No. 9 Michigan State has settled back in at home after a disappointing trip to the West Coast.The Spartans came back with two more losses after having lost just two all year going into the trip.It was the first time all season the squad has dropped two in a row.

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?

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,

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 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 head coach Mick Cronin talked about the win,

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,