re: Is this the worst MSU nonconference basketball schedule ever?

Agree. Old student section was perfect. New set up sucks. Howland deliberately did a crap schedule to win some games. With this group, that was a good call.
Next year, I look for us to have a loaded schedule.
But for this year, to be any kind of threat for a tournament bid, we have to be undefeated in OOC games.