Michigan State has one goal in mind this season: to one-up last year's performance and bring home a title to East Lansing.

That is still a long ways away, and for now the college basketball world will have to settle for what it is arguably the first marquee non-conference matchup.  The young Gonzaga Bulldogs are making the first of many non-conference trips in which they will take on Tom Izzo's seasoned crew.  

It is clear that Michigan State is widely held as the favorite, coming in at No. 2 in the both preseason polls.  The Zags are, for the first time in a number of years, noticeably absent from the polls, only receiving scattered votes from loyal Northwestern voters.

Gonzaga, known for its traditionally brutal...

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