Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Tabbed No. 13 in USA Today Coaches Poll
10/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State men's basketball team enters the 2015-16 season ranked No. 13 by the USA Today Coaches Poll, released on Thursday. The Spartans schedule features five ranked opponents, including two in the top five and another possible opponent also ranked in the top 10.
The Big Ten Conference is represented by five teams in the nation's first poll, led by Maryland at No. 3. Joining MSU and the Terrapins are Indiana at No. 15, No. 17 Wisconsin and No. 24 Purdue. Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State all received votes. The Big Ten and Big 12 lead all conferences with five programs in the top 25.
Michigan State's first game versus a ranked opponent this season comes on Nov. 17 in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago against No. 5 Kansas. The Jayhawks enter the year as MSU's highest-ranked non-conference foe.
The Spartans round out the month of November in the Wooden Legacy, which features No. 10 Arizona, along with Boise State and Providence who are receiving votes.
Kentucky and North Carolina shared the top spot in the poll, as Maryland, Duke and Kansas rounded out the top five, respectively.
MSU opens the new campaign on Nov. 13 against Florida Atlantic at the Breslin Center. The Spartans are coming off their nation's best seventh Final Four appearance in the last 17 years.
