No. 9 Michigan State is in an unfamiliar spot right now, having lost consecutive games for the first time all year. The Spartans will have a chance to get back in the win column when they host an Oregon team that is on a losing streak of its own.

It was the second loss in Big Ten play for Michigan State, and a season-defining win for UCLA, as the Bruins took down the Spartans on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. After the game, UCLA coach Mick Cronin talked about the win and had some very interesting comments on his relationship with Tom Izzo,

Michigan State has greatly improved this season, but was it the result of an easy schedule or is Tom Izzo's team a serious title contender?

LOS ANGELES — Mick Cronin said he knew he was actually in the Big Ten when, at the conference’s media day back in October, he ran into Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. Izzo is the longest-tenured head coach in the Big Ten. He took over for the Spartans when he was 40 years old. He’s 70 now and in his 30th season at the helm.

It was another frustrating day for Michigan State basketball in Los Angeles on Tuesday night as the Spartans suffered their second straight loss, this time to the UCLA Bruins. After the game, MSU head coach Tom Izzo addressed the media,

This is the Spartans’ first loss outside of Quad 1, but they also have just two wins over teams that would be safely in the field today.

Izzo will have to wait — again. In a game that came down to the final shot, Michigan State (18-4, 9-2 Big Ten) lost its second straight game of its Los Angeles trip to UCLA, 63-61. The Spartans’ defense put them in position to win,