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Michigan State basketball catches lucky break in Big Ten conference schedule

MSG here we come.

By Trevor Michael

Michigan State's Jaden Akins, right, moves the ball as Rutgers' Austin Williams defends during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Jaden Akins, right, moves the ball as Rutgers' Austin Williams defends during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
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While all the attention is on Michigan State football right now, there has still been some exciting news that has come out surrounding the Michigan State basketball program recently.

Last week we learned what the Spartans' entire non-conference schedule looks like, and on Thursday, we found out MSU’s full conference schedule.

One thing immediately jumped out to me about Michigan State’s Big Ten schedule because the Spaetans got a little lucky with one of their opponents.

Michigan State is scheduled to play Rutgers at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Jan. 25 instead of it being a true road game at Rutgers at The RAC. This news is extremely significant because The RAC has quickly become one of the most difficult venues to play at in the Big Ten. So one less true road game, especially at a very difficult place to win, will be a huge benefit to Michigan State this season.

The bad news, however, for Michigan State is that it doesn't win too often in MSG either. Michigan State boasts an abysmal 4-16 record all time at Madison Square Garden, which includes a 4-12 record under Tom Izzo. These two teams also faced off in 2023 at MSG, a game that Michigan State lost 61-55 after being up by as many as eight points in the second half. The Spartans' heartbreaking loss to Kansas State in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament also took place at MSG.

But even with all the bad recent history at MSG, I’d still much rather play there then at The RAC.

Another exciting thing about this game is that Rutgers no longer is the doormat of the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have the No. 4 incoming freshman class in the country which includes the No. 2 and No. 3 overall players. Rutgers likely will be a ranked team all season, so this not only makes this game that much more exciting but makes me more relieved to not have to travel to their gym.

The rest of the Big Ten schedule is pretty favorable for MSU as wel, but this is a very significant development for Michigan State’s squad that’s looking to get back on top of the Big Ten once again.

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