CHICAGO — The last time Michigan State lost to an opponent three times in a season, it was 2004, Bob Knight was still coaching basketball, and Jameer Nelson was the best player in the country.

So the Terrapins men’s basketball team faced a daunting task entering Saturday afternoon’s Big Ten semifinal matchup with coach Tom Izzo’s Spartans, whom the Terps had defeated twice in the regular season — once in a double-overtime thriller in East Lansing, Michigan, and once in a blowout at Xfinity Center.

A third win simply would have defied the odds.

It seems every year, regardless of how far Michigan State falls or how many poor losses it suffers, Izzo has his team playing its best basketball in March. The coach attributes the late-season success to the pedigree of his program, which continues to stand in the highest degree thanks the unrelenting expectations of former Spartan standouts.

In keeping with tradition Saturday, No. 3-seed Michigan State held off the No. 2-seed Terps, 62-58, to advance to the conference championship against No. 1-seed Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. It marked the first time all season coach Mark Turgeon’s squad failed to win a game decided by six points of fewer.

What’s important now is for the Terps to move forward. There is no shame in Saturday’s loss. Plenty of teams have suffered similar fates. Take last year’s Michigan team for example. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans twice in the regular season only to fall to Izzo’s squad in the Big Ten championship game by 14 points.

Michigan went on to an Elite-8 appearance in the NCAA tournament.

The Terps have a similar opportunity.

For the first time since 2010, the Terps will hear their name called on Selection Sunday, this time as a likely No. 3 seed. They’re not a bubble team. They’re not helplessly hoping for a spot in the Big Dance.

They’re a legitimate contender.

That’s an accomplishment.

Now some may look at Saturday’s game and worry of possible weaknesses. Guard Melo Trimble scored 13 points in the first seven minutes only to go stone cold. The freshman didn’t connect on another field goal until 16 seconds remained in the contest. Forward Jake Layman finished just 1 of 3 from the field with three rebounds in 35 minutes while guard Dez Wells posted his lowest scoring total since Jan. 22.

Nonetheless, it’s important to look at the positives. Despite the Big 3’s collective struggles, the Terps had an opportunity to win. If forward Evan Smotrycz connects on his mid-range jumper with just more than two minutes remaining in regulation, he doesn’t get called for the flagrant foul in transition, and the Terps would have been within one point.

But such is college basketball, particularly in March.

At least now the Terps can walk away having learned a valuable lesson.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Trimble said.

Those are wise words from the young point guard. And if the Terps hadn’t lost Saturday, it’s tough to know if that message would have resonated with him.

Above all else, though, let us not forget what this team has brought back to College Park. National attention is great, but more importantly this group of players has reinvigorated a long-suffering fan base.

All game long Saturday, despite 700 miles separating United Center and Xfinity Center, chants of “Let’s go Maryland!” rained down from the stands.

The Terps are back. The Spartans can’t take that away.

Now it’s on to the tournament — the one that matters most. It’s where Izzo has made a name for himself in his 20 seasons as Spartans coach.

Michigan State may be playing its best basketball, as it usually does this time of year. But the Terps have won 8 of their last 9 games.

Sure, Saturday may have been a step back. But in year’s past, a loss like that would have ended the Terps’ season.

This time around, they’re only getting started.