Michigan State Escapes With a Win

• Prescott

  Gonzaga gave Sparty all they wanted in what was a grinder of a game.The Spartans trailed most of the game before hitting a couple of huge tree's to pull out a 75-71 win.Durrell Summers (21 points, 11 rebounds), Kalin Lucas (19 points, 5 assists), and a hobbled Raymar Morgan(16 points0 led the Spartans.
  Elias Harris and Robert Sacre led the Bulldogs with 17 points each. Senior guard, Matt Bouldin, added 15 points.
  
  Gonzaga continues to schedule anybody,anywhere as they wuill travel to Duke, Illinois, and Memphis.
• thedynasty1998

  

  You've got to respect the hell out of Gonzaga for playing the big boys every chance they get. And they are a very good team.
• Laley23

  

  I love Gonzaga for the way they have built their program. It is something even major programs should take note of. I also have to give credit to the other teams, not so much now since Gonzaga is respected, but before when Gonzaga was still "mid-major" for playing a team and possibly being "embarrassed". It certainly helped Gonzaga build their program to what it is now.
  
  I only wish the football teams around the country would show the same respect to Boise St as they try to build a program the way they did to Gonzaga back in the day.
• OneBuckeye

  

  Good win for Michigan State.. the zags are a team to take lightly.
• RiverRat13

  The Spartans have to worry a little about production out of their center position, don't they?
• Prescott

  Everybody should love Gonzaga. They don't hide on their home court waitng for a worthy opponent.Sometimes, I think the Zags over schedule, but it has been a formula that has gotten them national recognition.
  
  This year's team is interesting and without a real star. Boldin is experienced and solid, Gray can shoot it really well, and they have some size up front.
  
  They are playing for their 10th consecutive league title.I know the laegue isn't a great one, but 10 in a row is pretty impressive.
• reclegend22

  

  Gonzaga will be traveling to New York's Madison Square Garden to take on Duke.
  
  It's really amazing when you step back and look at what the Bulldogs have done since the tiny jesuit school reached the regional final in '99. Who would have imagined what has since unfolded? No one, I doubt, especially not after Monson left the program for Minnesota that summer. I bet he's played around with a gun in his hands on more than one occasion.
  
  It raises some questions, though. Why haven't other mid-majors seen this kind of sustainable success after big runs? Schools like Loyola Marymount had YEARS of success on the national stage, but quickly fizzled out. I'm not sure who replaced Paul Westhead at LMU, but I'm almost positive it was someone from his staff. So why didn't the success continue?
  
  Will the Zags' run end similarly to Vegas' run in the mid '90s? After about 15 years of major national success -- way more so than Gonzaga -- including Final Fours, national title game appearances, etc., UNLV all but vanished, never to be heard from again. Will this happen to Gonzaga, too? Or has the small Washington school built a power that is here for years and years to come.
  
  No one has the answer to that question, but I'd say Gonzaga will eventually fade away. But I hope not.
• thedynasty1998

  

  As long as Mark Few is the man in charge, they will stay relevant. Not only can he recruit on a national level now, but he's a great coach. His teams are always as well coached as anyone, and he has stayed loyal to Gonzaga which is why they have stayed near the top, while other mid majors have fell off when coaches leave for bigger schools.
  
  As for production for Michigan State at the center position, college basketball doesn't have too many productive centers anymore, so they can win without much scoring from that position.
• milehiiu

  Gonzaga surprised me. I did not think they had the horses to hang with MSU this year. Especially in East Lansing. Either that, or MSU is not what I thought they would be.
  
  I agree with the statement about Few. But I also think Izzo is the best B10 coach(sorry Buckeye fans). Two great coaches going head to head.... it was fun
  
  Overall it was an exciting game, played at tournament tempo. Very enjoyable to watch. And the crowd was so into the game, it made it fun to watch also.
• Laley23

  

  Rec, Gonzaga will not ever have the success of UNLV did mainly because the conference they play in isnt respected by the committee. UNLV was able to grab top seeds, and thus make it to the final four. However, I do think their run of "relevance" will last a bit longer than UNLVs did. It just wont be nearly as successful.