Michigan State released its 2018-19 men's basketball schedule on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by 15 games against teams that appeared in the 2018 postseason, including 11 against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams.   In addition, five opponents are ranked in either the Sporting News, ESPN or CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 polls.

The 2018-19 schedule features a 20-game Big Ten Conference schedule and a 17-game home schedule, along with appearances in the Champions Classic, the Las Vegas Invitational and the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

The Big Ten expands to a 20-game conference schedule in 2018-19, with each team playing seven opponents (both home and away) and then playing six opponents once (three at home and three away).

Michigan State will play both home and away against Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue and Rutgers.  In addition, Big Ten opponents to visit the Breslin Center include Maryland, Minnesota and Northwestern.  The Spartans will play road games against Illinois, Penn State and Wisconsin.

Eight opponents appeared in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, including non-conference opponents Kansas, UCLA, Texas, North Carolina and Florida, as well as conference foes Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue.  Four opponents played in the 2018 National Invitation Tournament, Florida Gulf Coast, Louisville, Nebraska and Penn State.

The Spartans open the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, Oct. 30, hosting Northern Michigan in an exhibition game at the Breslin Center.  This will be the sixth all-time exhibition game against Northern Michigan, the alma mater of head coach Tom Izzo.

The regular season starts on Tuesday, Nov. 6, with the Spartans playing Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic on ESPN.  The games will be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Big Ten Tournament returns to Chicago, from Wednesday, March 13 to Sunday, March 17 at the United Center.
Times and television for all games will be announced at a later date.

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