Washington Post: Gonzaga has easiest road to Elite 8

[orangenirvana]

By Matthew Giles

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...best-chance-at-the-bulldogs-first-final-four/

Sorry if this has already been posted this week in one of the orangeyes article threads but I though this bulletin board material deserved its own thread.

Excerpts...

Gonzaga is constructed to shred zone defenses.

It’s been endlessly repeated that the Orange’s most glaring weakness is on the defensive glass. Roughly 10 percent of (Gonzaga’s) attempts at the rim are the result of first securing an offensive board, and Domantas Sabonis, a sophomore big who grabs nearly 12 percent of those caroms, is essentially automatic once he has beaten a defender for a rebound — the 6-foot-11 Sabonis converts 72.7 percent off misses.

Coupled with Kyle Wiltjer’s tailor-made zone-busting skillset — he moves as effortlessly as possible for a 6-foot-10 big around half court and has range that rivals Steph Curry’s — and the Bulldogs enter next week’s matchup with the easiest route of any of the remaining 16 teams to the regional finals.

If Michigan State was their opponent in the next round, we’d likely discount Mark Few’s group, but the path is much clearer with the Orange awaiting.

Thoughts?

 

[Brooky03]

'em

 

[pfister1]

Might as well not even show up.

 

[TheCusian]

By Matthew Giles https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...best-chance-at-the-bulldogs-first-final-four/ Sorry if this has already been posted this week in one of the orangeyes article threads but I though this bulletin board material deserved its own thread. Excerpts... Gonzaga is constructed to shred zone defenses. It’s been endlessly repeated that the Orange’s most glaring weakness is on the defensive glass. Roughly 10 percent of (Gonzaga’s) attempts at the rim are the result of first securing an offensive board, and Domantas Sabonis, a sophomore big who grabs nearly 12 percent of those caroms, is essentially automatic once he has beaten a defender for a rebound — the 6-foot-11 Sabonis converts 72.7 percent off misses. Coupled with Kyle Wiltjer’s tailor-made zone-busting skillset — he moves as effortlessly as possible for a 6-foot-10 big around half court and has range that rivals Steph Curry’s — and the Bulldogs enter next week’s matchup with the easiest route of any of the remaining 16 teams to the regional finals. If Michigan State was their opponent in the next round, we’d likely discount Mark Few’s group, but the path is much clearer with the Orange awaiting. Thoughts?

My thought is that coaching is important. JB has been better longer. And that they've not seen our zone. And I wonder if this guy wrote a "perfect zone buster" article before we booted them last time.

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

View attachment 58391

By Matthew Giles

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...best-chance-at-the-bulldogs-first-final-four/

Sorry if this has already been posted this week in one of the orangeyes article threads but I though this bulletin board material deserved its own thread.

Excerpts...

Gonzaga is constructed to shred zone defenses.

It’s been endlessly repeated that the Orange’s most glaring weakness is on the defensive glass. Roughly 10 percent of (Gonzaga’s) attempts at the rim are the result of first securing an offensive board, and Domantas Sabonis, a sophomore big who grabs nearly 12 percent of those caroms, is essentially automatic once he has beaten a defender for a rebound — the 6-foot-11 Sabonis converts 72.7 percent off misses.

Coupled with Kyle Wiltjer’s tailor-made zone-busting skillset — he moves as effortlessly as possible for a 6-foot-10 big around half court and has range that rivals Steph Curry’s — and the Bulldogs enter next week’s matchup with the easiest route of any of the remaining 16 teams to the regional finals.

If Michigan State was their opponent in the next round, we’d likely discount Mark Few’s group, but the path is much clearer with the Orange awaiting.

Thoughts?

that's absurd. They are an 11 seed for a reason. They beat SH and Utah for gods sake, not the Dream Team and GS Warriors. They can certainly win, but it won't be easy.

From the same paper, some perspective: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-to-solve-syracuses-rubiks-cube-of-a-defense/

 

[SuffolkCuse]

did they happen to mention which zones they had "busted" ??

 

[RF2044]

My thought is, that sounds like wishful thinking from a Georgetown supporter.

 

[TheCusian]

that's absurd. They are an 11 seed for a reason. They beat SH and Utah for gods sake, not the Dream Team and GS Warriors. They can certainly win, but it won't be easy.

The author should be strung up for using "Steph Curry range" ... Talk about homer.

 

[Rage4CUSE]

The author should be strung up for using "Steph Curry range" ... Talk about homer.

Nobody else has Steph Curry range. I don't think the author even knows what makes Steph Curry range so dangerous. It's not the fact that he CAN hit those fantastically long shots. It's that he can hit them at a good rate. Anybody can chuck up a 37 foot shot and get some here and there.

 

[CorduroyG]

Did he seriously just compare wiltjer to steph curry??????? Oh my god

 

[Knicks411]

Also Wiltjer is kinda slow, I wouldn't say he moves "effortlessly".

That being said, who has the easiest road to the Elite 8? Kansas, UNC, and UVA are the biggest favorites. (kansas -6.5, the other 2 -5.5)

 

[MartyCuse]

Rutgers Al now moonlighting for the Washington Post? Wow... I expect a good game with two teams playing hard for the win. But from this article I might as well go to bed at 9:30 on Friday night!

 

[Brooky03]

that's absurd. They are an 11 seed for a reason. They beat SH and Utah for gods sake, not the Dream Team and GS Warriors. They can certainly win, but it won't be easy.

From the same paper, some perspective: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-to-solve-syracuses-rubiks-cube-of-a-defense/

"Tyler Lydon, a 6-foot-8 freshman, plays power forward (4) with Tyler Roberson and DaJuan Coleman manning the middle (5)."

O RLY?!

 

[MGP]

Again, how many times have we heard the fallacy from ignorant, uniformed journalists that good shooters=zone busters? Move along...

 

[TheCusian]

Again, how many times have we heard the fallacy from ignorant, uniformed journalists that good shooters=zone busters? Move along...

Exactly. If we lose it will be because Sabonis eats up our C in the middle.

 

[orangenirvana]

Also Wiltjer is kinda slow, I wouldn't say he moves "effortlessly".

Wiltjer isn't just kinda slow - he's painfully slow.

It's exactly why - despite being 6-10, shooting over 40% from three, and averaging over 20 ppg - he is not on any NBA draft boards.

 

[SUintheVille]

It's just more media crap. We should all know by now to just ignore such BS. All that matters is the game. The Cuse will be ready to roll. Either team could win, but the Orange looks like a determined force. Everything else is just irritating noise.

 

[BlackSquirrels]

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

"Tyler Lydon, a 6-foot-8 freshman, plays power forward (4) with Tyler Roberson and DaJuan Coleman manning the middle (5)."

O RLY?!

some very interesting shot charts in that link. Wiltjer is deadly from straight away on threes, maybe the spot SU defends best, and he is good from the left side, and great from just below the foul line, but awful from the right side shooting 3s. Sabonis' sweet spot is inside the paint, no surprise there. The SU defensive shot chart shows that they are one of the best, with only layups converted at just an average rate by the opponent. I see strength on strength. I think a major key for us is those guards clamping down on the space around the foul line to harass their high post shooter, likely W all game, and then chasing down the long rebounds too. If G and Cooney can each collect 5-6 rebounds, the Zags are doomed.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Did he seriously just compare wiltjer to steph curry??????? Oh my god

Super hyperbole much?

Its probably the worst player comparison I've ever heard.

 

[teamco]

If Atlantis Syracuse shows up, see you Sunday, if St John's Syracuse appears, it's been fun!

 

[cuseincincy]

I would say Gonzaga has the 2nd easiest path to the elite 8. SU has the easiest path since they are playing an 11 seed. Wiltjer is a double edge sword. He can hit the deep 3, and is deadly at the foul line jumper. But as others have said he is slow...really slow. He'll get some open looks but hopefully not enough. Sabonis? Eh? I'm sure he's good but likely not better than SU has already seen. Should be a good game. Again...whoever makes their shots will win, pretty simple really. Oh yeah...who will Wiltjer guard?

 

[MikeSU02]

Just one more on JB's path to redemption. Suck it, Zags.

 

[CorduroyG]

I would say Gonzaga has the 2nd easiest path to the elite 8. SU has the easiest path since they are playing an 11 seed. Wiltjer is a double edge sword. He can hit the deep 3, and is deadly at the foul line jumper. But as others have said he is slow...really slow. He'll get some open looks but hopefully not enough. Sabonis? Eh? I'm sure he's good but likely not better than SU has already seen. Should be a good game. Again...whoever makes their shots will win, pretty simple really. Oh yeah...who will Wiltjer guard?

I think sabonis is the best big theyve seen all year. Maybe brice johnson too, but sabonis is highly skilled, johnson is more of a freak athlete. Sabonis has great footwork, soft touch, can step back and knock down a jumper, etc.

Listen we went toe to toe with unc 2x this year, we know how to compete against big time frontlines. We just cant afford to have any of the gonzaga guards get hot from 3. I think we'll contain wiltjer, i can see him disappearing ala cody zeller, i think hes soft.

 

[orangenirvana]

Oh yeah...who will Wiltjer guard?

Roberson.