Previewing & Predicting MSU's Next Challenge vs. Northern Iowa

Michigan State has already proven it can be great this year. That's the standard from here on out.

The fifth-ranked Spartans (3-0) are hearing nothing but good stuff (at least from the outside distractors) following a statement 79-73 win over No. 2 Duke on Tuesday. The win is actually good enough that MSU is second in the country in WAB (1.0), according to Torvik, though it's probably too early to throw out resume-based stats. The Spartans' next challenge is...Northern Iowa (2-1).

This is both a letdown and a lookahead spot with a road game at No. 11 Tennessee on the horizon, which can be a pretty bad combo. Tom Izzo also loves packing his non-conference schedule with feisty mid-majors;…