Home and home: Michigan State basketball to play Michigan twice in Big Ten schedule
The Big Ten released its breakdown of the 2023-24 men's basketball schedule on Tuesday and local fans will be happy to know Michigan basketeball and Michigan State basketball will square off at least twice next season.
In the 20-game conference schedule, every team will play seven schools twice and six schools once, with the Spartans and Wolverines obviously falling into the first category.
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Michigan's schedule
Home only: Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
Away only: Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State.
Home and away: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers.
On first glance, it appears the Wolverines may have caught some breaks from the Big Ten's schedulemakers.
While Michigan is set to travel to both East Lansing and West Lafayette, Indiana — typically two of the toughest places to win — they will get a return visit from both Purdue and MSU. They also avoid visits to Indiana and Wisconsin, two tough road environments (despite the Badgers finishing 9-11 in Big Ten play last year).
The Wolverines are set to play Maryland and an improving Northwestern program on the road with no return visit.
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Michigan State's schedule
Home only: Iowa, Ohio State, Rutgers.
Away only: Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue.
Home and away: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Wisconsin.
MSU will not have to travel to Iowa City, where the Spartans have lost their last three contests (including an all-time collapse this last February). They also don't have to play at Rutgers or Ohio State, although the Buckeyes were one of the worst teams in the league in 2022-23.
But, the Spartans will have to go to West Lafayette and Bloomington without return visits from either the Boilermakers or the Hoosiers. MSU should expect tough road games against Illinois, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern and potentially Penn State, depending on how they rebound after losing head coach Micah Shrewsberry to Notre Dame.
The rest of the Big Ten
As noted above, it seems like Purdue will catch a break by just having to play MSU one time at home. Wooden Award winner Zach Edey has said he will test the waters with the NBA draft, but he has kept his eligibility open and there's a strong chance he returns, meaning Purdue should be tough again.
With NBA statuses still up the in the air, the transfer portal still open and more uncertainty, there are a lot of questions that can't be answered now. But here is how the rest of the schedules look.
Illinois
Home: Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska.
Away: Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin.
Home/away: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers.
Indiana
Home: Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern.
Away: Illinois, Michigan, Rutgers.
Home/away: Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin.
Iowa
Home: Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers.
Away: Indiana, Michigan State, Northwestern.
Home/away: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin.
Maryland
Home: Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue.
Away: Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin.
Home/away: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers.
Minnesota
Home: Maryland, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
Away: Illinois, Michigan, Purdue.
Home/away: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State
Nebraska
Home: Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue.
Away: Illinois, Iowa, Maryland.
Home/away: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
Northwestern
Home: Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State.
Away: Indiana, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
Home/away: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue.
Ohio State
Home: Illinois, Maryland, Purdue.
Away: Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern.
Home/away: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
Penn State
Home: Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin.
Away: Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers.
Home/away: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State.
Purdue
Home: Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State.
Away: Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State.
Home/away: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Northwestern, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
Rutgers
Home: Indiana, Northwestern, Penn State.
Away: Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota.
Home/away: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin
Home: Illinois, Maryland, Northwestern.
Away: Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State.
Home/away: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball, Michigan to play twice next season