Breaking down Michigan State basketball's schedule: Tough tests, favorable Big Ten slate
The first thing that jumped out on Michigan State basketball’s new schedule is a Christmas Day home game against Wisconsin.
Other than that, a first for the program, it is another classic Tom Izzo gauntlet — high-profile national opponents, tough in-state foes and a favorable 20-game Big Ten slate which the 26th-year coach hopes can sharpen his team into another conference and NCAA title contender.
Of course, all of this could change. The Big Ten built in two sets of “collapsible byes” — Jan. 18-21 and Jan. 25-28, and Feb. 22-25 and March 1-5 — in case games need to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 issues. And there always remains a possibility of another shutdown if the pandemic worsens.
Here are 10 thoughts on what is ahead — at least on paper — for the 12th-ranked Spartans, who open Wednesday at home against Eastern Michigan (6 p.m./BTN).
[ Spartans adjusting to Tom Izzo's COVID-19 absence, but they miss him ]
1. No-zone
At least for the time being, there will not be any fans allowed in Breslin Center. That takes away one of college basketball’s most raucous and intimidating environments.
2. Duke-bound
The delayed start to the season pushed MSU’s original opening game in the Champions Classic against No. 8 Duke to Dec. 1. The pandemic also moved the contest to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina — perhaps the toughest road environment, when there are fans. But the Blue Devils also will not allow fans for the Spartans first visit since 2016, when Joshua Langford was a freshman.
3. Irish eyes
MSU is scheduled to play Notre Dame for the 97th time — the Irish lead the all-time series, 60-36 — but just the third time since the 1979 Elite Eight. It is the first independently scheduled meeting between the two since Feb. 5, 1975. Getting this back to a more regular matchup, outside the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, would be one positive to come from the pandemic.
4. Sibling rivalry
Speaking of the annual matchup vs. an ACC squad, the Spartans head to Charlottesville, Virginia, on Dec. 9 for the first time in history to face No. 4 Virginia in another marquee matchup. But all eyes will be on MSU’s Joey Hauser, who will face his older brother (and fellow Marquette transfer), the Cavaliers’ Sam Hauser.
5. Local flavor
Izzo brings in EMU, Western Michigan (Dec. 6) and Oakland (Dec. 13) as MSU continues to play in-state foes. But the big draw will be Detroit Mercy; the Spartans haven't faced the Titans since Nov. 12, 2001, and just four times under Izzo. Small wonder: Izzo is just 1-3 against UDM, though MSU holds a 45-16 edge all-time in a rivalry that used to be much more frequent.
6. One and done
The schedule makers gave a break to the Spartans, who face two of the favorites to win the league — No. 7 Wisconsin (Dec. 25) and No. 10 Illinois (Jan. 23) — just once, both times at Breslin. MSU’s other single-play home game is against Penn State (Feb. 9); they'll also travel to Northwestern (Dec. 20) for the Big Ten opener, plus Minnesota (Dec. 28) and Maryland (Feb. 28) for their three other one-game matchups.
7. Christmas Day
The game against the Badgers should make for must-see viewing after opening presents on Christmas; it's the Spartans’ first-ever game on the holiday, dating back to 1898. The Spartans won the meeting in East Lansing last year, 67-55, but lost in Madison, 64-63.
8. Michigan meetings
The Big Ten protected the MSU-Michigan rivalry when it expanded to 20 games in 2018-19, and new Wolverines coach Juwan Howard managed to split the two games against Izzo last year. They will meet Feb. 6 in Ann Arbor and close the regular season March 7 in East Lansing.
9. Iowa intrigue
The Spartans travel to Iowa on Jan. 14 and hosts the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes on Feb. 13 in two games critical to the Big Ten race. Iowa returns Luka Garza, Joe Wieskamp and a number of veterans who have never beaten MSU, which has won five straight. The Spartans pulled out a 78-70 victory at home in the lone meeting last year when the since-departed Xavier Tillman stifled Garza, the eventual Big Ten player of the year.
10. Feel the Illi-noise
Potentially MSU’s biggest Big Ten game of the season comes when Illinois visits Breslin for their lone meeting. The Spartans swept the Illini last season, including a game decided by a last-second Tillman dunk in Champaign. However, coach Brad Underwood's veteran defense has given MSU fits, including an upset win during the Spartans' 2019 Final Four season.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball schedule: Big Ten slate not so fearsome