Men's Basketball Schedule Released...Welcome Spartans. What is your profession?

(Note:  thanks to a commenter who caught a couple mistakes in the original post.  Note:  more coffee before blogging).

Earlier in the week, the athletic department built a little anticipation by letting us know that a Final Four team from last year would be on our schedule this year, and appearing in the Stroh Center during its second season of operation.  The answer to that has been revealed....

It is Michigan State (2 for 1)!  I think this is a great get for our program, and full compliments all around.  It will be a great part of the second season at the Stroh.  I also give Tom Izzo credit for taking his team on the road.  He did not have to.  Maybe that's why his team keeps making the Final Four.  Just thinking out loud.

Beyond that, this year's schedule is very interesting.  We play at Michigan and Michigan State, St. Louis Detroit, and Wisconsin Milwaukee, each a solid road test.  We also play at Howard as the season opener, which should be a game we can win.

We also play Albany and Niagara in Detroit as part of the Legends Classic.  Albany was 7-25 last year and lost their best scorer, and Niagara (a good program) was 18-13 and lost its top two scorers.  On a neutral court, you have to believe that those are both winnable games.

Now, the home schedule.

The premier opponent is Western Kentucky, who will be there while classes are still in session.  They are a top-flight mid-major program and we are glad to have them coming in.

Also, Duquesne will play in BG.  They were .500 in a very tough conference last season, and have a very consistent program that plays up-tempo and is a good challenge for our style.

Also, Texas San-Antonio will visit BG.  It may not sound like much, but they were 18-11 last season, and return two of their top three scorers.

Also coming in is Manhattan, which has had a Big Dance run in the recent past, though had a rough season last year.

And, of course, what season would be complete without Isaiah Thomas and his FIU Golden Panthers coming into Anderson Arena.

We have only one non-D1 game, and that's Ohio Dominican.

The conference schedule is what it is.....we are at UT, and at CMU so Trey Zeigler will not play in BG until the Stroh Center opens (barring a MAC tourney game).

And, of course, the last regular season game at Anderson Arena will be either March 4 or 5...against Buffalo.  Apparently, we are awaiting TV confirmation of that.  Mark your calendars now.

Overall, this is a really interesting, quality schedule.  I'm looking forward to seeing the team compete against it, and kudos to our program for putting it together.

Nov. 6 ADRIAN (EXHIBITION) 2 p.m.
Nov. 12 at Howard TBA
Nov. 15 OHIO DOMINICAN TBA
Nov. 18 at Michigan (Legends Classic) TBA
Nov. 22 DUQUESNE 7 p.m.
Nov. 26 vs. Niagara (Legends Classic at Detroit) 5 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Detroit (Legends Classic) 7 p.m.
Nov. 28 vs. Albany (Legends Classic at Detroit) 3 p.m.
Dec. 4 at Michigan State TBA
Dec. 8 WESTERN KENTUCKY 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 2 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee TBA
Dec. 22 MANHATTAN 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 TEXAS SAN ANTONIO TBA
Jan. 1 at St. Louis TBA
Jan. 8 at Buffalo* TBA
Jan. 11 at Kent State* TBA
Jan. 16 MIAMI (OHIO)* TBA
Jan. 19 OHIO* TBA
Jan. 22 at Akron* TBA
Jan. 26 at Toledo* TBA
Jan. 29 EASTERN MICHIGAN* TBA
Feb. 2 at Northern Illinois* TBA
Feb. 5 WESTERN MICHIGAN* TBA
Feb. 9 BALL STATE* TBA
Feb. 12 at Central Michigan* TBA
Feb. 15 AKRON* TBA
Feb. 19 at TBA (ESPN BracketBusters) TBA
Feb. 23 at Ohio* TBA
Feb. 26 at Miami* TBA
March 1 KENT STATE* TBA
March 4/5 BUFFALO* TBA