Standing in their way of their third national championship is the freshman phenom Jahlil Okafor, Justice Winslow and the Duke Blue Devils, who came out of the South regional as the No. 1 seed, knocking off the likes of Utah and Gonzaga. 

The last time these two powerhouses collided in the tournament was back in 2013 in the regional semifinals when Duke advanced to the Elite 8 to face eventual national champion Louisville. The matchup was also held in Indianapolis, but was located at the Bankers Life Field House. 

Here is a look back at other Final Four games played by the Spartans in Indianapolis.

2010 Final Four vs. Butler

The Butler Bulldogs had a stud at the small forward position in Gordon Hayward, a sophomore who averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. The Horizon League player of the year and ESPN third team Academic All-American led Butler to their first ever Final Four at Lucas Oil as a No. 5 seed, where they encountered MSU. 

The Spartans, led by Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious, another No. 5 seed after finishing 28-9 in the regular season. Head coach Tom Izzo's sixth Final Four team in the past 12 years was held to just 50 points, turning the ball over 16 times and garnering zero fast break points, falling short of reaching two consecutive national championship appearances. 

2000 National Championship vs. Florida

Before the Spartans hoisted the NCAA national championship trophy for the first time since Earvin "Magic" Johnson and the 1979 campaign, their aspirations almost sunk to an all time low when Mateen Cleaves sprained his ankle against No. 5 seed Florida. 

Clinging to a 50-44 lead heading into the second half, Cleaves fought through the pain to help the Spartans go on a 16-6 run to put the final dagger in the Gators' title hopes. 

Their championship run inside the now demolished RCA Dome was a part of a three year run of consecutive Final Four appearances.

2000 National Semifinals vs. Wisconsin

Fresh off of their Final Four defeat the previous year at Tropicana Field to the Blue Devils, Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and company were the only No. 1 seed in the tournament to reach the 2000 national semifinals.  

Coming out of the Midwest regional, their run towards their first championship underneath Izzo almost came to a crashing halt, thanks to the Wisconsin Badgers, whose Cinderella run as an No. 8 seed started in the South region. 

MSU would hold on to a 19-17 lead in the first half, but quickly ran away with the contest on a 13-2 run, advancing to the finals by a score of 53-41.