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Michigan State basketball's tough schedule backed up by NET rankings; Big Ten slate next

EAST LANSING — The grind of the Big Ten season begins Wednesday for Michigan State basketball.

Not that the Spartans aren’t already eyeball deep in it, with their annual nonconference gauntlet slowly coming to an end.

The first NET rankings of the season came out Monday, and MSU has the toughest schedule of any high-major program in Division I — more impressive during a time of year that usually is dominated by low- to mid-major schools playing guarantee games against the big boys.

“We said our strength the schedule is always good,” Izzo said Monday, “but it doesn't seem to get the credit.