Mark Few

[Orangezoo]

I was surprised how pedestrian Arkansas made Gonzaga look especially Timme and their guards. They seemed pretty rattled even missing easy layups. They seemed to lack the hyper physicality and athleticism of Arkansas. Arkansas’ pro flopper, think his name is Williams, really seemed to frustrate them particularly Timme - essentially his flopping kept Gonzaga from penetrating cleanly in the lane.

Yep. Plus Nembhard is almost exclusively a North South kind of guy as a PG. Strawther and Bolton are more spot up with an occasional drive kind of guys which leaves Hickman who is just OK. Very little juice in that backcourt.

 

[tbonezone]

i can't even begin to imagine the anguish those fans must go thru being ranked top 5 all season...

 

[Day2]

Good grief. I'd take him here in a heartbeat.

We had fans on this board crying about a UConn team passing us with Hurley at the helm who lost in the first round and now we are poo pooing Mark Few.

Before last night, I felt there was a zero percent chance he would come here (or leave Gonzaga in general). It’s somewhat realistic now. I don’t think he’s ever going to win it all at Gonzaga and if he wants a title, he’ll need to do it elsewhere.

 

[jncuse]

At what point does he start to feel the heat as a perennial March choker?

Since 2014 Gonzaga has played
Above its seed line 3 times
At its seed line 3 time
Below its seed line 2 times
That is above average performance vs seed line.

Compare that to a Kansas who has been below its seed line 5 times during that period.

They haven't won the big one, but that is far from perennial choking.

 

[NKR1978]

i can't even begin to imagine the anguish those fans must go thru being ranked top 5 all season...

Being ranked top 5 all season and losing in the Sweet 16 is a special kind of torture. Think how you felt after 2010.

 

[jncuse]

So, you think that his players deserve to not win a championship because of the coaches off the court, off season, actions. Interesting.

Did I claim any of that.
Get your garbage out of here.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Before last night, I felt there was a zero percent chance he would come here (or leave Gonzaga in general). It’s somewhat realistic now. I don’t think he’s ever going to win it all at Gonzaga and if he wants a title, he’ll need to do it elsewhere.

That’s quite a leap you’re making considering he‘s been to two title games and lost one by 6 where the officiating was in a blue bloods back pocket.

 

[jncuse]

You're more intelligent than this. Rick Barnes is 25-26 in NCAA play. Mark Few is 38-21. It's not even comparable.

And that 38-21 is heavily influenced by his early struggles.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Gonzaga and Few can't seem to over come the issue around guard play. Last year was the first year they had the kind of guard to get them there in Suggs plus one more in Ayayi. This year it's a hodge podge again as it's been many years that ultimately isn't the formula to win it all.

He had two top 30 freshmen guards come off the bench this year. They are going to be a problem next year when the older guys move on.

 

[jncuse]

Mark Few and Bill Self have incredibly similar resumes. The only difference being Self got lucky that Memphis choked the 2008 title away at the free throw line.

Self did get that early title and final run in 2012. Self had more success early and troubles lately... Few has went the opposite direction.

But it has really been a struggle for Self since 2014 - playing below their seed line for 5 of the last 6 tournaments before this one. Similar to Few's struggles early in his career.

 

[Orangezoo]

He had two top 30 freshmen guards come off the bench this year. They are going to be a problem next year when the older guys move on.

Yeah they just weren't ready for prime time quite yet. That said guardplay has been one of their weaker spots that had hurt them in the NCAAT

 

[City of Cuse]

It's a dumb stat. I went back 10 years and they've played 4 games against 3 seeds or higher. That isn't nearly enough data to project anything.

I went back 10 years and found 6 years where Zags played a 3 seed or higher. I’d argue that 1-5 vs top 3 seeds in 10 years is plenty of data because once the team went up against an elite team they lost, thus not allowing more data to accumulate.

I like Few, one of the best in the business, but this is data and it tells a story of Zags woes in the tourney.

Just so you have it, here are the actual wins/losses:

2014: #1 Arizona loss
2015: #1 Duke loss
2016: #3 Utah win
2017: #1 UNC loss
2019: #3 Texas Tech loss
2021: #1 Baylor loss

Record against last 10 years
#4: 2-1
#5: 2-0
#6: 2-0
#7: 2-0
#8: 2-0
#9: 3-2
#10: 0-1 Go Cuse!
#11: 3-0
#12: null
#13: 1-0
#14: null
#15: 1-0
#16: 5-0

10-1 vs >=10 seed
13-3 vs 4 seed to 9
1-5 vs 1 seed to 3

Median seed for Zags last 10 years is a 1.

 

[Day2]

That’s quite a leap you’re making considering he‘s been to two title games and lost one by 6 where the officiating was in a blue bloods back pocket.

Do you think that will change? Just getting that far continues to be a challenge. Gonzaga didn’t get the calls against UNC and they were overmatched against Baylor. These last two seasons he’s had the best teams he’s ever had and one of them couldn’t get past the Sweet 16 against a flawed opponent. And this was a down year for college hoops overall.

I just don’t see winning a title as his ceiling at Gonzaga. And if that becomes apparent to him…he gone.

 

[SWC75]

Mark Few off my coaching wish list.

Coach K won his first national championship in his 5th Final Four.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Do you think that will change? Just getting that far continues to be a challenge. Gonzaga didn’t get the calls against UNC and they were overmatched against Baylor. These last two seasons he’s had the best teams he’s ever had and one of them couldn’t get past the Sweet 16 against a flawed opponent. And this was a down year for college hoops overall.

I just don’t see winning a title as his ceiling at Gonzaga. And if that becomes apparent to him…he gone.

I know a lot of people felt the same way about Jim Boeheim circa 2000 when we blew a huge lead against Sparty at the Palace of Auburn Hills 13 years after blowing a title game to Indiana and 4 years after losing to UK.

 

[Day2]

I know a lot of people felt the same way about Jim Boeheim circa 2000 when we blew a huge lead against Sparty at the Palace of Auburn Hills 13 years after blowing a title game to Indiana and 4 years after losing to UK.

Don’t know if serious. Do know coaches like JB will always have an advantage coaching in a P5 conference.

 

[jncuse]

I went back 10 years and found 6 years where Zags played a 3 seed or higher. I’d argue that 1-5 vs top 3 seeds in 10 years is plenty of data because once the team went up against an elite team they lost, thus not allowing more data to accumulate.

I like Few, one of the best in the business, but this is data and it tells a story of Zags woes in the tourney.

Just so you have it, here are the actual wins/losses:

2014: #1 Arizona loss
2015: #1 Duke loss
2016: #3 Utah win
2017: #1 UNC loss
2019: #3 Texas Tech loss
2021: #1 Baylor loss

Record against last 10 years
#4: 2-1
#5: 2-0
#6: 2-0
#7: 2-0
#8: 2-0
#9: 3-2
#10: 0-1 Go Cuse!
#11: 3-0
#12: null
#13: 1-0
#14: null
#15: 1-0
#16: 5-0

10-1 vs >=10 seed
13-3 vs 4 seed to 9
1-5 vs 1 seed to 3

Median seed for Zags last 10 years is a 1.

Not sure if I fully agree with the conclusions, but to appreciate the data pull.

 

[kirbivore]

Arkansas is really good. I rarely lose when betting them. Including tonight, thought 10 was way too big of a spread.

Please bet them vs. Duke.

 

[Sherman20]

I was surprised how pedestrian Arkansas made Gonzaga look especially Timme and their guards. They seemed pretty rattled even missing easy layups. They seemed to lack the hyper physicality and athleticism of Arkansas. Arkansas’ pro flopper, think his name is Williams, really seemed to frustrate them particularly Timme - essentially his flopping kept Gonzaga from penetrating cleanly in the lane.

Gonzaga’s biggest problem this season is that they don’t have an elite guard. Their guards are good but not overwhelmingly athletic. Last year they had Suggs, who was elite and could really break down a defense.

 

[kirbivore]

Roy Williams lost a lot of games at Kansas in the NCAAT at Kansas he shouldn’t have. He lost to 2 championship games.
He left KU for UNC and won 3 NCs.

Maybe Few needs a change of scenery. What Few has done at Gonzaga won’t be matched by anyone.

This run that SU played a part in was the pinnacle of Roy's KU choke jobs

1995 #1 seed lose to #4 UVA in S16. Virtual home game in Kansas City
1996 #2 seed lose to #4 Syracuse in E8. Jerrod Hasse brick fest
1997 #1 seed lost to #4 Arizona in S16. Arizona goes on to win the title
1998 #1 seed lost to #8 Rhode Island in Round 2.

 

[texascpa]

This is really interesting. Two groups who watched the same game, seeing the direct opposite. I wished I would have watched the game closer.

And both sides blame the refs! lol

 

[Gotothehole]

Good grief. I'd take him here in a heartbeat.

We had fans on this board crying about a UConn team passing us with Hurley at the helm who lost in the first round and now we are poo pooing Mark Few

Will take Red over Few. When it comes to chips they have the same record

 

[Cusefan0307]

Will take Red over Few. When it comes to chips they have the same record

Lol. You crazy.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I went back 10 years and found 6 years where Zags played a 3 seed or higher. I’d argue that 1-5 vs top 3 seeds in 10 years is plenty of data because once the team went up against an elite team they lost, thus not allowing more data to accumulate.

I like Few, one of the best in the business, but this is data and it tells a story of Zags woes in the tourney.

Just so you have it, here are the actual wins/losses:

2014: #1 Arizona loss
2015: #1 Duke loss
2016: #3 Utah win
2017: #1 UNC loss
2019: #3 Texas Tech loss
2021: #1 Baylor loss

Record against last 10 years
#4: 2-1
#5: 2-0
#6: 2-0
#7: 2-0
#8: 2-0
#9: 3-2
#10: 0-1 Go Cuse!
#11: 3-0
#12: null
#13: 1-0
#14: null
#15: 1-0
#16: 5-0

10-1 vs >=10 seed
13-3 vs 4 seed to 9
1-5 vs 1 seed to 3

Median seed for Zags last 10 years is a 1.

I think a better way to put it is 10-0 vs 11-16 seeds, 10-1 vs 4-8 seeds, and 3-3 vs 9/10 seeds. They seem vulnerable in the 2nd round and then once they get to the Elite 8.