Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Ranked No. 18 In Associated Press Preseason Top 25
10/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's basketball team is ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. The Spartans are one of five Big Ten teams ranked, joining No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 20 Ohio State, No. 21 Nebraska and No. 24 Michigan.
MSU could play three of the teams in the preseason Top 5. In addition to playing No. 3 Wisconsin in Big Ten action (March 1) and No. 4 Duke in the second game of the season (Nov. 18), the Spartans could face No. 5 Kansas in the Orlando Classic.
In addition to the five ranked Big Ten teams, four more conference squads received votes, including Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, and Illinois.
The Spartans return three of their top six scorers from last season, led by Sporting News preseason All-American Branden Dawson. MSU opens exhibition play on Monday, Nov. 3 vs. The Master's College (7 p.m.). The season opener will be Nov. 14 at Navy in the Veterans Classic.
