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A statistical look at Michigan State basketball, with a dash of football talk

The wait is over

Posted by kj on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Apparently, the Big Ten front office heard all that griping coming from cyberspace and decided to go ahead and release the conference schedule.

Here’s the link to MSU’s full 2008-09 schedule (PDF).

And here’s the official MSU news release.

They must still be working out the Big Ten Network details.  Michigan State’s half dozen nonconference games against lower-profile teams don’t have games times or TV coverage listed yet; I assume all those games will be BTN games.

Hat tip to GBBound for posting the breaking news and supplying some of these bullet point notes:

  • Three of the first four conference games are on the road, with the Kansas game following the first three conference games.
  • Northwestern is the opponent for two of the first six conference games.  Ohio State is the opponent for two of the first seven conference games.  Could be a slight advantage against two younger teams likely to get better over the course of the season.
  • No game at Wisconsin; no Michigan at home (reversing the two missing conference games from last year’s slate).  Seems like forever since we’ve had a scheduling advantage like not having to play in Madison.
  • Both games against Purdue are in the final six conference games–including the final conference game (at home).  That one could be for all the marbles if things play out according to current prognostications.
  • Our one real “bye” comes the weekend before the road game against Purdue.  (The other bye as far as conference play goes is the Kansas game.)
  • Speaking of Purdue, their missing conference games are home to Minnesota and at Indiana.
  • Wisconsin, meanwhile, is missing the home game against us and a trip to Columbus to play Ohio State.

Just 63 days until the first exhibition game (Wednesday, November 5 vs. Northern)!

« « Tuesday links: Waiting for the schedule | So exactly how tough is MSU’s nonconference schedule? » »

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4 Responses to “The wait is over”

  1. GBBoundon 03 Sep 2008 at 1:58 pm 1

    Its notable that the team has 7 days to prep for the game at Purdue and 5 to prepare for Wisconsin. Also, it looks like MSU has none of those pesky Sunday-Tuesday turnaround games (though it could happen in the couple weeks of the season, as several of those games have yet to be set).

  2. Spartalyticalon 03 Sep 2008 at 3:59 pm 2

    I just messed myself – I can’t wait for November!

  3. Ground Zero East Lansingon 03 Sep 2008 at 4:47 pm 3

    Good analysis, and I’ve got another point to add: the Izzone definitely won’t be around for the Ohio State game, and might not be around for the Kansas game, since MSU’s winter break goes four weeks this year. I’ve got more analysis here.

  4. TMadison25on 04 Sep 2008 at 6:17 pm 4

    Wait a second… MSU isn’t getting the raw end of a Big Ten schedule!?!?!? We may have some faulty information, here. (Although, frustrating scheduling doesn’t explain our lackluster efforts in conference play in recent years).

    Think I may make the haul down to Orlando for the Bruce Campbell/Old Spice Classic.