Michigan State basketball reportedly playing Arizona in 2023-24

Michigan State basketball will reportedly be playing Arizona this upcoming season on Thanksgiving day.

Tom Izzo had a post-season wrap-up press conference earlier today, and he released some interesting Michigan State basketball news.

“I think we’re playing Arizona out in Palm Springs,” Izzo said.

Since then, it’s also been reported that the game will take place in Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif.

NEWS: Arizona and Michigan State will play a neutral site game on Thanksgiving Day in Palm Springs, according to multiple sources.

The game will be televised on the FOX Broadcast Network after the Detroit Lions' annual game on Thanksgiving Day.https://t.co/VrkHP4XeiZ

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 12, 2023

Arizona has been a powerhouse in their last two seasons under Tommy Lloyd and will potentially be the preseason favorite to win the Pac-12 next season. A matchup between these two powerhouse programs could be very fun to watch.

The last time Michigan State played against Arizona was in 2016 in a non-conference game at the Stan Sheriff Center in Hawaii. Arizona won by two in the previous meeting, 65-63. They were led by Kobi Simmons, who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets, with 18 points. Current NBA player Lauri Markkanen added 13 points as well.

On the Michigan State end, Miles Bridges had 21 points and Nick Ward and Matt McQuaid both added nine. 

Arizona leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 4-2.

Rosters are anything but set right now, but looking ahead Jon Rothstein has Michigan State ranked No. 5 in his preseason “Rothstein 45″ poll. He projects the starting lineup to consist of A.J. Hoggard, Tyson Walker, Jaden Akins, Malik Hall, and Xavier Booker.

Rothstein has Arizona just outside the top 10, at No. 11. He projects their starting lineup to have Kylan Boswell, Pelle Larsson, and KJ Lewis on the perimeter, and Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo down low.

Tubelis and Ballo formed arguably the best big-man duo in the country this past season. It would be an early test for freshman Xavier Booker as well as returning bigs Mady Sissoko and Carson Cooper.

One of Michigan State’s weakest attributes this past season was the consistent play from the center position, and a matchup with the Wildcats provides an early test.