Ad Disclosure
Back to the grind: Michigan State’s schedule over the next 13 days is absolutely brutal
Published:
As poorly as Michigan State has played this season, it still has a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. That might sound surprising considering the Spartans’ 5-9 record in B1G play, but they’ll have an opportunity to make up for lost time over the next two weeks.
Michigan State will begin a 13-day stretch in which it plays six games. Four of those games are against teams ranked in the Top 5 of the latest Associated Press Poll.
Starting Tuesday, the Spartans will play No. 5 Illinois and turn around and host No. 4 Ohio State on Thursday. Then, Michigan State travels to College Park to play Maryland on Sunday. Michigan State will return home on Tuesday, March 2 to play Indiana before closing out the year with a home-and-home against No. 3 Michigan on Thursday, March 4 and Sunday, March 7.
Talk about a grind.
Tom Izzo’s team has struggled mightily throughout the course of the season and has been forced to make up some major games late in the year following a 20-day COVID-19 pause. So, while it’s an incredibly tough slate ahead for MSU, the Spartans still have a great opportunity to make a case for an NCAA tournament bid.
Over the weekend, Michigan State got an important road victory by beating Indiana 78-71 at Assembly Hall. That ended a two-game losing streak for Izzo’s squad.
Michigan State is 11-9 overall on the year. Tuesday’s game against Illinois is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will air on FS1. Thursday, the Spartans will host Ohio State at 9 p.m. ET with ESPN carrying the broadcast.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB