100 Things Cyclone Fans Should Forget Before The Die: 2000 Elite Eight

The 1999-2000 Iowa State basketball season was a magical season. The team won 35 games, and captured the regular season Big 12 Conference Title, as well as taking the Big 12 Tournament title. Iowa State would get the #2 seed in the Midwest Regional. Marcus Fizer, Jamal Tinsely and Micheal Nurse led the charge the entire season.

Larry Eustachy would lead his squad to the Elite Eight after beating Central Connecticut, Auburn and UCLA. Setting up a massive showdown with #1 see Michigan State on practically their home court in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Michigan State would lead after the break, 34-31. Iowa State would come out firing in the second half. Fizer, Tinsley and Nurse would lead the charge, and ultimately Iowa State would take the lead 59-52 late in the second half. However, Michigan State did not go away quietly and some questionable calls down the stretch helped Michigan State regain the lead.

The Spartans would go on a 20-3 run, with the last six of those points followed two technical fouls against Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy, which led to his ejection. He was protesting a foul call against guard Michael Nurse, who tried to swat loose a rebound from Hutson as the Cyclones tried desperately to rally. In reality, though, Eustachy’s anger probably lingered from a double-foul call with 3:43 left that cost his team a chance to shoot free throws with a 61-60 lead. All said, his anger was probably justified.

Michigan State would win the game 75-64 dashing the Cyclones dreams of reaching the final four. Jamal Tinsley would announce that he was coming back, but Marcus Fizer would decide to forego his senior season and enter the NBA draft.