Michigan State-Minnesota sets up matchup we haven't seen in almost two decades

B1G fans are about to see something they haven’t seen in almost two decades, but they’ll have to wait until Saturday to watch it.

With Minnesota defeating Louisville and Michigan State taking down Bradley, the Gophers and Spartans will go head to head in Des Moines with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. It guarantees that at least one conference team will make it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

But Saturday’s game also sets up the first meeting between active B1G teams since Wisconsin and Michigan State played in the 2000 Final Four in Indianapolis, according to BTN Stats Guys. That year, the Badgers played a conference foe in back-to-back rounds, beating Purdue in the Elite Eight.

Michigan State went on to win the national championship that season.

Michigan State-Minnesota will be the first meeting between active #BigTen teams in the NCAA Tournament since MSU met Wisconsin in the 2000 #FinalFour. #Spartans #Gophers #MarchMadness

— BTNStatsGuys (@BTNStatsGuys) March 21, 2019

BTN Stats Guys also mentioned that the Round of 32 matchup between Michigan State and Minnesota marks the earliest NCAA Tournament game between two active B1G teams since the the expansion to 64 teams in 1985.

Michigan State and Minnesota played just once this season, a 79-55 blowout victory for the Spartans in East Lansing. The B1G foes will go head to head in Des Moines n Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 7:45 p.m. The game will air on CBS.