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It’s nothing new to Spartan fans—and Tom Izzo fans alike—that Izzo loves to put his teams through the ringer early and often.
Michigan State’s non-conference schedule has become notorious for being loaded with some of the top teams the nation has to offer. Year after year, Izzo thrives on throwing his squad into battle-tested matchups as soon as the season tips off, and he does it for a reason.
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It reveals what this team really is.
Just because you wear “State” across your chest and don the green and white doesn’t mean opponents will roll over. If anything, it’s the opposite. For many programs, a matchup against Michigan State sits at the top of the “bring everything you’ve got” list. Teams want to take down the top dogs—and Izzo has made sure the Spartans have been one of those programs for the better part of three decades.
So, it came as no surprise when it was announced Wednesday that the Spartans will face the Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball on the road during the 2026–27 season.
Tennessee finished last season ranked No. 24 in the AP Top 25 and entered the NCAA Tournament as a six-seed. Once March hit, though, they found another gear. The Volunteers made a deep run, knocking off 11-seed Miami (OH), then taking down three-seed Virginia. They kept rolling, defeating two-seed Iowa State to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight.
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Their run finally ended at the hands of the eventual national champions, the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball, who shut down Tennessee’s Cinderella story. Still, the Volunteers remain a formidable opponent. Despite losing J.P. Estrella to Michigan via the transfer portal, Tennessee reloaded with four key additions and appears poised to field an even stronger roster.
With that addition, Michigan State’s list of marquee non-conference opponents continues to grow—and it’s nothing short of loaded.
Alongside Tennessee, the Spartans are set to face UConn Huskies men’s basketball, the very team…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/michigan-state-doesn-t-back-154827781.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-30 15:48:00
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