How well we remember Michigan State's opening travel itinerary to the men's basketball season.  The aircraft carrier game in San Diego where the Spartans gave top ranked North Carolina a good game but just didn't have enough.  Then it was back home for a quick turnaround and trip to New York to face Duke and that produced another loss with Mike Krzyzewski breaking Bob Knight's career coaching victory record.  MSU started 0-2 and travel was a big factor right?

      Well it could be a bigger factor this year.  The 10-hour trip to Germany and a midnight game can't be easy on anyone.  The Spartans are favored over U Conn, but what if they don't win?  Then it's ten more hours back home, a quick change and a quick prep for Kansas the nation's 7th ranked team on Tuesday night in Atlanta.  That's asking a lot and not even NBA teams have to deal with such a regimen.

     Tom Izzo knew what he was getting into but he wanted the German trip because his players wanted it.  And it does start the season off in a special way.   And it's a long season too so the first couple of non conference games may not mean much.  But then again what if MSU starts 2-0 with all that travel?