Comp on Hoops: Glad to see Tom Izzo get back to 'Schedule from Hell'

EAST LANSING, Mich. - It’s good to see Michigan State get back to loading up November and December with a murderous non-conference schedule. Last year, I mentioned that the Spartans had obviously softened up their non-conference schedule, as a reaction to the new 20-game Big Ten slate. There just isn’t much room for Izzo’s usual penchant for tough games, and the losses that can come with it, when you’re saddled with important conference games in early December. When Tom Izzo earned his reputation for scheduling anyone, anytime anywhere, the Big Ten schedule was only 16 games. Now that it's 20, that's four fewer chances to load up with W's in the pre-conference season. Izzo used to use those four slots for two tough opponents and two cupcakes. Michigan State used to have 14 non-conference games. Now it's 10. That makes it harder to schedule as Izzo did in 2000 when he played UConn, North Carolina, South Carolina, Providence, Texas, Kansas, Arizona and Kentucky. (MORE inside SpartanMag. Join SpartanMag now - $1 for the first week - and enjoy a complimentary year of The Athletic included with your membership.)