Michigan State Basketball: Spartans 2021-22 season preview and outlook

Schedule Breakdown

The Spartans and their longtime coach Izzo have as they often do, scheduled a very difficult non-conference schedule for this season. Michigan State will start their non-conference playing five of their first seven games away from home and will be challenged early and often.

Michigan State still continues to beat talented, ranked, and well-recognized teams early in the season and often away from their home court to prepare for Big Ten conference play. The Spartans will be without six players who were on scholarship from last season and Michigan State hopes to be a more experienced, successful in their transition offense, and make a high percentage of three-pointers as a team this season.

The Spartans will play four games on a neutral court as well as playing two true road games prior to the start of 2022. However, Michigan State will try to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in hopes of making it to the championship game and the Spartans look to upset Kansas in the season opener.

Unlike last season, Michigan State will play 11 teams in non-conference play as well as play, two Big Ten teams, prior to the start of the new year. The Spartans’ goal is not not only compete but to win those difficult non-conference games as in gets geared up for Big Ten play.

The Spartans’ goal is to at least win eight out of their eleven non-conference games and have momentum heading into their full slate of Big Ten games. It will not be an easy task but Michigan State without many of the COVID-19 protocol restrictions from last season should be able to at minimum win eight of their non-conference games.

Michigan State’s non-conference match-ups

Kansas (Nov. 9) away as part of the Champions Classic

*Western Michigan (Nov. 12) home

Butler (Nov. 17) away as part of the Gavitt Games

*Eastern Michigan (Nov. 20) home

Loyola Chicago (Nov. 24) away as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament

Auburn or UConn away as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament

Baylor, Arizona State, VCU, or Syracuse away as part of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament

*Louisville (Dec. 1) home as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge

*Toledo (Dec. 4) home

Oakland (Dec. 21) away at the Little Caesars Arena

*High Point (Dec. 29) home

The Big Ten conference schedule may be the most favorable one that the Spartans have had in years. Their early slate of games allows them to develop and work through any chemistry or lineup issues as they have some of the more favorable matchups until they go to Wisconsin on Jan. 21, with the expectation of playing at Michigan on Jan. 8. It would not be a surprise if Michigan State started 4-0 in conference play and be 6-1 heading into their matchup in late January against the Badgers.

The Spartans also do not travel to Purdue and Indiana and they only play Ohio State and Iowa once. Michigan State has a tough stretch from mid-January to early February where they have seven difficult games but other than that, the Spartans received a  good slate of Big Ten conference games.

Michigan State’s conference match up’s

Minnesota (Dec. 8) away

*Penn State (Dec. 11) home

Northwestern (Jan. 2) away

*Nebraska (Jan. 5) home

Michigan (Jan. 8) away

*Minnesota (Jan. 12) home

*Northwestern (Jan. 15) home

Wisconsin (Jan. 21) away

Illinois (Jan. 25) away

*Michigan (Jan. 29) home

Maryland (Feb. 1) away

Rutgers (Feb. 5) away

*Wisconsin (Feb. 8) home

*Indiana (Feb. 12) home

Penn State (Feb. 15) away

*Illinois (Feb. 19) home

Iowa (Feb. 22) away

*Purdue (Feb. 26) home

Ohio State (Mar. 3) away

*Maryland (Mar. 6) home