1981–82 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team

1981–82 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record12–16 (7–11 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Frank Rourke
  • John Holms
  • William Norton
Captains
  • Kurt James
  • Kevin Smith
Home arenaJenison Fieldhouse
1981–82 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 7 Minnesota 14 4   .778 23 6   .793
No. 16 Iowa 12 6   .667 21 8   .724
Ohio State 12 6   .667 21 10   .677
Indiana 12 6   .667 19 10   .655
Purdue 11 7   .611 18 14   .563
Illinois 10 8   .556 18 11   .621
Michigan State 6 12   .333 11 17   .393
Michigan 6 12   .333 7 20   .259
Northwestern 4 14   .222 8 19   .296
Wisconsin* 1 17   .056 4 23   .148
Rankings from AP Poll
*Wisconsin forfeited all games after Jan 25, 1982 due to NCAA sanctions.
Disputed record (3–15, 6–23)

The 1981–82 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played their home games at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan and were members of the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Jud Heathcote in his sixth year at Michigan State. The Spartans finished with a record of 11–17, 6–12 to finish in a tie for seventh place in Big Ten play.

Due to NCAA sanctions against Wisconsin for providing improper benefits for players, MSU's official record for the year is 12–16, 7–11.