Watched the Zags vs Saint Mary's

[Cuse House]

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
LossesGonzaga'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.

Exactly, which I why I don't understand the crowd that says, "This is a great matchup for the Zags." Honestly, we are a terrible matchup for them when we have the ball.

 

[Dave85]

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.

I agree. We are going to contest every shot. JB does a good job getting our team to always attack the shooter even if they are late.

 

[Marsh01]

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.

as do I. I just think this will be a very difficult game that could get away from us if we dont dominate on the defensive rebounding side of the ball.

 

[pearl31]

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.

Strongly disagree. Look who they've played (to achieve that 14-2). The WCC is terrible. They've certainly looked good in the tourney but that is as much of both Utah and Seton Hall inexplicably not showing up (I mean come one, SH had just dispatched of Villanova and Xavier a week earlier). Other than Sabonis, they simply do not have the personnel. Utah is a better team than Gonzaga and so is Seton Hall.

 

[Dave85]

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.

I watch the first half of that game. I thought the Utah center seemed a little slow compared to Sabonis. My hope is Lydon will be Sabonis's Kryptonite with the right combination of height and speed.

 

[Cuse House]

as do I. I just think this will be a very difficult game that could get away from us if we dont dominate on the defensive rebounding side of the ball.

Disagree, think we will score easily and often. I am telling you, we have great match ups everywhere. Their guards will not keep us out of the lane, especially if they couldn't against a poor Saint Mary's squad.

 

[Marsh01]

Strongly disagree. Look who they've played (to achieve that 14-2). The WCC is terrible. They've certainly looked good in the tourney but that is as much of both Utah and Seton Hall inexplicably not showing up (I mean come one, SH had just dispatched of Villanova and Xavier a week earlier). Other than Sabonis, they simply do not have the personnel. Utah is a better team than Gonzaga and so is Seton Hall.

Whitijer was a top 15 recruit and won a title with Kentucky and is playing great basketball now. Their big guards are making shots as well.

I love the optimism but I still think its a bad matchup. I hope I am wrong. Everyone said the same thing about Butler in 2010 how we would eat them alive and dominate them defensively.

 

[jordoo]

as do I. I just think this will be a very difficult game that could get away from us if we dont dominate on the defensive rebounding side of the ball.

Honestly I expect to give up some easy ones on the defensive glass as we have done against all good big front lines. I think the saving grace for us will be that Gonzaga is going to really struggle to defend us in the high ball screen. You can't leave Mike or Mal wide open 3's and neither Sabonis nor Wiltjer will be able to stop them form driving regularly on those. Throw TylerL into the mix popping out of the screen and TylerR slipping it to the rim and I believe we present them with a big problem. There will be patches of this game that we need to whether the storm when they score inside but we should be able to do steady damage on the offensive side as well.

 

[Marsh01]

I watch the first half of that game. I thought the Utah center seemed a little slow compared to Sabonis. My hope is Lydon will be Sabonis's Kryptonite with the right combination of height and speed.

He cant shoot where Sabonis can. Much easier to defend

 

[pearl31]

Whitijer was a top 15 recruit and won a title with Kentucky and is playing great basketball now. Their big guards are making shots as well.

I love the optimism but I still think its a bad matchup. I hope I am wrong. Everyone said the same thing about Butler in 2010 how we would eat them alive and dominate them defensively.

Hey I'm not saying we'll eat them alive, and actually I'm not even predicting a win (I have sort of a "pick em" feeling in my gut) I'm just saying we have the most favorable opponent we could have hoped for based on the bracket

 

[Dave85]

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.

I somewhat agree with the added bit our 10th seed seems a little low when you take into account 6 teams from the ACC are in the Sweet 16. We had a much tougher schedule and my hope is that will count for something on the court when we face the Zags. Our boys have been in some pretty darn tough games this season. The UNC away game was character building. I think our team can beat any team in the country on a neutral court if we play well.

It's going to be fun, fun, fun on Friday night!

 

[Dave85]

Honestly I expect to give up some easy ones on the defensive glass as we have done against all good big front lines. I think the saving grace for us will be that Gonzaga is going to really struggle to defend us in the high ball screen. You can't leave Mike or Mal wide open 3's and neither Sabonis nor Wiltjer will be able to stop them form driving regularly on those. Throw TylerL into the mix popping out of the screen and TylerR slipping it to the rim and I believe we present them with a big problem. There will be patches of this game that we need to whether the storm when they score inside but we should be able to do steady damage on the offensive side as well.

My hope is G and Mal drive a lot into the late and get their bigs into foul trouble early. Plus driving into the lane opens up our 3s.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I expect DC to have a great game against Zags

I hope for it, but at this point, I still don't think we can "expect" either DC or Roberson to bring their "A" game every night. We are trending in the right direction with those guys, but they haven't put together enough back-to-back-to-back performances yet for me to count on them 100%. This will obviously be one of the biggest keys to the game. If we can match them on the boards and hold down our turnovers, we can win.

 

[orangenirvana]

I just can't see how they stop us from scoring 70 honestly.

Honestly, we are a terrible matchup for them when we have the ball.

Disagree, think we will score easily and often.

I think many here have gotten so worked up over defending this team from the haters (and rightfully so) that we've lost touch with how flawed this Syracuse team really is. Yes, we've played excellent ball the last two games. But Cooney and Richardson can go ice cold at the same time and Roberson can disappear again and we'll struggle to score.

 

[Cuse House]

I think many here have gotten so worked up over defending this team from the haters (and rightfully so) that we've lost touch with how flawed this Syracuse team really is. Yes, we've played excellent ball the last two games. But Cooney and Richardson can go ice cold at the same time and Roberson can disappear again and we'll struggle to score.

Possibly, but I don't see that happening. Anything is possible at this point.

 

[manleyzoo]

When it's down to the final 16, there are very few mismatches...most of the teams are pretty similar. Is there anyone in the field who, on the right day, couldn't beat Kansas or any of the other remaining high seeds? JB is right--anyone can beat anyone.

As we've already seen, it's all about individual match ups. We tend not to lose to teams with just zone busters but to teams that can drive into the zone and dish and who can rebound. Usually it takes both to beat us like Pitt, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisville, Miami all can do. We beat Duke, Notre Dame, Dayton, MTSU and others because they can't do both. Anyone watching knows that. So the big question is can Gonzaga's guards beat G, Cooney and M off the dribble? It's a given that we're probably going to get killed on the boards but unless their guards can beat our guards they will have trouble winning. Hence, the match ups.

With that said, it still seems to me that it all comes down to who's gonna get the yips on the big stage and who's going to be cool. In other words, which team's freshmen will get nervous and which team's won't. You can debate the match ups and style all you want but that's usually what it comes down to--which team plays the game like it's any other and which team is overcome by the heebie jeebies.

I've seen Gonzaga at least 10 times this year (once in person against Santa Clara) and yes, they're good. But all anyone really knows about them is they were good in their conference. Not great, but good enough. We've played well in our last two games but no one really knows if this team finally has gelled or if it's just one of those things. So questions about both teams still are unanswered. That's what separates the good teams from the really good--if all their questions have been answered at this point in the season.

Also, as my good and great friend Longtimefan has often pointed out, with the five days between games, especially at this time of year, it's pretty much impossible to figure out how either team is going to play. We've done better all year long with the extra rest but you never know.

And, isn't it interesting how Cooney hasn't been mentioned in any of the game analyses by anyone on this board or anywhere else, at least that I've seen. Maybe he's the quiet, overlooked guy this time around who'll put up his best game of the year. Would be nice to see.

 

[AlaskaSU]

Honestly I expect to give up some easy ones on the defensive glass as we have done against all good big front lines. I think the saving grace for us will be that Gonzaga is going to really struggle to defend us in the high ball screen. You can't leave Mike or Mal wide open 3's and neither Sabonis nor Wiltjer will be able to stop them form driving regularly on those. Throw TylerL into the mix popping out of the screen and TylerR slipping it to the rim and I believe we present them with a big problem. There will be patches of this game that we need to whether the storm when they score inside but we should be able to do steady damage on the offensive side as well.

No reason to be optimistic or pessimistic. Both teams are thin. Sabonis is foul prone and we will also collect fouls trying to stop his automatic put-backs. The refs will determine the winner.

 

[Dave85]

No reason to be optimistic or pessimistic. Both teams are thin. Sabonis is foul prone and we will also collect fouls trying to stop his automatic put-backs. The refs will determine the winner.

I hope not. I love your avatar pick. I go fishing in NC in one week for monster blue catfish. We may get skunked but who knows.



http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/other-sports/article51277840.html

I saw the video, he released it back into the lake!

 

[jdubs30]

This might be one matchup where all the ball screens we run will be a huge help. As much as people say we are reliant on 3s -- we HAVE to penetrate on Friday. I truly believe Frank, G, Mali, even Trevor and Lydon will be able to get by their man. The more attack the rim, the more likely we are gonna get Sabonis in foul trouble as well.

 

[AlaskaSU]

I hope not. I love your avatar pick. I go fishing in NC in one week for monster blue catfish. We may get skunked but who knows.

View attachment 58434

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/other-sports/article51277840.html

I saw the video, he released it back into the lake!

The avatar is Melo and Kenny Smith halibut fishing in Alaska. The biggest halibut in the world are in Icy Straight around Gustavus and Glacier Bay. Big ones are 400lbs and up. Have to shoot them with a gun when they come to the surface and go nuts.

 

[Dave85]

The avatar is Melo and Kenny Smith halibut fishing in Alaska. The biggest halibut in the world are in Icy Straight around Gustavus and Glacier Bay. Big ones are 400lbs and up. Have to shoot them with a gun when they come to the surface and go nuts.

It's like alligators and the TV show Swamp People. My son loves that show. 400 pounds! Holy Cow! How do you even get something that big to come off the bottom!

In the summer I go Fluke (Summer Flounder) fishing off New Jersey with my two sons. It's a lot like halibut but not as big. They are really fun to catch. Last summer I came up with a really cool way to catch them after watching this video:


I'm dying to go Fluke fishing again. The season opens up in June.