The Big is really weak

[MSOrange]

Izzo is scheduling hard because if he wins he has scalps for the NCAA seeding. If he loses then it doesn't harm in the minds of the committee. Also so his teams are ready for the tournament against good teams.

Look at the schedule's Izzo does for mediocre teams
2003–04 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team - Wikipedia
In 03-04 he played
At top 10 Kansas
Top 10 Oklahoma in Detroit
top 10 Kentucky at Ford Field
Top 10 Duke at home
At top 20 Syracuse

All in one nonconference season.
That team went 18-12.

Izzo even admitted he got carried away this year and apologized to the team. They've really been hit hard by injuries losing Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter for the whole year, Miles Bridges missed some games and then Eron Harris at the end of the year