Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Bondy

Michigan State Basketball: What we know about the 2023-24 schedule thus far

Tom Izzo is never afraid of putting together a tough schedule and that will again be the case for the Spartans during the 2023-24 season.

Over the past few months there have been schedule updates and reports of Michigan State basketball matchups for the upcoming season. We have yet to receive the official schedule, but at this point in time we are aware of roughly 80 percent of the Spartans’ 2023-24 slate.

An offer for Spartans fans

For the best local Detroit news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.
Buy Spartans Tickets

There are numerous big-time non-conference battles on the schedule so let’s dive into what we know about the Michigan State basketball schedule thus far for the 2023-24 season:

James Madison

Date: Nov. 6, 2023

Location: Home (Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.)

Status: Reported

Michigan State will reportedly open the season against James Madison of the Sun Belt Conference. The Dukes went 22-11 last season with a conference record of 12-6 — which finished in fourth place in the Sun Belt Conference.

Southern Indiana

Date: Nov. 9, 2023

Location: Home (Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.)

Status: Reported

The Spartans will reportedly host the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles of the Ohio Valley Conference as their second game of the regular season. The Screaming Eagles went 16-17 last year, which included narrow losses to Missouri and Notre Dame.

Duke (Champion's Classic)

Date: Nov. 14, 2023

Location: Neutral (United Center in Chicago)

Status: Official

One of the top early-season games will pit Michigan State against Duke. Both teams are expected to start the year in the top five of the preseason polls, and should be a great test for both the Spartans and Blue Devils.

Butler (Gavitt Games)

Date: Nov. 17, 2023

Location: Home (Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.)

Status: Official

For a second straight year, Michigan State will play host in the Gavitt Games — which pits the Big Ten against the Big East. This year it’ll be the Butler Bulldogs that come to the Breslin Center.

Arizona (Acrisure Classic)

Date: Nov. 23, 2023

Location: Neutral (Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, Calif.)

Status: Official

Michigan State fans will get to enjoy some hoops with their turkey during this big-time Thanksgiving day matchup against Arizona. The Spartans and Wildcats will pay on FOX following the Detroit Lions’ annual Thanksgiving game.

Baylor

Date: Dec. 16, 2023

Location: Neutral (Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.)

Status: Reported

The Spartans and Baylor Bears will play a big-time neutral-court matchup in Michigan State’s backyard. This game has yet to finalized but multiple reports indicate this matchup should occur about a week before Christmas.

Oakland

Date: Dec. 22, 2023

Location: Home (Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich.)

Status: Reported

Michigan State and Oakland will reportedly meet again on the hardwood to continue their annual in-state rivalry matchup. The Spartans are a perfect 20-0 all-time against the Grizzlies and should again be heavy favorites to win this non-conference tilt.

Home Big Ten Games

Michigan State will face the following Big Ten teams at home this year:

  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Northwestern
  • Ohio State
  • Penn State
  • Rutgers
  • Wisconsin

The dates of these games have yet to be announced but should be held between December 2023 – March 2024.

Away Big Ten Games

Michigan State will face the following Big Ten teams on the road this year:

  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • Northwestern
  • Penn State
  • Purdue
  • Wisconsin

The dates of these games have yet to be announced but should be held between December 2023 – March 2024.

What's Left

Michigan State has filled up six of its 11 non-conference schedule games. So they have five more to add to their 2023-24 slate.

The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is no longer a thing, so don’t be looking for any announcements coming from there. But I do anticipate Izzo adding another solid opponent to the schedule and filling the rest out with mid-major opponents that Michigan State will beat with ease.

The official schedule should be released in the next month or two. But we’ll keep you posted on the latest schedule updates that trickle out in the meantime.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.