Watched the Zags vs Saint Mary's

[Cuse House]

Last night I was bored and watched the WCC championship game. After watching the game, I am actually much more confident in our chances on Friday and I already liked them. Here are my thoughts:

1) First of all, the Saint Mary's guards who do not compare to the guys we have, got to the rim with ease. Throughout the first half I counted 4 or 5 layups that were fairly uncontested. On high ball screens that involved Wiltjer, turning the corner was easy. G and Mal need to attack them off the bounce.

2) Sabonis has great skill, but he plays on the ground. I never really saw him or Wiltjer go up and attack the ball at the rim. Roberson and Lydon will have the athleticism over them. When watching Sabonis operate down low, the dude guarding him for Saint Mary's gave him whatever he wanted. As others pointed out, Utah and Seton Hall gave him whatever he wanted as well. Not saying he is not a great player, but he hasn't been challenged physically by a defender these past few weeks.

3) Gonzaga's guards can get a little loose with the ball at times. They are good at feeding the post, but I saw them lose the ball without much ball pressure. It could lead to some scoring opportunities off of turnovers.

My biggest take away was they gave up the rim easily. Bodes well for us and our shooters. They are obviously a good team, but I am not buying their schedule because the Saint Mary's team I watched was not very good but they got great shots the whole game. I don't see why everyone thinks this is an easy game for the Zags?

 

[TheCusian]

Last night I was bored and watched the WCC championship game. After watching the game, I am actually much more confident in our chances on Friday and I already liked them. Here are my thoughts: 1) First of all, the Saint Mary's guards who do not compare to the guys we have, got to the rim with ease. Throughout the first half I counted 4 or 5 layups that were fairly uncontested. On high ball screens that involved Wiltjer, turning the corner was easy. G and Mal need to attack them off the bounce. 2) Sabonis has great skill, but he plays on the ground. I never really saw him or Wiltjer go up and attack the ball at the rim. Roberson and Lydon will have the athleticism over them. When watching Sabonis operate down low, the dude guarding him for Saint Mary's gave him whatever he wanted. As others pointed out, Utah and Seton Hall gave him whatever he wanted as well. Not saying he is not a great player, but he hasn't been challenged physically by a defender these past few weeks. 3) Gonzaga's guards can get a little loose with the ball at times. They are good at feeding the post, but I saw them lose the ball without much ball pressure. It could lead to some scoring opportunities off of turnovers. My biggest take away was they gave up the rim easily. Bodes well for us and our shooters. They are obviously a good team, but I am not buying their schedule because the Saint Mary's team I watched was not very good but they got great shots the whole game. I don't see why everyone thinks this is an easy game for the Zags?

Agreed.

All this talk of having no answer for Sabonis (I think Lydon will block some of his shots - he recovers very quickly) is missing the opposite end of the court... G is a huge and seems to get in the lane vs everyone OR shoots over his defender. Who is their answer for G?

 

[JrodCuse]

To be honest, not many teams have an answer for a 6'7 PG who can slash well.

 

[longislandcuse]

All I know is we have weaknesses, no doubt, and those weaknesses were exploited in a monster ACC with a Head Coach suspension thrown into the mix. We struggled down the stretch against some really good teams, teams who we historically struggle with and teams with a lot to play for, on the road. Again, monster ACC and we hit a swoon heading into the NCAA Tournament.

However, the NCAA Tournament gives you a new life and with that said, we are playing like a team who has a senior shooting guard with range, a versatile senior guard who is a borderline first round draft pick, a PF who is one of the best rebounders in the country with athleticism for days and not one, but two freshman who may very well play themselves into Lottery Pick talk in next year's NBA Draft.

Gonzaga is a good team who played in a weak league with two studs, a solid supporting cast and not much depth.

Syracuse is a good team who played in an elite league, with three studs, a solid supporting cast and not much depth.

Style wise, nothing Gonzaga has seen all year can prepare them for an athletic Syracuse zone that is FINALLY playing like a Syracuse zone.

I like our chances. May the best team win!

 

[CorduroyG]

I watched a little bit of that game last nite on youtube. If st marys played our acc schedule they wouldnt win more than 6 or 7 games.

Also watched some of their game against uconn in atlantis, glad we dont gotta deal with the 7'1 dude. Wiltjer is really unathletic, ill be very surprised if he does much against us.

 

[CorduroyG]

Something to consider with gonzaga. They were down 2 with 5 minutes left in elite 8 last year against duke with alot of these same guys, so they wont be intimidated by the big stage. We're gonna need to play very well to win, no doubt.

 

[Orange87]

Yeah, I'm in this school of thought as well.

On the one hand, every team still playing right now is a good team that is playing well, so Gonzaga is not to be taken likely. On the other hand who did they play against all year? They are 28-7

Their 7 losses -

2 (out of 3 games played) to St. Mary's - an NIT team.
1 to Texas A&M (SU was 1-0)
1 to Arizona
1 to UCLA (finished 15-17)
1 (out of 2 games played) to BYU - an NIT team
1 to SMU

Granted, Syracuse had some pretty bad losses as well (St. John's anyone?), but the fact that Gonzaga plays in a relatively weak conference compared to the ACC and still had 7 losses tells me they are beatable.

Syracuse has played without a solid, dependable presence in the middle all season against far superior competition than Gonzaga did. In short I think it will be a close game but Syracuse can absolutely win this game.

 

[NineOneSeven]

I watched a little bit of that game last nite on youtube. If st marys played our acc schedule they wouldnt win more than 6 or 7 games.

Also watched some of their game against uconn in atlantis, glad we dont gotta deal with the 7'1 dude. Wiltjer is really unathletic, ill be very surprised if he does much against us.

Averaged 20 points a game. Define "much"? Unathletic players who can shoot would much rather play a zone than against heavy ball pressure. Obviously we will gameplan for him, and I expect Jim to really emphasize traps whenever we can.

 

[CorduroyG]

Averaged 20 points a game. Define "much"? Unathletic players who can shoot would much rather play a zone than against heavy ball pressure. Obviously we will gameplan for him, and I expect Jim to really emphasize traps whenever we can.

12 points max!

 

[Cusefan0307]

We held James harden to 4 once.

 

[orangezen]

I expect DC to have a great game against Zags

 

[jordoo]

So basically Gonzaga's best win is either Uconn early on or the recent win against Utah. there are reasons they are an 11 seed just like their are reasons we are a 10 seed. All in all though I think we have more margin for error in this game than they do.

 

[We Are Syracuse]

Something to consider with gonzaga. They were down 2 with 5 minutes left in elite 8 last year against duke with alot of these same guys, so they wont be intimidated by the big stage. We're gonna need to play very well to win, no doubt.

Kevin Pangos isnt walking on that court on Friday. loved his game.

 

[jordoo]

We held James harden to 4 once.

Yes another media touted "zone buster". Its funny when the zone gets busted by someone its almost never the guy the media talked about.

 

[orangenirvana]

So basically Gonzaga's best win is either Uconn early on or the recent win against Utah. there are reasons they are an 11 seed just like their are reasons we are a 10 seed. All in all though I think we have more margin for error in this game than they do.

No. Their best win was on Saturday.

I think Gonzaga is much better than people in this thread (are willing to) think. Their guards can stroke it and are athletic enough to penetrate the zone holes and draw defenders.

If they can cut down on turnovers they'll be extremely difficult to hold under 70.

 

[Marsh01]

No. Their best win was on Saturday.

I think Gonzaga is much better than people in this thread (are willing to) think. Their guards can stroke it and are athletic enough to penetrate the zone holes and draw defenders.

If they can cut down on turnovers they'll be extremely difficult to hold under 70.

I dont see how people cant see this. Very very difficult game. Mock them all you want but this is a team I did not want to face with their roster. Had their center not gotten hurt this team would be a 3 seed.

 

[upperdeck]

the one guard shooting well now is shooting under 30% for the year.

 

[Dave85]

Last night I was bored and watched the WCC championship game. After watching the game, I am actually much more confident in our chances on Friday and I already liked them. Here are my thoughts:

1) First of all, the Saint Mary's guards who do not compare to the guys we have, got to the rim with ease. Throughout the first half I counted 4 or 5 layups that were fairly uncontested. On high ball screens that involved Wiltjer, turning the corner was easy. G and Mal need to attack them off the bounce.

2) Sabonis has great skill, but he plays on the ground. I never really saw him or Wiltjer go up and attack the ball at the rim. Roberson and Lydon will have the athleticism over them. When watching Sabonis operate down low, the dude guarding him for Saint Mary's gave him whatever he wanted. As others pointed out, Utah and Seton Hall gave him whatever he wanted as well. Not saying he is not a great player, but he hasn't been challenged physically by a defender these past few weeks.

3) Gonzaga's guards can get a little loose with the ball at times. They are good at feeding the post, but I saw them lose the ball without much ball pressure. It could lead to some scoring opportunities off of turnovers.

My biggest take away was they gave up the rim easily. Bodes well for us and our shooters. They are obviously a good team, but I am not buying their schedule because the Saint Mary's team I watched was not very good but they got great shots the whole game. I don't see why everyone thinks this is an easy game for the Zags?

This " Saint Mary's gave him whatever he wanted. As others pointed out, Utah and Seton Hall gave him whatever he wanted as well. " worries me because it may something something more about Sabonis than it does about the teams playing defense. I have to believe teams were defending the guy on some level.

 

[pearl31]

I dont see how people cant see this. Very very difficult game. Mock them all you want but this is a team I did not want to face with their roster. Had their center not gotten hurt this team would be a 3 seed.

But he did get hurt, and they did struggle to do anything against good teams all year long, and they did get seeded correctly as an 11.
Always appreciate your takes on here Marsh, but you're way off if you wanted Seton Hall or Utah over Gonzaga

 

[Dave85]

the one guard shooting well now is shooting under 30% for the year.

Essentially, their one guard is like our one guard.

 

[jordoo]

No. Their best win was on Saturday.

I think Gonzaga is much better than people in this thread (are willing to) think. Their guards can stroke it and are athletic enough to penetrate the zone holes and draw defenders.

If they can cut down on turnovers they'll be extremely difficult to hold under 70.

Right Utah as I mentioned. Again they are an 11 seed for a reason here are the games they scored less that 70pts in.
Wins:
Montana 61-58
Washington St 69-60
Pepperdine 69-66
Seton Hall 68-52
Losses (Gonzaga's Points Only)
Texas A&M 61
Arizona 63
UCLA 66
BYU 68
Saint Marys 67
SMU 60
Saint Marys 58

All 7 losses they scored less than 70 points. They will be playing one of the best defensive teams they have played all season. We know our zone slows the pace down however so they could still win a close one in the 60's. I just can't see how they stop us from scoring 70 honestly. Unless we have a very poor shooting night. I think Mike and Mal will be able to drive off of most high ball screens. I think both Tylers will be guarded by slower guys who they can pump fake and go by. Everyone talks about us stopping them from scoring when that has basically happened when they have played a power 5 team. They should be talking about how they are going to stop us.

 

[Cuse House]

This " Saint Mary's gave him whatever he wanted. As others pointed out, Utah and Seton Hall gave him whatever he wanted as well. " worries me because it may something something more about Sabonis than it does about the teams playing defense. I have to believe teams were defending the guy on some level.

The game is on YouTube, go watch it. He caught the ball at the high post and his defender legit stood there and left him open for the 15 footer about 3 times. We will contest him better than anything he has seen.

 

[jordoo]

I dont see how people cant see this. Very very difficult game. Mock them all you want but this is a team I did not want to face with their roster. Had their center not gotten hurt this team would be a 3 seed.

Add the big center and yes I would not give us much chance but as of now both teams played well to get to the S16 and I feel like we will beat them if we continue to play well.

 

[Dave85]

But he did get hurt, and they did struggle to do anything against good teams all year long, and they did get seeded correctly as an 11.
Always appreciate your takes on here Marsh, but you're way off if you wanted Seton Hall or Utah over Gonzaga

Are you agreeing or disagreeing with Marsh. I don't think our team is going to take this team lightly. I don't think the fans are either. I think with 99% of the anal-ysts picking Zags over us our boys are going to come out on fire to play. I don't remember the last time I've seen this level of potential motivation other than last week.

 

[Marsh01]

But he did get hurt, and they did struggle to do anything against good teams all year long, and they did get seeded correctly as an 11.
Always appreciate your takes on here Marsh, but you're way off if you wanted Seton Hall or Utah over Gonzaga

Utah was a home run opponent. With their small guards we would have eaten them alive. They were not playing great as evident by getting thrashed by 31 in the Pac 12 finals vs Oregon. Seton Hall I agree with. We so matched up better with Utah. This would have been another Indiana 3 years ago type game.

The thing with Gonzaga is they finally have figured it out. They are 14-2 their last 16 games so even though they are for seeding purposes probably seeded correctly at 11, this is no way an 11 seed. It was like when we played aTm when they were a 12 seed. They were at worst an 8 seed and probably better.