B1G Nonconference Schedule Rankings (FINAL): Michigan State (12 of 12 complete)

[SelectionSunday]

Games vs. North Carolina, Duke, Florida State and Gonzaga, and only one of those (FSU) is on Sparty's home court. 5 top-100 opponents & 5 NCAA qualifiers. It's easy to comprehend why year in & year out Izzo receives so much praise for his nonconference schedules.

Opponents' 2010-11 RPI are noted in parentheses.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Nov. 11: vs. North Carolina (6) -- San Diego
Nov. 15: vs. Duke (4) -- New York
Nov. 18: TEXAS SOUTHERN (191) -- Spartan Invitational
Nov. 20: UALR (188) -- Spartan Invitational
Nov. 23: MILWAUKEE (93) -- Spartan Invitational
Nov. 27: @ Eastern Michigan (324) -- Spartan Invitational
Nov. 30: FLORIDA STATE (55)
Dec. 7: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT (146)
Dec. 10: @ Gonzaga (56)
Dec. 17: BOWLING GREEN (245)
Dec. 19: UMKC (212)
Dec. 22: LEHIGH (205)

Home/Road/Neutral Split: 8/2/2
Average RPI of All Nonconference Opponents: 143.75
Average RPI of Home Nonconference Opponents: 166.875
Top-100 Opponents (5): Duke, Florida State, Gonzaga, Milwaukee, North Carolina
NCAA Qualifiers (5): Duke (Sweet 16), Florida State (Sweet 16), Gonzaga (3rd round), North Carolina (Elite 8), UALR (First 4)
Other Postseason Qualifiers (2): Milwaukee (NIT 1st round), Texas Southern (NIT 1st round)
Game to Watch: vs. North Carolina
Chalk Up the W: Lehigh
Projected Nonconference Record: 10-2

Schedule Note: North Carolina and then Duke -- albeit on neutral courts -- to open your season? Not even a cupcake beforehand or in between? That's insanity.

B1G Nonconference (Overall) Schedule Rankings (FINAL)
1. Michigan State (143.75)
2. Illinois (152.583)
3. Ohio State (154)
4. GOPHERS (162.181)
5. Purdue (169.7)
6. Wisconsin (171.083)
7. Penn State (171.666)
8. Indiana (192.615)
9. Michigan (197.7)
10. Iowa (206.923)
11. Northwestern (209.6)
12. Nebraska (210.909)

B1G Nonconference (Home) Schedule Rankings (FINAL)
1. GOPHERS (155)
2. Michigan State (166.875)
3. Ohio State (169.727)
4. Wisconsin (191.222)
5. Illinois (203.75)
6. Penn State (215.375)
7. Indiana (223.4)
8. Purdue (224.587)
9. Northwestern (225.428)
10. Iowa (231.7)
11. Nebraska (240.25)
12. Michigan (271.333)
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2010-11 Final B1G Nonconference (Overall) Schedule Rankings
1. Michigan State (123.454)
2. Penn State (138.545)
3. Illinois (140.23)
4. Michigan (141)
5. Purdue (143.75)
6. Ohio State (145.692)
7. GOPHERS (153.25)
8. Wisconsin (167.166)
9. Indiana (189.846)
10. Iowa (192)
11. Northwestern (207.09)
12. Nebraska (218.142)

2010-11 Final B1G Nonconference (Home) Schedule Rankings
1. Penn State (153.222)
2. Illinois (165)
3. Ohio State (166.454)
4. Michigan (173.111)
5. Purdue (180)
6. GOPHERS (181.5)
7. Northwestern (196.857)
8. Michigan State (206.166)
9. Wisconsin (222.428)
10. Iowa (233.571)
11. Indiana (247.333)
12. Nebraska (250.818)