This next year's schedule is looking really ridiculous. I'm not sure if you guys have seen this yet, but it was just announced that in the ACC/Big 10 challenge, we have UNC coming into Ford Field. For those of you keeping track at home, that is the preseason #1 team in a lot of polls.
We also go to play Texas in Houston, I think. That is the preseason #1 team in the ESPN poll.
We also have Kansas coming to the Breslin. They are the defending national champions, for those of you who are living under a rock.
We also play in a tournament in Orlando, and have the opportunity to play Maryland and/or Tennessee.
That is the potential to play 4 preseason top ten teams.
I am having flashbacks to 2003, when we started out the season terrible, being blown out by Kansas on the road and Duke in the Breslin. One thing is for sure, we will know if the Spartans are for real by the time the non conference games are over.
It was once the hallmark of the Spartan teams to play the toughest possible non-conference schedule possible. Doing so led to a championship.
It pleases me to see the tradition reinstated. Having those kids play hard and tough from the first game on will make the WL a little less pretty, but the payoff in the Big Dance will be splendid!
I love the schedule the Spartans will play. I just hope that playing all these tough teams early and possibly having some tough losses won't discourage the team. Remember, our core is still only sophs
I hadn't heard about this schedule yet - thanx for informing me!
I agree with MSUSpartan76- Playing tough teams will make us a better team, whether we win or lose. Playing UNC, Kansas, Texas, and the others will be beneficial in the long run. Hopefully it will lead to a CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
I also agree that to be the best, you have to beat the best. I could see us being a #1 seed with 7 or 8 losses. For those you who missed it, they just added Georgetown to the Old Spice Classic. So, we could potentially play 5 of the top 10 teams next year. That is not including in-league games with Purdue (#6), Ohio State, or Wisconsin. That is a tougher schedule than Memphis played last year, and they play in a cupcake league. It will definately be interesting, either way.
Also, some guy (I can't remember his name) tabbed us as the #2 team in his preseason poll. That is a little high for me. I would almost rather have them start out unranked and end the season ranked #1.
I like this schedule! Last year, we went into the BIG TEN season with a different team than played the BIG TEN season. Weak teams, except for Texas, gave our the team a false belief that maybe it was better than it turned out to be! The "exhibition" game with Grand Valley exposed our lack of toughness and that never changed.
Playing difficult teams early will give the team a chance to learn about itself and will give Coach Izzo the information he needs to make the necessary adjustments!
