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In a normal year the Michigan State basketball schedule would have been finalized a few months ago and we’d already be able to play the win-loss prediction game as the season neared. However, as we all know by now 2020 has been far from a normal year so it is no surprise that we are less than two months out from the opening tip of the season and we still don’t know who, when or where exactly MSU will be hitting the hardwood this year.
The good news is there’s been a flurry of reports over the past few weeks giving us the opportunity to piece together the Spartans’ 2020-21 slate as we await for the final schedule to be released from the school. A number of national media members and college basketball insiders have put out reports related to the Spartans in the past two weeks, making it easy to connect the dots on what Michigan State’s schedule will look like this season.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming Michigan State basketball schedule — keeping in mind that these are reports from undisclosed sources, and that we are still awaiting the official schedule to be released from the program.
MSU will open season with Orlando Invitational
Thanks to Jon Rothstein, college basketball insider with CBS Sports, we now know the Spartans will start the 2020-21 season with the Orlando Invitational. Rothstein reported on Tuesday that the Orlando Invitational will take place from Nov. 25 – 27, and with Nov. 25 being the first official day games can take place this year, it’s now evident that the Spartans will open the campaign with this early-season tournament.
The other teams in the tournament currently include potential-preseason No.1 Gonzaga, Auburn, Xavier, Belmont, St. Louis and Boise State. The eighth team is still to be determined at this point.
Sources: The current target date for the Orlando Invitational is November 25-27. Field currently includes Gonzaga, Michigan State, Auburn, Xavier, Saint Louis, Belmont, Boise State, and an eighth team that is TBD. Matchups are TBD.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 29, 2020
We are still waiting to see how the bracket looks, but we at least know the Spartans’ first three games of the season will take place in the Orlando Invitational.
Spartans-Blue Devils renew rivalry to start December
Based on the rotation of teams, we knew entering this year that Michigan State would face off against Duke in the Champions Classic, but we weren’t sure exactly when and where. Jeff Goodman of Stadium confirmed earlier reports that the Champions Classic will be played on Dec. 1, and will also take place in the Orlando bubble.
Champions Classic expected to be on Dec. 1 in Orlando, sources told @stadium.
Michigan State vs. Duke
Kansas vs. Kentucky— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) September 29, 2020
This will be the fifth straight year the Spartans and Blue Devils will battle on the hardwood, with Duke winning three of the last four meetings — including last year at the Breslin Center.
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: We know when and potentially where, but not who
It was reported last week that the ACC-Big Ten Challenge would move forward as originally planned with games taking place on-campus on Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9. Depending on how the rest of the schedule shakes out, this will most likely be the Spartans’ first game played outside of the Orlando bubble, and potentially the first true road game of the year for Michigan State. The Spartans hosted Duke last year in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge so expect them to be on the road this season.
With Duke already on the schedule, potential opponents for Michigan State in this year’s edition of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge includes North Carolina, Virginia, Louisville or Florida State. Andy Katz of NCAA.com believes the Spartans and Cavaliers would make for a great early-season match-up.
What do you think of @TheAndyKatz's 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 for the 2020 B1G/ACC Challenge matchups? 👀
We'll hang up and listen to your answer, @accnetwork. 🧐 pic.twitter.com/jnU2p1n4Xd
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 30, 2020
Rest of schedule still left to be determined
Based on all of these reports, five of the maximum seven non-conference games are accounted for meaning there are still two open spots. Michigan State is contracted to play in the Gavitt Games as well, which pits the Big Ten against the Big East, but reports indicate that the Spartans won’t participate in this year’s event. If the event is played, then the Spartans will have one remaining non-conference game left to add.
The @BIGEASTMBB is committed to keeping the challenge with @Big12Conference. But don’t be surprised if Gavitt Games becomes just regional games that can be folded in like Wisconsin-Marquette, Seton Hall-Rutgers, CU-Neb, DePaul-Northwestern. Event was prior to Nov. 25 start date.
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) October 2, 2020
Expect the Big Ten to keep the same 20-game model as the past two seasons to round out the rest of the 2020-21 schedule. In previous years, Big Ten teams have played at least two games in the month of December but at this point there is no indication if that will continue this season or not.
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