Good morning. Let's get right to the day-after Michigan State post.

It's been a rough stretch for Gonzaga. The Zags lost to Michigan State, picked third in Big Ten preseason poll, and Illinois, picked sixth, both by seven points, seven days apart. Here are the links: S-R game story, John Blanchette column and Dan Pelle photos. Here are gamers from A.P., the Lansing State-Journal and Grand Rapids Press, a column from the Detroit Free Press and another recap from Rivals.com.

A couple of alarm bells ringing after this one. For the second straight game, GU's defense was an issue. Illinois blistered GU with 53 percent shooting and MSU drained 54 percent. The Spartans average 74.8 points per game, but their season averages were 46 percent on field goals, 30.4 percent on 3s and 67.7 percent at the line. They were well above those averages (54.2% FG and 46.2% on 3s), the exception coming at the line (64%) where they missed several free throws late. After Illinois hung 82 on Gonzaga, it mustered just 48 in a sloppy win over St. Bonaventure.

Read on.

Back with game story from Gonzaga's 74-67 home loss to Michigan State on Saturday night. The Bulldogs are running out of non-conference resume-building opportunities after suffering back-to-back losses to Illinois and MSU. GU has a home date with Butler, Arizona in Seattle and then a tough road trip to Xavier, which actually comes a few days after the Zags open the WCC slate against Portland.

Draymond Green lit up GU with 34 points, even more impressive considering he attempted just 13 field goals.

Here's a link to my game story and check back tomorrow for a day-after post.

Gonzaga and Michigan State are less than an hour from tipping off at the MAC. I had some kids' duties earlier today, so I haven't been able to post ex-Zag Jeremy Pargo signing with Memphis and former Zag Ronny Turiaf being traded to Washington.

GU-MSU in-game updates at twitter.com/srjimm.

Gonzaga's tough non-conference home schedule heats up big-time when Michigan State (7-2) visits Saturday night. The Spartans aren't ranked, but they're one of the storied programs in college basketball. Here's my advance that will run in Saturday's S-R.

Gonzaga returned to practice Monday in preparation for Saturday's date with Michigan State. The Spartans defeated visiting Gonzaga 75-71 two years ago.

Checked in with Gary Bell Jr., who was one of the first players on the practice floor Monday, for an update on his right knee, as well as Robert Sacre for an update on his neck. Both seemed fine during practice and went at it hard. Here's my GU notebook that ran in Tuesday's S-R.

Adam Morrison and Jeremy Pargo visited practice. Morrison, by the way, left many Zag defenders shaking their heads as he hit step-back jumpers from all over the court. He drilled on fadeaway 3-pointer over 7-foot Kelly Olynyk from 23 feet. As Olynyk went back in line under the hoop, Pargo told him, “You're all right, nothing you can do about that.”

An interesting and physical contest Tuesday at the Breslin Center as Michigan State used a late comeback to edge the Bulldogs 75-71.

Gonzaga went toe-to-toe with the Spartans and it looked like they might withstand one last MSU rally. But Durrell Summers drained a 3-pointer with 3 minutes left that launched the Spartans on a 10-4 closing run to pull out the victory.

Below you can find an unedited article that will run in Wednesday’s S-R. At the very bottom is the AP article.

Gonzaga led most of the way, but Durrell Summers’ 3-pointer with 3 minutes left gave Michigan State a lead it wouldn’t relinquish and the Spartans won, 75-71.

Summers had 21 points and Kalin Lucas 19 for MSU. Robert Sacre and Elias Harris each scored 17 for Gonzaga. Matt Bouldin added 15 points.  

Check back for the game story in about 45 minutes.

A roundup of items prior to Gonzaga facing Michigan State tonight in Lansing, Mich.

Read on.

It wasn’t the type of proposal that Mark Few could look at and say, ‘Geez, thanks, but no thanks.’

And that’s one of the reasons why Gonzaga, with perhaps its most inexperienced team, will tangle with No. 2 Michigan State on Tuesday in the Breslin Center, one of college basketball’s toughest venues. The Spartans return three starters and 12 letter-winners from last year’s squad, which lost to North Carolina in the national championship game. UNC beat Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 on its title march.

It’s one of the two marquee games on ESPN’s Tip-Off Marathon (24-hour hoops bonanza, 12 straight games): GU-Michigan State at 5 Pacific, followed by Memphis-No. 1 Kansas. Michigan State will visit the Kennel in two years.

Read on for more on the game and links at the bottom.

A week or so after it was learned that Gonzaga and Duke are talking about a possible matchup in New York City comes the news that the Bulldogs and Michigan State are discussing a two-game series, according to the Detroit News. More here.

It’s not much but here’s a short article in the Dallas Morning News on G.J. Vilarino committing to Gonzaga.