Michigan State Releases the 2009-2010 Basketball Schedule, and my First Impressions

by Pete Rossman on Aug 19, 2009 6:29 PM CDT in Michigan State Spartans Basketball Comment 7 comments

As you might have heard, the Big Ten released the 2009-10 basketball schedule today, plus the conference schedule and my first impressions after the jump. Teams in caps are home games. (HT: MSU)

November

Sun 1 NORTHWOOD (Exhib.) East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Mon. 9 GRAND VALLEY STATE (Exhib.) East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Fri. 13 FLORIDA GULF COAST East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Tues. 17 GONZAGA East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Fri. & Sun. 20-22 Legends Classic - MSU Host Site East Lansing, Mich.
Fri. 20 TOLEDO East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Sun. 22 VALPARAISO East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Fri.-Sat. 27-28 Legends Classic - Championship Rounds Atlantic City, N.J.
Fri. 27 vs. Florida Atlantic City, N.J. 8 p.m.
Sat. 28 vs. Rutgers/Massachusetts Atlantic City, N.J. 5:30/8 p.m.

December

Tues. 1 North Carolina (Big Ten/ACC Challenge) (ESPN) Chapel Hill, N.C. 9 p.m.
Fri. 4 WOFFORD East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Mon. 7 at The Citadel Charleston, S.C. TBA
Thu. 10 OAKLAND East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Sat. 19 IPFW East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Tues. 22 at Texas (ESPN2) Austin, Texas 7 p.m.
Wed. 30 TEXAS-ARLINGTON East Lansing, Mich. TBA

January

Sat. 2 at Northwestern (Big Ten Network) Evanston, Ill. 6:30 p.m.
Wed. 6 WISCONSIN (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 6:30 p.m.
Sat. 9 at Iowa (Big Ten Network) Iowa City, Iowa 1:30 p.m.
Wed. 13 MINNESOTA (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 6:30 p.m.
Sat. 16 ILLINOIS (CBS) East Lansing, Mich. 3:30 p.m.
Wed. 20 IOWA (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 6:30 p.m.
Sat. 23 at Minnesota (CBS) Minneapolis, Minn. 12 p.m.
Tues. 26 at Michigan (ESPN) Ann Arbor, Mich. 7 p.m.
Sat. 30 NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 7 p.m.

February

Tues. 2 at Wisconsin (ESPN) Madison, Wis. 9 p.m.
Sat. 6 at Illinois (ESPN) Champaign, Ill. 9 p.m.
Tues. 9 PURDUE (ESPN) East Lansing, Mich. 9 p.m.
Sat. 13 at Penn State (ESPN) University Park, Pa. 12 p.m.
Tues. 16 at Indiana (ESPN) Bloomington, Ind. 7 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. 20-21 OHIO STATE (ESPN, Big Ten Network, CBS) East Lansing, Mich. 4/8/12 p.m.
Sat.-Sun. 27-28 at Purdue (ESPN, Big Ten Network, CBS) West Lafayette, Ind. 12/8/4 p.m.

March

T/W/T 2/3/4 PENN STATE (ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Sat.-Sun. 6-7 MICHIGAN (Big Ten Network, ESPN, CBS) East Lansing, Mich. 2:30/12/4 p.m.

Initial thoughts:

The home/away Big Ten game balance seems fair. 4 out of 6 home games to start, and 3 of the last 4 games are also at home.
As to difficulty, I wouldn't say the schedule seems front or back loaded. The degree of difficulty's pretty even throughout the season.
Undoubtedly you noticed that Michigan's the last game of the season. You also might be wondering if it falls on spring break, and the answer is yes. The Purdue game was at the same time last year, and judging by the Izzone's turnout to see the Boilermakers, I wouldn't be worried about a Wolverine invasion.
The last nine games could be shown on national TV. I don't know if that qualifies MSU as elite (if they aren't already), but it darn sure doesn't hurt.
Four weekend home games out of a possible nine is about the definition of fair. No complaints there either.
As to the nonconference, I can't recall MSU having an opponent as big as Gonzaga that close to the start of the season. Gonzaga just lost Austin Daye, Jeremy Pargo, and Josh Heytvelt though, so hopefully the Spartans can take advantage of a bulldog team who will be learning to play without three of their biggest stars. Also note the trip to The Citadel this year.

Those are my first impressions. Playing Indiana and Ohio State once is a decent tradeoff, and the nonconference schedule is the most loaded I've seen in about five or six years.

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Comments

The Sched

Here’s a thought…If we make it to the finals of the BT tournament and the NCAA, the guys end up playing 40 games(42 if you count the exhibitions.) That’s half an NBA schedule. I would think the depth we have will help immensely and by game 25 or so we should all know who is going to be playing the center minutes. Who is Florida Gulf Coastal, for heaven’s sake? That’s someone that Bill Frieder would schedule. We also need to take out Toledo and Valpo to get at Florida, That seems doable, but I would think both will give it all they have in hopes of an upset. I suspect that both games could be close at the half, but that the fact we simply have more guys will eventually cause a Robert Morris like collapse by the opponents. In fact, the depth could cause a bunch of that type of game, even in the Big Ten.

by Uncle Omar on Aug 19, 2009 9:31 PM CDT reply actions

MSU doesn't even need to beat Toledo and Valpo to advance

They changed the rules of these types of tournaments so that each of the host cities automatically advance. Call it the Kentucky-Gardner Webb Rule

Co-Manager: The Only Colors

by Pete Rossman on Aug 19, 2009 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Recruiting impact

While a lot of high caliber games, it is not great from a recruiting perspective. If Saturday is your key time to show off the campus, the majesty of Breslin, and the flavor of the Izzone, it definitely misses the mark.

No Saturday home games until December 19.
Only 2 Saturday home games in January.
A real possibility of no Saturday home games in February or March

by GBBound on Aug 19, 2009 9:59 PM CDT reply actions

wow, no exhibitions against NMU

probably better for the Wildcats that way.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on Aug 20, 2009 12:59 PM CDT reply actions

What about the 'D'?

I see a big time deficiency here. No games in the D or metro Detroit (beside AA). I have some concerns about that. The beauty of those games is you bring the team to a massive alumni base AND play right in front of recruits (it was a quick trip from OLSM to the Palace for Kailin). A game in the region should be a must for Izzo every single year, mostly from a recruiting perspective but also for the alums. Beside that, great sched, but that one game a year probably does a load of good.

by TahoeSparty on Aug 20, 2009 1:42 PM CDT reply actions