A couple of observations:
1) This is a tough schedule from a home/away standpoint. We start the season with two true road games @ Ball State (a decent team) and @ Green Bay. We also start the conference season on the road at Loyola. Regardless of how good you think Loyola will be this year, starting the conference schedule on the road is almost a guaranteed L.
2) Travel in the non-conference is going to be a beating this year. Going to the west coast to play San Jose State will be hard enough, but the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii being right before the conference schedule begins will be very challenging. A lot of schools don't like playing in the Diamond Head Classic for that very reason. I know, I know...players should be tougher...blah blah blah. It's still a major factor no matter what.
3) Overall, this is a pretty tough non-conference schedule, and if the goal was to schedule the toughest opponents possible I think we did a pretty good job. It may be too tough, honestly, but Lansing likes it this way. Everyone just better be prepared for us to be under .500 to start the conference season.