'They better respect us' - Grace VanSlooten and Michigan State ready to tip-off

EAST LANSING – Michigan State head women’s basketball coach Robyn Fralick is entering year three of her tenure in East Lansing. And while she and her staff have spent the first two establishing a culture while making consecutive NCAA Tournaments, you get the feeling that Fralick is ready for the program to take that next step. Fralick has led the Spartans to a mark of 44-19 during her first two seasons. In her first season, Michigan State went out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament with a loss to North Carolina. Last season, the Spartans earned a first round win over Harvard before bowing out to NC State in the second round. Of course, the natural progression would be for Michigan State to make a third-straight NCAA Tournament and win their first two games but let’s not forget, the newly recalibrated Big Ten sent 12 teams to the NCAA Tournament last season. So before we start penciling in postseason wins this group will need to master the rigors of conference play. Michigan State will open the regular season tonight (Tuesday) at home against Mercyhurst. The team’s Big Ten season will begin at Wisconsin on Dec. 7. Here are three things to watch as Michigan State women’s basketball season begins: (MORE inside SpartanMag. Join SpartanMag now - $1 for the first week - and enjoy a complimentary year of The Athletic included with your membership.)