Gonzaga Bulldogs at Michigan State Spartans (-11)
Michigan State is trying to make up for lost time.
Due to injuries and illness, the 2008-09 national runner-up was limited in practice heading into the season, forcing coach Tom Izzo to double up on practice time Sunday in preparation for Tuesday’s home game against Gonzaga.
"It's going to be a big game to see where we are," MSU coach Tom Izzo told the Detroit Free Press.
The Spartans should have all their players back at almost 100 percent except for talented small forward Raymar Morgan, who is nursing a sprained ankle. Also among the walking wounded are shooter Chris Allen and forward Delvon Roe, who could be the most important member of this year’s MSU squad.
Roe is the lone experienced post player. The 6-foot-8 sophomore matured during the program’s title game march, scoring just under 10 points per game in the NCAA tournament. He’ll also have the tough task of locking down the Bulldogs versatile freshman Elias Harris out of Germany.
"Harris brings a whole new dimension at 6-8 - he can score, he can shoot it, and he's a great offensive rebounder," Izzo told reporters. "They're big on the perimeter; big overall except the point guard, and are a good running team."
Expect a Spartans lineup still getting its legs back to struggle against Gonzaga's size and pace.
Pick: Gonzaga +11
Memphis Tigers at Kansas Jayhawks (-11.5)
Memphis has a lot to prove Tuesday night.
New head coach Josh Pastner needs to prove he can hang with the old dogs. Memphis has to prove to former recruit Xavier Henry that he should have stuck with the Tigers. And the program has to prove to the country that it is still among the elite, even after watching former coach John Calipari leave for Kentucky and take his five-star studs to Lexington.
"Yeah, it's been a while since Memphis has been an underdog, so a lot of people will be rooting for us," junior guard Roburt Sallie told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "It should be an exciting game. Everybody wants to see the No. 1 team go down."
The Tigers still have their claws. They returned a veteran backcourt of Willie Kemp, Doneal Mack and Roburt Sallie as well as added former Duke guard Elliot Williams, who scored 19 points in Memphis’ opening win over Jackson State. The Tigers also landed solid frontline help in JuCo star Will Coleman, who will battle KU big man Cole Aldrich Tuesday.
"It's going to be a big challenge," Williams told the media. "I know it's a game everybody had circled on their calendar since the summer, knowing they're No. 1 in the country. I think we're pretty good too, so I think it's going to be a big game for us."
Pick: Memphis +11.5