The Week Ahead In MSU Sports

5 days ago7 min read

Alright, Spartans, the holiday plates are cleared, the wrapping paper’s in the bin, and it’s time to lock back in. The break was nice, but let’s be real—the real gift is a packed week of MSU action across the board.We’ve got hoops, both men’s and women’s, hitting the hardwood, and hockey looking to keep its roll going in a holiday tournament. It’s the kind of schedule that makes you want to clear the DVR and stock the fridge, a classic post-Christmas hoops-and-pucks feast for any green-and-white diehard.First up, the men’s basketball squad, sitting pretty at 11-1, has what looks on paper like a classic ‘trap game’ sandwich. They host Cornell at the Breslin on Monday night.You know the drill with these Ivy League games—never as easy as the record suggests, full of smart, disciplined teams that can shoot you out of the gym if you’re sleepwalking. It’s the perfect tune-up, though, because the real main event drops on Friday: a road trip to Lincoln to face a Nebraska team that, as of now, is sitting at a surprising 12-0.That record might shift before tip-off, but the point stands—the Cornhuskers are for real this year, and Pinnacle Bank Arena is a tough place to play. This isn’t just another Big Ten opener; it’s a massive early statement game.A win there, on the road, against an undefeated conference foe? That’s the kind of victory that echoes in March, the kind that tells the committee you can win anywhere. The women’s team, mirroring the men at 11-1, has its own heavyweight bout looming.They tip off the week against Rutgers at home on Sunday, but all eyes are on the New Year’s Day showdown at Indiana. Assembly Hall in Bloomington is a fortress, and Indiana, perennial Big Ten powerhouses, will be a brutal test.This is where championship mettle gets forged. The narrative here is about resilience and depth; can the Spartans go into one of the league’s most hostile environments and steal a win to kick off 2025? Meanwhile, over on the ice, the hockey team is carrying serious momentum into the Great Lakes Invitational in Grand Rapids.At 12-4-0, they’re having a season that’s turning heads nationally. They open against Ferris State, but the tournament format means a potential second-day clash with either Michigan Tech or Miami (OH).This GLI isn’t just another trophy; it’s a legacy event for Michigan State hockey, a chance to plant a flag in-state and build crucial momentum heading into the back half of the season. For a program on the rise, winning holiday tournaments is a habit of champions.So, what’s the big picture? This week is a microcosm of the entire athletic department’s winter: loaded with opportunity and peril. Every game matters, but these specific matchups—the road tests in basketball, the in-state tournament for hockey—carry extra weight for postseason positioning and pure bragging rights.

#Michigan State Spartans

#college basketball schedule

#Big Ten conference

#hockey

#Great Lakes Invitational

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