They’re Dancing: Gonzaga
College Basketball March 10th. 2009, 1:30pm
League: WCC
Famous Alumni: No need to play this game. John Stockton went there in the 80s, and then the program exploded at the turn of the century. We’re partial to Dan Dickau because he married a cheerleader, but Casey Calvary had a cool last name, and you have no idea how much we were crushed when Blake Stepp missed a potential game-winner in 2003 against Arizona.
Record: 26-5
Seeding projection: Anywhere from 4-6.
Final Four-bound if …: Pargo lets Bouldin run the offense, Heytvelt stays out of foul trouble, and Daye toughens up.
Don’t want to face …: It seems like uber-athletic, run-and-jump teams give the Zags trouble. Dynamic PG’s can be a load for Pargo, who prefers to play offense. For instance, if Gonzaga was a 4-seed and had to play the winner of Clemson-VCU, the Zags could be in trouble. Gonzaga would play much better against Illinois than Missouri. Arizona State than Michigan.
March prognosis: We’ve been fans since the preseason, and given the right drawn, a Final Four is possible.
26 Responses to “They’re Dancing: Gonzaga”
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March 10th, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Hopefully Micah Downs breaks his leg during a game.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Overrated. They will be lucky to get past the first round
March 10th, 2009 at 1:36 PM
I don’t know what to think about the Zags. Record is good. They played good teams in the non-conference season and were evenly matched. Unlike other years, they play very good defense. Yet, something gnaws at me that says they don’t make it to the 2nd weekend.
/perplexed come bracket time
March 10th, 2009 at 1:40 PM
They played good teams in the non-conference season and were evenly matched
not against Memphis
March 10th, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Well considering this hasn’t happened all season, can’t see it happening now. Pargo cost them the Uconn game and he’ll cost them another game in the tourney with his horrendous decision making. I really really do not like him at the point.
As for Daye, there was one play last night that summed up Austin Daye. Gonzaga up 24 with 5 minutes to go. Daye gets a pass and drives down the lane with no one in front of him, a guy comes from his left who’s about 6′2 to try to block it and Daye tries a reverse scoop, instead of trying to dunk it on his face.
HE’S 6′10!!
That told me all I needed to know about Austin Daye.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:49 PM
.
Yes, there is. Show some damned respect to the Zags’ most famous alumnus, Bing Crosby.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Agreed. Heytvelt is good though.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:56 PM
i liked them when they were all-white.
/racist
March 10th, 2009 at 2:04 PM
I dunno. The projected 5 seeds are pretty underwhelming. Xavier, Illinois, Purdue, and Florida St. I’d take Gonzaga in my bracket over any of those, though nervously.
I think the problem with this Gonzaga team is that it’s too balanced. Their top 6 scorers range in scoring from 15ppg to 9ppg. Nobody really asserts himself as the team leader. Daye should be the guy (incredible talent), but for whatever reason doesn’t produce in big moments.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
All right, I just got around to reading the comments on yesterday’s Cornell post. Who was it that said they hope that Cornell fails?
March 10th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Xavier beat Memphis, Missouri, and LSU. Sure you want to take Gonzaga over them? Gonzaga got embarassed by Memphis.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Memphis was a completely different team at the beginning of the year than at the end. So was Xavier. If Memphis and Xavier met in the tourney, would you pick Xavier? This is the same logic that led people to believe Penn St was better than USC in football. They beat the team that USC lost to. I wish this illogical thinking would end.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:26 PM
I like the Xavier coach. He used to coach under SVG
March 10th, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Memphis was a different team or they got to play in CUSA? Ponder that one for a bit…
March 10th, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Both.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
So you’d take Xavier in a rematch on a neutral floor, right?
March 10th, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Also, who thought Penn State would beat USC? I have several friends who went to PSU and not one of them thought they would beat USC.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:34 PM
It would be close, just like when they played earlier.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Many here.
And if the C-USA happened to Memphis, did the A-10 happen to Xavier? Losses to Duquesne, Charlotte, and Richmond down the stretch don’t bode too well. Not much difference between the A-10 and C-USA.
March 10th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Memphis was a different team or they got to play in CUSA? Ponder that one for a bit
Memphis hasn’t lost since making Tyreke Evans the starting point guard. Ponder that Duder
March 10th, 2009 at 2:37 PM
did the A-10 happen to Xavier? Losses to Duquesne, Charlotte, and Richmond down the stretch don’t bode too well. Not much difference between the A-10 and C-USA
great point NSR
March 10th, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Name all the tourney teams they have beat since Evans went to point.
They are similar teams. How many points would you give me if they met in the tourney?
March 10th, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Gonzaga, Tenn, Cincy off the top of my head
March 10th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
It’d be a close game, probably within five. But that’s not the point. The point is that using a common opponent is a fallacy and has been proven so time and time again. I like how Gonzaga matches up with Xavier. Not saying Gonzaga is by far the better team, but I probably take them in my bracket. Notice I said I would do so nervously.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Cincy just lost to DePaul, DePauls 1st BE win this year. They are not getting in.
You were implying that Xavier is a weak 5 seed. No argument can be made for that though. Two elite 8s the past five years and their quality wins this year should warrant a little respect.
March 10th, 2009 at 3:06 PM
of course they lose after i put them on that list. damnit