Michigan State Basketball: 2020-21 Non-Conference Schedule Analysis
Michigan State has all but officially released it's non-conference schedule for the 2020-21 campaign. Kyle Austin of MLive first reported this complete schedule.
That means we know Michigan State's entire non-con:
— Kyle Austin (@kylebaustin) November 17, 2020
Nov. 25: Eastern Michigan
Nov. 28 Notre Dame
Dec. 1 Duke
Dec. 4 Detroit
Dec. 6 Western Michigan
Dec. 9 Virginia
Dec. 13 Oakland
A look on a game-by-game basis:
November 25: vs Eastern Michigan
2019-20: The Eagles finished 16-16 a season ago, though they beat four non-D1 opponents.
Key Returning Players: Ty Groce (G) 11.5 PPG; Noah Morgan (G) 10.0 PPG; Yeikson Montero (G) 9.4 PPG
Notable Newcomers: Drew Lowder (transfer, G, Holy Cross, 14.1 PPG); James Love (transfer, F, Kansas State, 0.3 PPG in 2018-19)
Series History: Michigan State leads 31-3
Last Meeting: Michigan State 101-48 in 2019
Thoughts: This will be a good opener for the Spartans. The Eagles do return some top scorers, but Michigan State beat them by 53 a season ago. I don't think they win by 53 again, but it will be a comfortable victory that allows the Spartans to test out a variety of lineup combinations.
November 28: Notre Dame
2019-20: The Fighting Irish went 20-12 a season ago. They were 10-10 in the ACC, finishing 6th.
Key Returning Players: Prentiss Hubb (G) 12.1 PPG, 5.1 APG; Dane Goodwin (G) 10.8 PPG
Notable Newcomers: Elijah Taylor (3* PF, Philadelphia, PA); Matt Zona (3* C, Oradell, NJ); Tony Sanders (3* SF, Miami, FL)
Series History: Notre Dame leads 60-36
Last Meeting: Michigan State 81-63 in 2017
Thoughts: This is a series that needs to happen more frequently. They are longtime rivals, but they have only played twice since 1979 (both B1G/ACC Challenge mandates). I'm glad to see that they are squaring off on the hardwood again this fall. Notre Dame has a gauntlet of a schedule, facing Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio State, Duke, Purdue, Syracuse, Virginia and Pitt in addition to the Spartans in their first ten games!
December 1: at Duke
2019-20: The Blue Devils were 25-6 last year. They finished in a tie for second place in the ACC (15-5)
Key Returning Players: Matthew Hurt (G) 9.7 PPG, 39.3%3P
Notable Newcomers: Jalen Johnson (5* SF, Milwaukee, WI); Jeremy Roach (5* PG, Fairfax, VA); DJ Steward (5* G, Chicago, IL); Mark Williams (5* C, Bradenton, FL); Jaemyn Brakefield (4* PF, Huntington, WV); Henry Coleman (4* PF, Fairfax, VA), Patrick Tape (transfer, PF, Columbia, 11.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG in 2018-19)
Series History: Duke leads 13-3
Last Meeting: Duke 87-75 in 2019
Thoughts: In what is supposed to be the Champions Classic, the Spartans will visit Cameron. It will be a new look Duke team, as they don't bring much back. But their stellar recruiting class, led by Jalen Johnson, will be a challenge. Coach K also landed a key transfer in Patrick Tape. The Spartans will be tested on the road, though the hostile environment won't quite be the same.
December 4: vs Detroit
2019-20: The Titans were 8-23. They were 6-12 in the Horizon League.
Key Returning Players: Antoine Davis (G) 23.4 PPG; Dwayne Rose Jr (G) 7.3 PPG; Brad Calipari (G) 6.1 PPG; Willy Isiani (F) 4.9 PPG
Notable Newcomers: Taurean Thompson (transfer, F, Seton Hall, 4.6 PPG in 2018-19); Bol Kuol (transfer, F, Cal Baptist, 5.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG); Marquell Fraser (transfer, G, Idaho, 7.1 PPG); Matt Johnson (transfer, G, St. Bonaventure, 1.6 PPG)
Series History: Michigan State leads 45-16
Last Meeting: Michigan State 80-70 in 2001
Tom Izzo has played Detroit Mercy four times as head coach, and actually has lost three of them.
— Tony Paul (@TonyPaul1984) November 17, 2020
Thoughts: Of the four in-state games, I think I might be most excited for this game. Antoine Davis is one of the purest scorers in the country. He will be a handful for whomever is tasked with guarding him. This is a great test for the Spartans to prepare for the B1G. Mike Davis has gone back to the transfer portal and found a plethora of players to shore up the roster around Davis, and they run a high-volume offense that, if hot, could keep this interesting. Let's not forget that Mike Davis beat Tom Izzo at Texas Southern...
December 6: vs Western Michigan
2019-20: The Broncos were 13-19 in 2020-21. They went 6-12 in MAC play, firing longtime head coach Steve Hawkins.
Key Returning Players: B.Artis White (G) 7.3 PPG; Rafael Cruz Jr. (G) 7.1 PPG; Titus Wright (C) 6.2 PPG 4.0 RPG; Jason Whitens (G) 4.6 PPG; Kawanise Wilkins (G) 3.8 PPG 3.5 RPG
Notable Newcomers: Josiah Freeman (3* SG, Fairfax, VA); Greg Lee (transfer, F, CSU Bakersfield, 4.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG); Jaylon Holmes (transfer, G, Lincoln Trail College, 17.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
Series History: Michigan State leads 25-11
Last Meeting: Michigan State 95-62 in 2019
Thoughts: As Coach Hawkins left, so did their two best players (Michael Flowers and Brandon Johnson). New head coach Clayton Bates is in a rebuilding year, so this should be a good opportunity to shore up the depth before the showdown against Virginia. I imagine that we will hear about the UP connection once again between Tom Izzo and Jason Whitens (Powers North Central).
December 9: at Virginia
2019-20: The Cavaliers were 23-7 overall. They were 15-5 in the ACC and ranked #15 nationally.
Key Returning Players: Kihei Clark (G) 10.8 PPG, 5.9 APG; Jay Huff (F) 8.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG; Tomas Woldetensae (G) 6.6 PPG, 36.1%3P; Casey Morsell (G) 4.0 PPG
Notable Newcomers: Jabri Abdur-Rahim (4* SF, Blairstown, NJ); Reece Beekman (4* PG, Baton Rouge, LA); Carson McCorkle (3* SG, Greensboro, NC); Sam Hauser (transfer, F, Marquette, 14.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 45.9%FG); Trey Murphy (transfer, G, Rice, 13.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
Series History: Michigan State leads 5-0
Last Meeting: Michigan State 60-54 in 2015 NCAA Tournament
Thoughts: Tom Izzo stopped Tony Bennett's team from making two deep NCAA Tournament runs in consecutive seasons. These two have been two of the best coaches in the game the past decade, and they almost met for the 2019 National Championship. Add in the Hauser Bowl dynamic, and this is going to be must watch television. Thankfully this game is in Charlottesville, and we won't get a wet floor disaster that cancels the game, like the 2001 matchup.
December 13: vs Oakland
2019-20: The Golden Grizzlies were 14-19 overall and 8-10 in the Horizon League.
Key Returning Players: Rashad Williams (G) 19.5 PPG; Daniel Oladapo (F) 9.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG; Kevin Kangu (G) 5.2 PPG, 3.5 APG
Notable Newcomers: Zion Young (transfer, G, Western Illinois, 13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG); Jalen Moore (transfer, G, Olney Central, 19.3 PPG, 40.8%3P)
Series History: Michigan State leads 18-0
Last Meeting: Michigan State 72-49 in 2019
Thoughts: Greg Kampe's bunch usually gives Michigan State some fits, but the last two meetings have been blowouts. I wish that Michigan State would have gone to the O'Rena for this game, I wish they would visit again in this annual series. The Golden Grizzlies have some scorers, but they won't have enough weapons to hang around in the end.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter @NBT_Hoops42
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