Michigan State basketball has nation’s toughest non-conference schedule

In a down year for the Big Ten, Michigan State basketball is still finding a way to play a grueling schedule. The 2022-23 slate is insane.

“We’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime.”

Tom Izzo has always been open to scheduling the toughest teams in college basketball every year and the 2022-23 season is about to be a prime example of that.

Michigan State basketball doesn’t have as much depth as it usually does heading into the season with a few open scholarships, but that hasn’t stopped Izzo and the Spartans from scheduling an incredibly difficult non-conference slate.

Oh, the Big Ten is going to be down next season? That’s OK because Michigan State is making up for that with a grueling non-conference schedule after adding Villanova in the Gavitt Games on Monday.

https://twitter.com/SpartanHoops_DK/status/1541583886320373771?s=20&t=cACmdESnmqEA1AL5KXj8kA

In the past couple of weeks, Gonzaga and Villanova have been added to the schedule. Both have been the best non-power conference teams in the country over the past decade-plus. On top of those two, the Spartans will face Kentucky in the Champions Classic, some sort of combination of Alabama, Iowa State, North Carolina, Portland, Oregon, UConn, and Villanova again in the PK85 Tournament, and then Notre Dame in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

This may go down as the toughest non-conference schedule Izzo has ever had and it’s really going to test his roster of close-knit guys.

If Michigan State can get through this gauntlet with a solid record with even 2-3 losses, fans will have no choice but to feel good about its chances to contend for a Big Ten title.

Michigan State is facing an NCAA Tournament field in the first six weeks of the season.