, they also exacted some revenge from their last Final Four appearance, when Duke beat them 81-61 in the 2015 national semifinals

The Michigan State-Texas Tech winner will advance to face the winner of the Virginia-Auburn matchup in the national title game Monday night.