Michigan State basketball: Greatest individual March Madness performances

Michigan State basketball has made its 26th straight NCAA Tournament under Tom Izzo. But who has had the best individual performances?

Last year, we at Spartan Shadows dove into researching which Michigan State basketball players have had the greatest March Madness performances under Tom Izzo. In our ranking of performances, we took individual stats into consideration such as points per game, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks, with a larger emphasis on points, assists, and rebounds. Additionally, players were awarded more points based on how far they made it in that year’s tournament.

Finally, extra points were given if the player received any individual NCAA Tournament awards such as All-Region team, All-Tournament team, or Most Outstanding Player.

We’ve now added last year’s roster and performances to the list, and one Spartan came in relatively high. 

Michigan State legend currently holds the top spot

Not surprisingly, the No. 1 best individual Spartan March Madness performance was from legend Mateen Cleaves (1999-2000) with 744.5 overall points, out of a possible 780. He finished the tournament with 14.1 points per game, two rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.16 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. Additionally, Cleaves was named to the All-Region and All-Tournament teams, won Most Outstanding Player, and Michigan State won the national championship that year.

Following Cleaves is Goran Suton (2008-09) with 543 points, Morris Peterson (1999-2000) with 537.5 points, Kalin Lucas (2008-09) with 511, and AJ Granger (1999-2000) 487.5.

The entire top 50 is as follows:

1. Mateen Cleaves (1999-2000) – 744.5
2. Goran Suton (2008-09) – 543
3. Mo Pete (1999-2000) – 537.5
4. Kalin Lucas (2008-09) – 511
5. AJ Granger (1999-2000) – 487.5
6. Draymond Green (2011-12) – 454.5
7. Denzel Valentine (2014-15) – 442.5
8. Charlie Bell (1999-2000) – 429
9. Adriean Payne (2013-14) – 418
10. Travis Trice (2014-15) – 409.5
11. Draymond Green (2010-11) – 400.5
12. Xavier Tillman (2018-19) – 399
13. Paul Davis (2004-05) – 394
14. Charlie Bell (2000-01) – 392.5
15. AJ Hoggard (2022-23) – 391.5
16. Andre Hutson (1999-2000) – 384
17. Andre Hutson (2000-01) – 380.5
18. Cassius Winston (2018-19) – 371.5
19. Durrell Summers (2009-10) – 371
20. Maurice Ager (2004-05) – 370
21. Mateen Cleaves (1997-98) – 359
22. Draymond Green (2009-10) – 356
23. Mo Pete (1998-99) – 348
24. Miles Bridges (2016-17) – 346.5
25. Shannon Brown (2004-05) – 344
26. Gary Harris (2013-14) – 341.5
27. Drew Neitzel (2006-07) – 337.5
28. Kalin Lucas (2009-10) – 329
29. David Thomas (2000-01) – 328.5
30. Denzel Valentine (2015-16) – 326.5
31. Tyson Walker (2022-23) – 318
32. Jason Richardson (2000-01) – 315.5
33. Mateen Cleaves (1998-99) – 308.5
34. Goran Suton (2007-08) – 308.5
35. A.J. Hoggard (2022-23) – 308
36. Miles Bridges (2017-18) – 308
37. Erazem Lorbek (2002-03) – 304.5
38. Travis Walton (2008-09) – 301
39. Joey Hauser (2022-23) – 299.5
40. Paul Davis (2003-04) – 295
41. Draymond Green (2008-09) – 294
42. A.J Granger (1998-99) – 292.5
43. Adriean Payne (2012-13) – 290
44. Cassius Winston (2017-18) – 288
45. Korie Lucious (2009-10) – 286.5
46. Paul Davis (2002-03) – 286.5
47. Durrell Summers (2008-09) – 284
48. Maurice Ager (2005-06) – 284
49. Drew Neitzel (2005-06) – 281.5
50. Jaden Akins (2022-23) – 278

Last Year’s tournament saw a new top-15 performance

Last year, we had a storming Spartan team who seemed to catch fire at the right time. They were fueled by Joey Hauser, AJ Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins. When the four of these were added to our database, all came in in the top 50 of performances under Izzo.

In particular, however, it was Hoggard’s that is good for the 15th best individual performance. In MSU’s games against USC, Marquette, and Kansas State, Hoggard averaged 16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks. Carrying MSU to the Sweet 16, Hoggard was named to the All-Region team and finished in our database with 391.5 points. For context, that puts Hoggard in the same tier as Charlie Bell in 2000-01, Cassius Winston in 2018-19, and Paul Davis in 2004-05.

The rest of the four came in with Walker at No. 31 with 318 points, Hauser at No. 39 with 299.5, and Akins at No. 50 with 278 total points. That puts these four above the likes of performances from Gary Harris (2012-13), Kalin Lucas (2007-08), and Cassius Winston (2016-17). 

That takes us to this year. Michigan State basketball is slated to take on Mississippi State this Thursday. Will any Spartans put together a March for the ages and make their way onto this list? Only time will tell.