Washington Post: Gonzaga has easiest road to Elite 8

[Dave85]

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?

Keep the motivation coming!

 

[Dave85]

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.

Let the Zags throw up 3s from 37 feet. We will win the game!

 

[EastCoast2]

So Kyle Wiltjer is basically Serge Ibaka with Stephen Curry's jumpshot

"As effortlessly as possible for a 6-10 big..."? Seriously? He's a great college player, but he looks like he's running in sand.

 

[Dave85]

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.

Playing in the ACC is not a cake walk. I think our boys will be ready to play! The level of motivation being provided by the press is stunning.

 

[CorduroyG]

Playing in the ACC is not a cake walk. I think our boys will be ready to play! The level of motivation being provided by the press is stunning.

And jb pays attention to all this. Guarantee hes letting the team know about it

 

[cuse62]

To beat us, the zags are going to need Steph Curry.

 

[SUMBA]

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.

The obvious question is: How does Syracuse do against 3 point shooters?

A- 10th nationally, allowing a 30.4% success rate on treys taken.

#NotATavernLeagueZone

 

[EastCoast2]

"Sure, there is a possibility Syracuse survives with another win..."

I didn't know we were playing the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls

 

[Knicks411]

The as effortlessly as possible for a 6-10 guy line is hilarious. Kevin Durant is 6-10. (maybe even taller)

 

[orangenirvana]

So Kyle Wiltjer is basically Serge Ibaka with Stephen Curry's jumpshot

"As effortlessly as possible for a 6-10 big..."? Seriously? He's a great college player, but he looks like he's running in sand.

Wiltjer = a slightly more attractive Kevin Pittsnogle

 

[Fly Rodder]

"Sure, there is a possibility Syracuse survives with another win..."

I didn't know we were playing the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls

Prior to Friday night they are, but Saturday morning after Syracuse wins, Gonzaga will be an mediocre 11-seed that gifted Syracuse an elite 8 appearance.

 

[NineOneSeven]

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.

The massive difference between wiltjer and UNC bigs, and zellar, is wiltjer is a very good three point shooter. Very good three point shooters, especially slower players who don't like tons of ball pressure, want to play zones.

Basketball is a game of runs and mismatches. Both teams have them- they have wiltjer and sabonis. We have Lydon and G. It comes down to turnovers and who else steps up.

 

[721Comstock]

The massive difference between wiltjer and UNC bigs, and zellar, is wiltjer is a very good three point shooter. Very good three point shooters, especially slower players who don't like tons of ball pressure, want to play zones.

Basketball is a game of runs and mismatches. Both teams have them- they have wiltjer and sabonis. We have Lydon and G. It comes down to turnovers and who else steps up.

They turned it over 20 times against Seton Hall. SHU just didn't do enough with them to win.
(oh, and the shot like cr@p from 3 and the FT line - which was even more the reason they lost)

 

[EastCoast2]

The massive difference between wiltjer and UNC bigs, and zellar, is wiltjer is a very good three point shooter. Very good three point shooters, especially slower players who don't like tons of ball pressure, want to play zones.

Basketball is a game of runs and mismatches. Both teams have them- they have wiltjer and sabonis. We have Lydon and G. It comes down to turnovers and who else steps up.

This is a good point. Wiltjer is a great shooter, but is slow-footed. He prefers playing against zones so there isn't a designated 6'8 defender in his face for 40 minutes. He'll move around freely and try to find his spots. Need to make sure we are uber-aware of where he is and get a hand in his face at all times.

 

[Dave85]

The massive difference between wiltjer and UNC bigs, and zellar, is wiltjer is a very good three point shooter. Very good three point shooters, especially slower players who don't like tons of ball pressure, want to play zones.

Basketball is a game of runs and mismatches. Both teams have them- they have wiltjer and sabonis. We have Lydon and G. It comes down to turnovers and who else steps up.

Turnovers and rebounds. And we have to keep shooting well.

 

[NineOneSeven]

This is a good point. Wiltjer is a great shooter, but is slow-footed. He prefers playing against zones so there isn't a designated 6'8 defender in his face for 40 minutes. He'll move around freely and try to find his spots. Need to make sure we are uber-aware of where he is and get a hand in his face at all times.

Yup. That will be the gameplan. Good players find ways to get open. It will come down to their guards to get him the ball. We need to be sound up top. No easy dribble penetration.

 

[orangenirvana]

This is a good point. Wiltjer is a great shooter, but is slow-footed. He prefers playing against zones so there isn't a designated 6'8 defender in his face for 40 minutes. He'll move around freely and try to find his spots. Need to make sure we are uber-aware of where he is and get a hand in his face at all times.

I respectfully disagree with this...I think.

Against man D's (especially in the WCC) he's able to go against smaller defenders where he can either post up / back down and shoot over from inside. OR he can use his very productive step-back and pop from outside. That's not going to work against Syracuse's zone. He needs to work fast to find the open spots, otherwise he'll be doubled very quickly.

 

[realorange]

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

We'll be happy to have Sabonis do that, as long as it's not a career high, if it means they aren't getting 3's.

 

[Cowtown]

The guy writes like a copy editor who was told to write a filler article about something he doesn't understand, an hour before deadline.

 

[RF2044]

They turned it over 20 times against Seton Hall. SHU just didn't do enough with them to win.
(oh, and the shot like cr@p from 3 and the FT line - which was even more the reason they lost)

Have to force a similar number of turnovers, and then capitalize once they cough it up. Which we will.

 

[EastCoast2]

I respectfully disagree with this...I think.

Against man D's (especially in the WCC) he's able to go against smaller defenders where he can either post up / back down and shoot over from inside. OR he can use his very productive step-back and pop from outside. That's not going to work against Syracuse's zone. He needs to work fast to find the open spots, otherwise he'll be doubled very quickly.

Key word being the WCC - put a guy like Brandon Ingram on him or an athletic 6'10 guy and I don't think he drops 40. He's very skilled in the post no doubt, but how often is it against a 6'4, 6'5 guy playing PF?

 

[orangenirvana]

Key word being the WCC - put a guy like Brandon Ingram on him or an athletic 6'10 guy and I don't think he drops 40. He's very skilled in the post no doubt, but how often is it against a 6'4, 6'5 guy playing PF?

Regardless, I don't see Wiltjer hurting us much. I'm more worried about Sabonis, Dranginis (senior who does all the little things like tip-out offensive rebounds - plus foreign role players love killing Syracuse), and their backcourt (McClellan, Perkins, Melson) getting hot from three.

 

[RF2044]

Regardless, I don't see Wiltjer hurting us much. I'm more worried about Sabonis, Karnowski (senior who does all the little things like tip-out offensive rebounds - plus foreign role players love killing Syracuse), and their backcourt (McClellan, Perkins, Melson) getting hot from three.

Karnowski is out for the season.

 

[orangenirvana]

Karnowski is out for the season.

Oops meant the other foreign dude. Dranginis.

 

[Trueblue25]

Hope we get some transition going. None of their bigs or even some of their guards will stop outlets to roberson, lydon, richardson or G