Frequent Flier Miles: Michigan State Spartans' 2011-12 Schedule Released

Even with college football kicking into high gear, it is never too soon for a Spartan fan to start thinking about March.

The Michigan State Spartans' 2011-12 season schedule was released yesterday and the number one thing that stands out is the amount of traveling the men in green will endure.

Sparty and company will visit both coastlines (the west coast twice) before Big Ten play begins.

Seniors Draymond Green and Delvon Roe will need to lead the way for a young Spartan team that has potential, but question marks nonetheless.  

Tom Izzo's team will definitely need their shield and swords as the Spartans will be thrown into battle from the onset of the season.

The much-hyped game against North Carolina—to be played on an aircraft carrier in San Diego, California—will be a great kickoff for the college basketball season. The Spartans have the talent for an upset, but unless the ocean breeze is blowing just right, don't plan on an opening game win.

If opening the season against one of the national title favorites doesn't get you motivated, four days later the Spartans will play UNC's hated Tobacco Road neighbor, Duke, in New York's Madison Square Garden.

I hope all of the Spartans signed up for their frequent flier miles.

After a tough first week of basketball, where an 0-2 start is a real possibility, the Spartans will get some home cooking against inferior opponents and won't have to travel outside of the state of Michigan for nearly a month.

Florida State's appearance in East Lansing (November 30th) for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge will be a good gauge on how the Spartans' season should play out. A win here should boost the confidence, and look good on an NCAA tournament resume.

The following week will be trying for the Spartans as they play Sunday (Nebraska-Omaha), Wednesday (Central Conn. St.), and then travel for a second time to the west coast for a prime time game against Mark Few's Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday.

If the Spartans can take care of business against the cupcakes, and can split the four marquee games, they will be sitting just fine at 11-2, and well on their way for another trip to the Big Dance.

Michigan State's Big Ten schedule looks manageable and a 10-8 record should be the minimum.

However, never count out a Tom Izzo coached team. If the team can mesh and the young players step up, no one would be surprised if the Spartans are right in the thick of things for the Big Ten title.

Five games in 12 days (Feb. 16-28), which includes games against Wisconsin, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and Indiana, will be the key stretch for the Spartan's Big Ten title hopes and NCAA seeding.

Hopefully Spartan fans do not get too worked up if this team struggles out of the gate as 0-2 is a real possibility.

It would be nice to see the Spartans take care of business against FSU and Gonzaga, but even if they don't, the Spartans still have enough talent to make some noise in the Big Ten and get to the 20 win plateau, which will almost guarantee them a 15th straight NCAA tournament appearance.

What are your thoughts on how the Spartan's season will turn out? Leave your comments below.

Michigan State Spartans 2011-12 Compete Schedule

October

Sun 30 FERRIS STATE (Exhib.) (BTN.com) East Lansing, Mich. 2 p.m.

November
Fri. 4 HILLSDALE (Exhib.) (BTN.com) East Lansing, Mich. 7 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON

Carrier Classic

Fri. 11 vs. North Carolina (ESPN) San Diego, Calif. 7 p.m.

Champions Classic

 
Tues. 15 vs. Duke (ESPN) New York, N.Y. 7 p.m.

Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational
Fri. 18 TEXAS SOUTHERN East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Sun. 20 ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 6 p.m.
Wed. 23 MILWAUKEE (BTN.com) East Lansing, Mich. 7 p.m.
Sun. 27 at Eastern Michigan Ypsilanti, Mich. TBA

Wed. 30 FLORIDA STATE (ESPN) East Lansing, Mich. 7:30 p.m.

December

Sun 4 NEBRASKA OMAHA East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Wed. 7 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Sat. 10 at Gonzaga (ESPN2) Spokane, Wash. 9 p.m.
Sat. 17 BOWLING GREEN (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 7 p.m.
Mon. 19 UMKC (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 8:30 p.m.
Thu. 22 LEHIGH East Lansing, Mich. TBA
Wed. 28 INDIANA (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 7:30 p.m.
Sat. 31 at Nebraska (Big Ten Network) Lincoln, Neb. 3 p.m.

January

Tues. 3 at Wisconsin (ESPN2) Madison, Wis. 7 p.m.
Tues. 10 IOWA (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 7 p.m.
Sat. 14 at Northwestern (Big Ten Network) Evanston, Ill. 3 p.m.
Tues. 17 at Michigan (ESPN) Ann Arbor, Mich. 7 p.m.
Sat. 21 PURDUE (ESPN) East Lansing, Mich. 12 p.m.
Wed. 25 MINNESOTA (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 8:30 p.m.
Tues. 31 at Illinois (ESPN) Champaign, Ill. 7 p.m.

February

Sun. 5 MICHIGAN (CBS) East Lansing, Mich. 1 p.m.
Wed. 8 PENN STATE (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 6:30 p.m.
Sat. 11 Ohio State (ESPN) Columbus, Ohio 6 p.m.
Thurs. 16 WISCONSIN (ESPN/ESPN2) East Lansing, Mich. 7 p.m.
Sun. 19 at Purdue (CBS/Big Ten Network) West Lafayette, Ind. 1/4/6 p.m.
Wed. 22 at Minnesota (Big Ten Network) Minneapolis, Minn. 8:30 p.m.
Sat. 25 NEBRASKA (Big Ten Network) East Lansing, Mich. 8 p.m.
Tues. 28 at Indiana (ESPN) Bloomington, Ind. 7 p.m.

March

Sun. 4 OHIO STATE (Big Ten Network/ESPN/CBS) East Lansing, Mich. 12/1/4 p.m.