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Michigan State Basketball: Complete preview for 2018-19 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Joshua Langford #1 and Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans helps Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans off the floor during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Joshua Langford #1 and Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans helps Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans off the floor during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Michigan State Spartans celebrate with the Big Ten trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Michigan State Spartans celebrate with the Big Ten trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Schedule, predictions

The Spartans’ 2018-19 schedule isn’t the most forgiving for a team losing two NBA lottery picks and a couple of team leaders from a season ago.

Michigan State starts the season with No. 1 Kansas in the annual Champions Classic. The Spartans get the top team in the nation yet again and it should be a tremendous tipoff to the season. The Jayhawks may be a tough test, but the Spartans have the talent and experience to keep up.

Following that big game, Florida Gulf Coast, who has given MSU trouble in the past, comes to town followed by UL-Monroe and Tennessee Tech before the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 22. The Spartans start with No. 21 UCLA and will get a crack at either Texas or North Carolina.

A road game against Louisville accounts for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge for the Spartans and then they kick off Big Ten play three days later at Rutgers. Iowa will come to town shortly after to close out the early Big Ten action and the Spartans will face another tough road test at Florida.

Green Bay, Oakland and Northern Illinois end non-conference play from Dec. 16-29 and the Spartans will get back to Big Ten action on Jan. 2 against Northwestern.

Michigan State faces Ohio State, Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa, Rutgers, Michigan and Indiana twice in conference play while seeing Maryland, Penn State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota once.

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As for a final prediction, I’m going to say Michigan State finishes either No. 1 or No. 2 in conference regular season action with the Michigan Wolverines right there with the Spartans. As for a regular season record, I’m going with 24-7 and a trip to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014-15.

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