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2000 Midwest Regional: The Palace of Auburn Hills, March 23 and 25
Michigan State snatches unlikely win against Iowa State
In the year when the microgeneration known as Xennials were about to graduate high school, Michigan State University emerged victorious once again, clinching their third consecutive Big Ten title. This remarkable achievement propelled the Spartans to secure the top seed in the 2000 NCAA Tournament.
On March 23, the East Lansing kids kicked off their regional play at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The first opponent was Syracuse and things didn’t seem promising. By halftime, the Spartans were trailing by 10 points. However, in a remarkable turn of events, Mateen Cleaves stepped up and ignited his teammates’ determination, leading Michigan State to a stunning comeback in the second half and securing a commanding 75-58 victory.
In the other segment of that year’s bracket, Iowa State faced off against UCLA, who held the record for the highest number of NCAA Tournament Championships at 11. However, in that particular year, the Cyclones emerged victorious in Auburn Hills with a score of 80-56, paving the way for an exciting clash with the Spartans.
In that particular game, the Spartans were pitted against the Cyclones, while both teams had to contend with the presence of referees Curtis Shaw, Frank Basone, and Lonnie Dixon. Both teams accumulated a total of 24 fouls throughout the night. However, towards the end of the game, Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy received two technical fouls and was subsequently ejected with less than 10 seconds remaining.
In the game, Charlie Bell made a shot that gave the Spartans a one-point lead of 62-61 with 2 minutes and 54 seconds remaining. The audience, filled with enthusiastic Spartans supporters, erupted in joy when Cleaves threw a perfectly executed alley-oop to Morris Peterson, resulting in a score of 64-61. Michigan State ultimately emerged victorious with a final score of 75-64. They continued their success by defeating Florida with a score of 89-76, securing the program’s second-ever national championship on April 3, 2000, in Indianapolis.
2009 Final Four: Ford Field, April 4 and 6
President Barack Obama correctly picks North Carolina to win it all in Detroit
Indeed, the 2009 NCAA Tournament took on a presidential flair when the leader of the United States, President Barack Obama, made his bracket selections live on national television. In his inaugural appearance, President Obama confidently predicted the North Carolina Tar Heels as the champions of the tournament, which unfolded at Ford Field in Detroit. Regrettably for the local supporters, this victory for North Carolina meant a defeat for Michigan State. Apologies, Sparty.
North Carolina secured its fifth NCAA championship with a resounding 89-72 victory. Adding to their accomplishments, the Tar Heels now boast six tournament wins, placing them third among all participants. Kentucky leads the way with eight triumphs.
In 2009, Michigan State, seeded No. 2, pulled off a stunning upset against UConn, defeating them 82-73 in the Final Four. This marked their first championship appearance since their victory in 2000. It was an exhilarating moment, filled with the hope of potentially winning another championship, this time on their home turf in Michigan. It had the potential to be a truly magical experience, but unfortunately, it didn’t come to fruition.
There was, at the very least, one Magic present within the premises.
On that day, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird commemorated the 30-year anniversary of Johnson’s Spartans triumphing over Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores for the 1979 NCAA championship by presenting the game ball. However, destiny had other plans and history did not repeat itself.
At halftime, North Carolina was dominating with a commanding 55-34 lead, and they continued to maintain their momentum throughout the game. Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, and Ty Lawson played crucial roles in ensuring the Spartans were sent packing to their home, which was a considerable 90 miles away from Ford Field. It is worth noting that in 2008, the Lions suffered eight memorable defeats out of their total of 16 losses at this very venue.
Mr. Johnson, too, couldn’t bear to watch until the bitter end.
2008 Midwest Regional: Ford Field, March 28 and 30
The Year of the No. 1 Seeds
In the final weekend of the 2008 NCAA tournament, the absence of any Cinderella stories was evident. All four No. 1 seeds successfully advanced to the prestigious Final Four stage: Memphis dominated the South region, UCLA triumphed in the West, Kansas emerged victorious in the Midwest, and North Carolina claimed victory in the East. Remarkably, this marked the inaugural occurrence of such an event in the history of the tournament since the introduction of seeding in 1979.
However, one of the beloved Cinderellas of the 2000s managed to make a remarkable journey in Detroit.
After securing a win against Villanova at Ford Field, Kansas advanced to the Midwest final, where they would face Davidson. This opportunity came after their triumphant victory over Wisconsin in the semifinal.
The Jayhawks, the top-seeded team, narrowly secured a 59-57 victory, creating a historic moment by earning a spot in the Final Four bracket. In a battle reminiscent of David versus Goliath, Davidson had an impressive winning streak of 25 games.
In Detroit, there is a strong affinity for underdogs, which led many to root for Davidson in their quest for victory. One particular player from Davidson, known as Steph Curry, holds a special place in the memory of some. During that game, he showcased his skills by scoring 25 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with only 54 seconds remaining, narrowing the gap to just two points. Although they ultimately fell short, Curry’s remarkable performance earned him the prestigious Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Regional Award. It’s safe to say that Curry’s subsequent success in the NBA has been quite impressive. (Wink, wink).
After prevailing over Memphis with a score of 75-68, Kansas emerged victorious and claimed the title in San Antonio. Unfortunately, a subsequent investigation revealed that Derrick Rose’s SAT scores had been invalidated, leading to the vacation of Memphis’ 2008 season.
2018 Round of 64 and 32: Little Caesars Arena, March 16 and 18
All the Cinderella stories
In 2018, the NCAA Tournament had a fairytale-like atmosphere, a decade after the Year of the No. 1 Seeds. The recently opened Little Caesars Arena in Detroit served as the venue for early round games, just months after its inauguration in September 2017.
Following a triumphant victory by Michigan State’s Miles Bridges, the third-seeded team seemed poised for another win against the underdog 11th-seeded Syracuse. Given their last-minute entry into the tournament, the Orangemen were not anticipated to make a significant impact.
In an attempt to secure victory for the Spartans, Cassius Winston aimed for a remarkable 45-foot shot just moments before the buzzer. However, his effort fell short, leading to a disappointing outcome for Michigan State. Ultimately, Syracuse emerged triumphant with a 55-53 victory, propelling them to the Sweet 16.
In the East Region, No. 10 Butler, another lower-ranked team, came close to making it to the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs displayed their dominance by defeating No. 7 Arkansas in the first round at LCA. However, their journey ended with a 76-73 loss to second-seeded Purdue in the Round of 32.
The tournament of that year was filled with surprising upsets. UMBC made history by becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed, Virginia. In another remarkable turn of events, Loyola, an 11 seed, advanced to the Final Four, defeating No. 9 Kansas State in an unlikely Elite 8 game, accompanied by the inspiration of Sister Jean.
In addition to being a noteworthy year for local supporters due to their geographic proximity, it was also an unforgettable one for other significant reasons. The image of freshman Jordan Poole’s remarkable 3-pointer at the last second, followed by his jubilant laps around the court with Moritz Wagner and the rest of the Wolverines in joyful pursuit, will forever be etched in the minds of fans.
Michigan’s victory over Houston with a score of 64-63 set them up to compete against Texas A&M and Florida State in their pursuit of reaching the Final Four.
Michigan, despite its heroic efforts and causing heartache for Sister Jean’s crew, ultimately succumbed to Villanova in the championship by a score of 79-62.
More fun in Michigan
Michigan has been the proud host of 10 NCAA Tournament events, held in Pontiac, Detroit, Auburn Hills, and East Lansing. Additionally, Little Caesars Arena is preparing to host an NCAA regional in 2025. Let’s take a look at the other locations where these exciting tournaments have taken place. Do you have a favorite memory from any of these events?
The Palace of Auburn Hills has been a host for the early rounds of the tournament in 1997, 2006, and 2013. Similarly, the Pontiac Silverdome facilitated regional play in 1988 and 1991.
In the year 1963, Michigan had the unique opportunity of hosting the Mideast Regional in a venue outside of metro Detroit. This event took place at Jenison Fieldhouse, located on the campus of Michigan State University. The tournament consisted of 25 schools competing in a total of 29 games. Ultimately, Loyola-Chicago emerged victorious, claiming their sole championship title in a thrilling 60-58 overtime win against Cincinnati in Louisville.
Can you please rewrite the following sentence or provide more context? Thank you!
