Michigan State Basketball: A look at Spartans 2021-22 non-conference schedule
By Ryan Kay
Michigan State basketball usually has a very challenging non-conference schedule and this season’s non-conference games have some headlining games as usually for the 2021-2022 season.
Michigan State’s non-conference schedule for 2021
Nov. 9: Kansas from the Big 12 in the Champions Classic that will take place in New York (MSG)
Nov. 12: Western Michigan for the MAC
Nov. 17: at Butler in the Gavitt Games: A series of games between Big Ten and Big East teams
Nov. 20: Eastern Michigan
Nov. 24: Loyola-Chicago (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Nov. 25: Auburn or Connecticut (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Nov. 26: TBD (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Dec. 1: Louisville (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
Dec. 4: Toledo
Dec. 8: At Minnesota in their first Big Ten game of the season
Dec. 11: vs. Penn State in their second Big Ten game of the season
Dec. 21: vs. Oakland (at Little Caesars Arena)
Dec. 29: High Point
The last time Michigan State played Kansas in the Champions Classic was in 2018 in a high-scoring game that resulted in a five-point defeat for the Spartans. The Jayhawks this season will more than likely be a preseason top-five ranked team.
Michigan State in their second game of the season host Western Michigan a team they defeated in the Breslin Center last season by a final score of 79-61. The third game of the season has the Spartans traveling to Hinkle Fieldhouse in a rematch of the 2010 Final Four game that Butler won by only two points in a low-scoring game.
In their fourth game of non-conference play, the Spartans host Eastern Michigan who they played last season and defeated 83-67. Michigan State travels to the Bahamas to participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament where they will play Loyola Chicago in the first round of the tournament.
If the Spartans win, they will play the winner of the Auburn vs. UConn in the semifinals. If Michigan State wins their semifinal matchup, they would play Arizona State, VCU, Syracuse, or Baylor in the finals of the tournament.
In their 8th non-conference game of the season, the Spartans welcome Louisville in their annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup. The last three games for Michigan State are against Toledo at home, Oakland at the LCA in Detroit where the Pistons play, and their final non-conference game is at home against High Point.