Washington Post: Gonzaga has easiest road to Elite 8

[cspades99]

This is still my second favorite write up. My first was some jagoff who listed all the reasons here, but then went a step further to note the difference in backcourt talent and experience was the true swing vote.

Let that sink in.

 

[Madbiker]

Regular season they lost to every good team they played except UConn (if you consider them good).

 

[jdubs30]

Regular season they lost to every good team they played except UConn (if you consider them good).

They had a 20pt (or around that) lead and UConn came back to tie it (or got it within 2, can't remember) -- AND that was with Karnowski. UConn's frontline isn't any bigger than ours.

FYI if Wiltjer is guarding Robey, I'm giving him the ball and telling him to drive straight at him. When Robey/Lydon are in the game together, I assume Sabonis will move to Robey and Wiltjer to Lydon. Lydon has to take advantage of that matchup

 

[SUskibum]

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?

http://giphy.com/gifs/mr-burns-5nFShZWwq3fdm

 

[weepeel]

It will be of paramount importance to have a high pick and roll with lyndon and g/howard...this will force the big out of the paint and give us a chance on the boards...they can't cheat lyndon because he has the range and shooting percentage to keep you honest...

Not getting into a severe rebounding deficit leading to second chance points will be the difference in the outcome of the game.

I do worry about DC's lateral quickness and overall performance...if we had a legit 5 spot I think this game would be a lock

 

[GoZags]

Oops meant the other foreign dude. Dranginis.

Kyle Dranginis is from Nampa, Idaho.

 

[jncuse]

1. Gonzaga is the easiest route for Syracuse to the Elite 8 as well.

If you asked the other 14 teams in the sweet 16 who they would like to play of the remaining teams, and probably 14 of 14 say either Gonzaga or Syracuse. It just happens that perhaps the 2 weakest remaining teams play each other. It's the best both teams could possibly hope for.

2. I think it's time to drop the weak WCC schedule. Gonzaga has won it's last 6 games, and 5 have been quality victories

AT BYU
Neutral: BYU, St. Mary's, Utah, Seton Hall.

Not making out any of those teams to be upper echelon in the ACC. But it is like going 5-0 in neutral games against a string of Notre Dame, Pitt, Florida St, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. That's a nice stretch and they are playing well in maybe not elite, but certainly not weak games either.

 

[cuseincincy]

and 5 have been quality victories

...AT BYU
Neutral: BYU, St. Mary's, Utah, Seton Hall.

t it is like going 5-0 in neutral games against a string of Notre Dame, Pitt, Florida St, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech. That's a nice stretch and they are playing well in maybe not elite, but certainly not weak games either...

I'd agree, not "elite" or "weak"...but certainly mediocre other than ND. They're playing well but the more I think about the better I feel about it.

 

[CuseMan4]

Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't people doubting us in 2013..."Indiana was made to shred zone defenses" well Indiana was more skilled than this Gonzaga team. They might have the edge down low but we have the edge in guard play, will be a good game but I'll gladly take a 50-50 game with Boeheim as our coach.