By ADAM ZAGORIA
Michigan State could end up facing three ACC schools in non-conference play this season: Duke, Virginia and Notre Dame.
Head coach Tom Izzo said Thursday on a Zoom call that he expected to play Duke in the Champions Classic (which is being relocated from Orlando, possibly to Indianapolis).
It was announced Thursday that Michigan will play Virginia in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 9.
The matchup with Virginia will be unique as it matches MSU redshirt junior Joey Hauser up against his older brother, Sam Hauser, a redshirt senior for the Cavaliers. The brothers will be in their first year at their respective schools following a transfer from Marquette after the 2018-19 season. The duo helped Stevens Point Area High School to back-to-back state championships in 2015 and 2016.
Izzo also mentioned a possible MTE involving Notre Dame, and a source said Western Michigan was the third team involved in that potential event.
As first reported on ZAGSBLOG earlier this month, and made official Wednesday by Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman, the Gavitt Games between Big East and Big Ten schools won’t happen this year due to the pandemic.
The Big Ten schedule is not out yet, but Izzo said, “Hoping in the next few days, we’re going to have it.”
“This scheduling thing is driving us crazy, it’s driving you crazy,” Izzo added.
This post has been updated.
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