Instead, they will sport the school’s colors in East Lansing, where a number of local restaurants, bars and other venues are prepared and anxious for the game to begin.

And although Lucas Oil Stadium is a 260-mile drive down I-69, the MSU men’s basketball team will take the court knowing hundreds of thousands of alumni and students are there in spirit — although they might physically be screaming about that Spartans team playing good ball from establishments on Albert or Grand River avenues.

Paint it Green

By now, most students have enough MSU apparel to don Spartans gear every day of the week for the entire spring semester — but very few have 2010 Final Four duds.

Campus clothiers such as Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave., Campus Street Sportswear, 515 E. Grand River Ave., and Campus Corner, 501 E. Grand River Ave., have stocked their shelves with the new memorabilia.

Marilyn Hanses, owner of Campus Corner, said she wouldn’t have been able to equal last year’s sales had MSU not made a repeat run to the Final Four.

But getting to Indianapolis brings more than just financial satisfaction for Hanses.

“It brings adults back into town and the kids, the children,” she said.

“They don’t come into town unless it’s a football game. And it’s nice to see little children running around here.”

Basketball on the big screen

Although Cirque du Soleil will steal Breslin Center’s floor during Saturday’s game, MSU fans can watch the Spartans in 3D at NCG Cinemas at Eastwood Towne Center.

NCG assistant manager Dan McGrath said the game will be shown in one theater and can seat more than 200 people, and he already has received calls for availability of the $15 tickets.

“People are excited to see it in 3D,” he said.

“If they end up winning, we will have the final Michigan State game as well. It’s a good thing for the city and the community here.”

Cheers for the Spartans

Bars and restaurants all over East Lansing are expecting to see two kinds of green — Spartan green and dead presidential green.

Local bars expect patrons to file through the doors as early as six hours before game time, making it a lucrative day.

Stefanie Anderson, manager of Harper’s Restaurant & Brewpub, 131 Albert Ave., said she expects a full house for the game.

“We love MSU anyway, and we’re rooting for MSU to go all the way regardless, but it definitely helps business,” she said of the Spartans’ Final Four run.

Dan Kirby, assistant general manager at Spartan Hall of Fame Cafe, 1601 W. Lake Lansing Road, said people showed up several hours before tip-off for last year’s Final Four game against Connecticut, and he doesn’t know when the crowds will form Saturday.

When people call to ask when to come to the restaurant to ensure seating, all he can say is, “Early.”

“We’re going to be packed for sure no matter what,” Kirby said.

“We’ll be doing some different things like playing the fight song a lot, and we’ll have a DVD playing the 2000 National Championship game.”

The Spartan community

Last year, Breslin Center stole students from residence halls to watch the Final Four.

But with Breslin out of commission for Cirque du Soleil, more residence hall occupants could watch the games in their respective lobbies.

Residence halls have been urged to provide refreshments and snacks to help facilitate a communal feeling, said Tasha Warfield, Holden Complex director.

And whether you’re rooting for MSU at Lucas Oil Stadium, a movie theater, a bar or a residence hall, Saturday’s game is about two things: winning and community.

“It’s about school spirit — getting everybody together to celebrate this big accomplishment for the team,” Warfield said.

“It’s for when you have a friend 15 years from now they can say, ‘Oh, I remember when we watched the game in Holden.’”