WEAR WHITE on Tuesday Nite!

The Michigan State athletics department is asking fans to wear white to the MSU-Purdue men's basketball game on Feb. 9 as a gesture of uniform support for the Spartans. The Spartans and Boilermakers will tip off at 9 p.m. White t-shirts are available at GMC Kiosk on the Breslin Center concourse outside Section 110. Fans can receive a free t-shirt in exchange for filling out a short GMC survey.

What is the problem in the past two games? USA Today hits the nail on the head: giving up perimeter shooting. "Perimeter defense is once again a concern for the Spartans, who have good numbers (opponents were shooting just 40 percent entering Saturday's game), but who are giving up more dribble penetration lately. Wisconsin shot 50.9 percent, Illinois shot 52.5 percent, and both team's guards got into the lane frequently. In the next week, the Spartans have to deal with penetrators such as Purdue's E'Twaun Moore and Penn State's Talor Battle. Kalin Lucas' quickness would be helpful if he can play." You can bet this will be a key in practice tonight and tomorrow.

Two players who need to step up for Michigan State: Durrell Summers and Raymar Morgan. Morgan scored 8 pts in each of the last two games, but just 1 foul in both combined... that demonstrates lack of physical play. Summers scored 11 pts in each game. Morgan shot 4-10 (40%) for both games; Summers shot 9-21/42% FGs and 2-8/25% 3pts. But, both are capable of greater shooting efficiency and better offensive output -- and we need their best play particularly when our best player (Lucas) is ailing.

Against Illinois, Morgan was 8 pts (3-6/2-2 FT), 3 rebs, 3 asts, 3 TOs, and 1 foul. Against Wisconsin, Morgan was 8 pts (1-4/6-9 FT), 10 rebs, 0 asts, 2 TOs, and 0 fouls.

Against Illinois, Summers was 11 pts (5-13/1-5 3pt), 3 rebs, 2 asts . Against Wisconsin, Summers was almost identical: 11 pts (4-8/1-3 3pt), 3 rebs, 2 asts.