The Kennel Report

We've Been Promoted!

2008-12-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

We have a new website: http://www.slipperstillfits.com/

We've joined SB Nation as their Gonzaga blogger so we'll no longer be updating this page. We had a good run here at TKR but will now be The Slipper Still Fits.

Here's what you need to do once you get to the site!

First of all, Sign Up for an SB Nation account and join our blog! It's quick, easy and FREE! That way you can comment and leave fan posts and fan shots!
Browse the SB Nation blogroll. I know many of our fans are Washington based and their are blogs covering basically every major sports team in the state, including FieldGulls for the Seahawks, Lookout Landing for the Mariners, CougCenter for Washington State, and UWDawgPound for Washington. Each one of these sites is oustanding as are the rest of the blogs here at SB.
Get Involved! the FanPosts and FanShots are much like message boards in which all the readers can get involved and post stories or theories about Gonzaga. It really is a great tool to get the pulse of the fan base.
We'll be having live game threads as well. SB Nation makes these threads easy with live updating comments meaning that you have no need to refresh because the system does it for you. This should be an oustanding way to get everyone involved and keep the discussion rolling!

TKR Scouting Report: Guy-Marc Michel

2008-12-11T23:52:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, TKR had the opportunity to watch Guy-Marc Michel and his North Idaho College teammates play live at the MAC. While NIC was taking an incredibly over-matched opponent in the Community Colleges of Spokane, it was still a good chance to watch Guy-Marc closely and get a feel for the type of game he plays. In this game, Michel ended up with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocked shots (Click here for game recap).TKR will get another chance to watch Guy-Marc play on January 30th, when he will go one-on-one with fellow Gonzaga recruit, Daequon Montreal and the College of Southern Idaho.

Positives: The first thing that you notice when watching Guy-Marc is that he is very fluid for a 7'1 athlete. He runs the floor with ease, and I even heard ZagBell mention that it looks like he is gliding when he runs the court. This was a pleasant surprise, as many guys his size tend to labor when they are forced to run the court. With the up-tempo system that Gonzaga employs, he would be able to get many easy baskets in transition. The area where Guy-Marc really thrives is on the defensive end of the court. He uses his great size and tremendous wing-span to guard every shot that is taken. He also possesses excellent timing on his shot-blocking which allows for him to deflect many shots that other players his size wouldn't. It is clear he is most comfortable on this end of the court, as he is very vocal with his teammates, and controls everything in the paint. Michel is also a fundamentally solid rebounder. Immediately after any shot goes up, he locates a body and boxes out the man. I believe that just based on his defensive ability, Guy-Marc could contribute solid minutes to the GU team this season.

Negatives: While there is no denying the tremendous force that Guy-Marc is on the defensive end, his offensive game is about as raw as I have seen. While he is vocal and confident with his teammates on the defensive side, Michel appears to be timid and doesn't demand the ball in the set offense. The NIC was frustrating to watch, because many times, Michel would only receive the ball at the top of the key, where he was clearly uncomfortable. The interesting aspect of Michel's offensive game is that he actually has a decent post game. There were two separate occasions where NIC was able to get Michel isolated with his back-to-the-basket, and both times he was able to finish with ease. I was most impressed by a beautiful baby hook he was able to score over his defender from the left block. It seemed that he could hit this shot any time he wanted, but instead he allowed himself to be a bystander in the NIC offense.

Conclusion: It was clear to see why the Gonzaga coaching staff is so interested in Guy-Marc Michel for the class of 2010. He is a 7 footer who is blessed with great athleticism and lots of natural ability. In the stands tonight was Gonzaga coach Tommy Lloyd as well as Austin Daye and Ira Brown, and you better believe that Lloyd was scouting every move that Michel made. He would be a tremendous asset to this program in the class of 2010, and along with Sam Dower, Andy Poling, Rob Sacre, and potentially Daequon Montreal, there would be tremendous depth at the PF and C position. The games against CSI on January 30th and 31st should be a great opportunity to see how Michel matches up with one of the top JC bigs in the country.

The Zags Scored 70; Kind Words from a Cougar Blogger

2008-12-11T16:32:00.000-08:00

Before the Gonzaga-Washington State game, The Kennel Report was joined by Nuss, who writes for the Washington State blog, CougCenter. After the respective sides have settled down, Nuss was kind enough to join us and write a piece from the viewpoint of a Cougar fan. With that being said, we'll let Nuss have the floor:

If there was any doubt as to which college basketball team is the best in the state of Washington this year -- and I'm not sure there actually was any doubt, but let's assume there was at least a sliver -- it's pretty much been cleared up at this point, hasn't it?

I can count on one hand in the last five or so years the number of times the Cougars have been dismantled like that, and to have it happen so quickly and over such a short amount of time was stunning, to say the least. As you all know, I'm the guy who said there was no possible way the Zags get to 70 because that would require an offensive efficiency around 115, and that was just absurd to even consider against a Cougar defense that held Baylor to 101 and Pitt to 97.7. I just didn't think Gonzaga was any more special than either of those two teams.

But then it happened. And as I watched the game unfold, I was grasping for reasons as to how this could possibly be happening. I kept thinking, "C'mon! We're absolutely giving this game away!" I kept thinking, "Yeah, Gonzaga started making their shots, but man, we gift-wrapped it!"

Then, I stewed. And I stewed some more. And the more I thought about it, the more I grew to appreciate what truly was a stunningly efficient performance by Gonzaga in that second half. I kept thinking it had everything to do with us -- a typical fan-centric point of view -- but I had to start recognizing the role that Gonzaga played, which was a lot bigger than I was giving the Bulldogs credit for.

It wasn't so much generating the turnovers, per se, because I do think that many of them were bonehead plays that were gift-wrapped. I mean, that 3/4-court trap was halfhearted at best -- it's not like you guys are Louisville or something. No, the Zags generate pressure in a different way, flustering you by scoring with a relentlessness that reminds you of North Carolina. (We'll get to the Tar Heels in a second, by the way.) Yeah, the Cougs were making mistakes, but they generally survive them with their defense. Last night? A couple of mistakes and a missed shot and this went from a three-point game to a 12-point game. Just like that.

Do you realize what kind of pressure that puts on a team, especially one as deliberate as the Cougars? A double digit deficit in the second half is WSU's worst nightmare, especially against a team that you know is going to make some shots, no matter what kind of defense you play. Well, the pressure got to the Cougs, and for some inexplicable reason, they thought the best course of action was to play Gonzaga's style. Fourteen minutes and 36 points into the second half, they realized their mistake -- far too late, of course.

And that's where you, Gonzaga fan, ought to be most excited. You imposed your uptempo will on WSU. I hope you realize just how significant that is, because I've only seen it one other time -- at the end of last year's NCAA Tournament in the Sweet Sixteen loss to ... North Carolina. It didn't surprise me one bit that Matt Bouldin said the Zags had watched that game, because although it took Gonzaga longer than it took North Carolina to get to us, the script was the same.

Are you as good as North Carolina? No way -- no one is. But you've now taken two teams who tried to slow it down on you to the woodshed. You did to WSU what Pitt and Baylor couldn't. And you've already more than proven that you can beat teams who dare to run with you, easily handling one of the fastest of them all, Tennessee. If you can beat UConn -- which I absolutely think you can do -- you'll really have something going for you. I know it's awful early, but a No. 1 seed is definitely a realistic goal for this squad as long as it doesn't stub its toe in the WCC.

After what I saw last night, I have a hard time believing that will happen. Despite what I said on my site yesterday about some of your fans – and I know that’s not all of you – I have never wavered in my belief that Gonzaga is a damn good team. Certainly, nothing that happened last night changed my mind. If anything, I’m more convinced than ever that this team is for real.

For more Zags love from a Cougar, check out this post on CougCenter before the game began last night..

A Few Good Questions with...SI.com's Luke Winn

2008-12-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

TKR has been reading prominent college basketball writers for many years and their are few writers better than Luke Winn from Sports Illustrated. We were lucky enough to get in contact with Mr. Winn and ask him a few questions about Gonzaga basketball this season. We hope you enjoy this interview with him. It won't be the last time we have an interview with a prominent writer from across the nation. Enjoy!

The Kennel Report: The improved play of Jeremy Pargo has been one of the most important aspects of Gonzaga's early season success. Where have you seen the greatest improvement in his game? Where would you rank him among the top PG's in the country?

Luke Winn: I think Pargo -- and the whole team, for that matter -- is being far more patient this year on offense. Instead of going for what Mark Few calls "hero" plays early in the shot clock, or on the end of a fast break, they're moving the ball around and ending up with much better looks. Pargo's assist to turnover ratio has shot way up as a result (from 1.4-to-1 last year to 4.3-to-1 this year). So the area of his greatest improvement, I would say, is as a decision-maker.

As for Pargo's national rank as a PG, there are still four guys I'd take in front of him: Davidson's Steph Curry (who's being called a point guard this year), UNC's Ty Lawson (the best all-around point in the country), UCLA's Darren Collison (can defend and shoot the three), and Syracuse's Jonny Flynn (who's a little faster than Pargo, and a little better scorer). Pargo's among the best of the second tier, but I still don't see him as a first-rounder in the next NBA draft.

TKR: Gonzaga has long had the perception as a "finesse" and "soft" basketball team. What do you think are the main factors behind the increased toughness this particular team seems to be demonstrating?

LW: The switch away from being a finesse team actually began last year, when the Zags finished in the top 35 in defensive efficiency, and this year the toughness has really taken hold. I'll give you four reasons for the change in identity:

1) Adam Morrison and Derek Raivio (their all-offense, no-defense stars) are two years removed from the lineup, and the defense has gotten used to playing 5-on-5 instead of 3-on-5.
2) Few and his staff have been emphasizing D a lot more in practice, and he has two defensive-minded assistants in Ray Giacoletti and Leon Rice.
3) There's great length at almost every position, particularly with Micah Downs (6-8), Matt Bouldin (6-5) and Steven Gray (6-5) on the perimeter, and three guys 6-11 or taller in the forward rotation.
4) Demetri Goodson coming off the bench to relieve Pargo and pester opposing point guards. Every coach and player I interviewed brought up Goodson's name when they were asked to explain why the defense had improved.

TKR: The future of Mark Few is a popular topic nearly every off season. Do you see any job opening that Mark Few would leave Spokane for, and if so, why?

LW: Maybe Arizona, if it ponied up enough money to make Few one of the highest-paid coaches in the nation. Recruiting there would be easy, and he could probably live as comfortably in Tucson as he does in Spokane. But I don't think Few is going to leave. If he loves Spokane, he has the Zags in the NCAA tournament every year, and he's able to recruit (or produce) NBA-level players already, what's the point of switching jobs?

TKR: With the PAC-10 facing a down season, do you feel that Gonzaga has the talent and the schedule to be considered for a #1 seed in the West come March?

LW: It's not just the Pac-10 that's down. The Big Ten doesn't have a real shot at a No. 1 seed either, which leaves the pool for No. 1 seeds limited to Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Duke, Tennessee and the Big East. (I think I've got them all there.) The Zags could earn a No. 1, but they'd probably have to beat UConn in Seattle for a real statement win, and then go through the West Coast Conference with no more than one loss.

TKR: What do you think it will take for this team to break through and make the Final Four? Do you think this team has the depth and talent to compete with and challenge North Carolina?

LW: Gonzaga doesn't have talent or depth to match UNC. But that's fine, because no one else vying for the other three Final Four spots does either. My main worries about the Zags as a Final Four team is with their rebounding; they were murdered on the boards by Tennessee, and they don't seem to create many second looks on the offensive glass. I'd like to see Heytvelt pull down more than six rebounds a game, since he's their only true post player in the top seven of the rotation. If the glasswork comes around, they'll really be dangerous.

Outcoached, Outclassed, Outplayed: Zags Dominate Cougs

2008-12-10T20:34:00.000-08:00

If I was to tell you that Andrew Sorenson would play in this year's Washington State-Gonzaga game...would you believe me?

Every now and then a game comes along that is absolutely poetic. I know, I know, I wrote that this was just another silly PAC-10 team thinking Gonzaga was inferior but there is some pride in beating the Cougs, a team that took away plenty of happiness during my last two years of college.

Heading into this game, Gonzaga fans heard all the same BS. Can Gonzaga play a slow game? Do they really want to be defended? Blah, blah, blah. Your answer came tonight in an absolute laugher of a game in Pullman, Washington.

Give some credit to the Cougs that showed up in the first half tonight, who now are 1-73 against Top 5 opposition. They gave it their all and capitalized on sloppy fouls by Gonzaga. Believe it or not, this game was 32-29 at halftime. I'm really going to try and focus on the second half during this game but I guess I do have to address the sloppy play in the first half. Gonzaga looked flustered to say the least. They weren't shooting well and they were accumulating fouls very quickly. Josh Heytvelt, Rob Sacre, and Ira Brown had two fouls at halftime. Micah Downs had three. Everything looked bad for Gonzaga and it appeared as though this game was headed to another 51-47 game.

Suddenly, the Zags snapped out of it and realized that Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and the Cougs of last year are no more.

How can I go about explaining the second half? Absolute...perfection. Gonzaga came out fast and shoved the slow pace in the Cougars face. Micah Downs and Steven Gray were outstanding on the press against Wazzu, forcing one 10 second call and numerous amounts of Cougar turnovers. Washington State didn't help their cause at all. Any Cougar fan would agree with me in saying that they just looked flat out bad. I've never seen Taylor Rochestie play so poorly, but this has become an alarming trend for Washington State fans because he is a key player if they are going to have any shot at a tournament bid. Super frosh Klay Thompson looked scared and senior big man Aron Baynes was perfect from the field...but never really established himself as a major threat and finished with 10 points. The most efficient player for the Cougs probably wound up being Caleb Forrest who ended up with 9 points.

Now on to the winning team. Gonzaga was paced by its leaders. Josh Heytvelt was absolutely outstanding, Jeremy Pargo led this team beautifully, and Austin Daye rebounded from a tough start to finish very well. Congrats to Mr. Pargo as well, the official stats have not been released but I believe that he had a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists. He had a very Pargo-esque stat line shooting 5-7 from the floor. Not forcing anything, but still directing this team to success. What can you say about Josh Heytvelt? You would be hard pressed to find a player that has come back from more adversity than Mr. Heytvelt. After two early (somewhat questionable) fouls, the big man who apparently dreamed of Washington State (thanks Ehlo) played beautifully. He shot 18 times tonight, including seven from three-point land. Any other night I would say that he shot too many threes but I'm so happy right now that I don't really care. He finished with 22 points and was just exquisite.

Super sophomores Austin Daye and Steven Gray were fantastic tonight as well. Gray, who finished with 9 points, hit some clutch three pointers in the first half when it appeared that WSU was in control of the game. Austin Daye seemed flustered at the start of the game but settled in after a big three in the first half and never looked back. He showed some maturity and was really meshing well with the team. Junior Matt Bouldin had another solid game, especially (you guessed it) in the second half. He continues to play great basketball for this team and not relying on the outside shot to get baskets.

Is there a question about basketball supremacy in the state this year? Gonzaga continues to roll through a challenging non-conference schedule. Next up are the Arizona Wildcats which should be a much different style of game.

Congrats to Mark Few, the staff, and the team. It's another great night to be a Zag.

Quick Zags-Cougs Halftime Report

2008-12-10T19:55:00.000-08:00

When: December 10th, 2008 @ 7 PM PST

Where: Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Pullman, WA.

TV: KHQ-TV in Spokane/ FSN (check listings)
Betting Line: Gonzaga by 5.5
Official Game Notes

Some things that jump out after the first half of play:

Zags up three at halftime; 32-29

Foul Trouble: All of the Zags' 'bigs' are in some sort of foul trouble. Josh, Ira, and Rob have two. Micah has three fouls. Some fouls have been 'questionable'
Both teams shooting poorly. Steven Gray has shot well from three-point range which is a good sign.
Jeremy Pargo has been efficient shooting three/five from the floor.

It wasn't the prettiest first half of play but the Zags are up three. Look for Josh to establish himself if the refs allow it. Hopefully Bouldin shows up and everyone stays out of foul trouble.

If the Cougs don't get hot from outside, I like our odds.

GO ZAGS!!!

Live Game Thread: Zags Vs. Cougs

2008-12-10T18:45:00.001-08:00

When: December 10th, 2008 @ 7 PM PST

Where: Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Pullman, WA.

TV: KHQ-TV in Spokane/ FSN (check listings)
Betting Line: Gonzaga by 5.5
Official Game Notes

We'll be making updates throughout the game so come hang out and enter the discussion in the comments section

"Ho-Hum Just Another PAC-10 Team"

2008-12-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

I loved this "ho-hum" comment in our previous post about some Gonzaga fans not really seeing the Washington State-Gonzaga match up as being a huge rivalry game. It's weird to say that being that the schools are separated by an hour and a half drive through nothingness. At one point I thought I was a Cougar hater but Lorenzo Romar and the Washington Huskies really made me indifferent towards the school from Pullman. If you've been paying attention to our blogging friends from CougCenter, their is quite a bit of hatred being spewed by the Cougar faithful. Most of it seems to be personal stuff dealing with bad Gonzaga fans or players and the constant debate of who "owns the state". I never fully got this idea because no team ever truly owns a state unless you win a title...so I guess the Seattle Storm own the state or the Spokane Shock if we are giving it to Arena League teams. The Zags have their fans, the Cougs have their fans, and the Huskies (for some reason) have their fans.

Gonzaga enters Pullman, Washington tonight as the fourth ranked team in the nation. That's all I really care about right now. Our next seven games include five teams that were in the NCAA Tournament a season ago. For this reason, their is no way that the game against Washington State should be thought of as anything more than a game against a PAC-10 opponent that happens to play in the same state as us. Sure, if the Zags wins, our fans can call their buddies that went to WSU and celebrate at their expense. Other than that, this game is just a stepping stone to better days for this team. If we win, we are that much closer to achieving our goals in the season which include a #1 seed out West and a top-ranking throughout the season. If we lose, your WSU buddies will call you and celebrate at your expense. Losing to Washington State is something that can't happen for one reason and that is the fact that we are a better team this year with more talent and experience.

Washington State is a far different team from the one that took the court a season ago, whether they want to admit it or not. The loss of Kyle Weaver and Derrick Low are, in my estimation, huge losses. I loved their back court last year and truly believe that Kyle Weaver was one of the most solid and outstanding players all year. Don't get me wrong, I love Klay Thompson and think he is going to be outstanding. I love to hate the Zag-killer Taylor Rochestie and think Aron Baynes is a very good big man. But overall, where the Cougs have changed since last year, the Zags have remained the same.

Actually, we have gotten better. Gonzaga features two players that Washington State did not even see last year in Josh Heytvelt and Steven Gray. Heytvelt has been the most consistent player on the FOURTH BEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY. Steven Gray pushed for a starting spot and, if hot, can bury a team with his outstanding shooting range. There is really no excuse for a loss tonight because the Zags enter at full-strength. Austin Daye and Robert Sacre have one more year under their belt. Matt Bouldin is ready to redeem himself for his 0-9 showing a year ago and Jeremy Pargo is a top point guard in the nation that has sacrificed his own stat line for the good of the team. I haven't even mentioned Demetri Goodson, Micah Downs, and Ira Brown who have been excellent contributors all season long.

This team is deep, this team is talented, and this team is well coached.

GO ZAGS!!!

Battle for Eastern Washington: Zags Battle Cougs Tonight

2008-12-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

When: December 10th, 2008 @ 7 PM PST

Where: Friel Court at Beasley Coliseum. Pullman, WA.

TV: KHQ-TV in Spokane/ FSN (check listings)
Betting Line: Gonzaga by 5.5
Official Game Notes

One of the most pleasant surprises in the college basketball world has been the impressive rise of the Washington St. program. Under Tony Bennett, the Cougs have proven to be one of the top teams on the west coast and capable of beating any team in the country. This has proven to be a blessing for Gonzaga, because it allows for GU to have a guaranteed high quality Pac 10 opponent on the schedule every year. While some programs in the state of Washington have decided to go with a more "national schedule" (just a reminder of the Huskies tremendous national schedule: next 3 games=Portland St., Eastern Washington, and Lehigh), the rivalry between GU and WSU has become one of the top games on the west coast each year.

Gonzaga this season: With a victory over Indiana this past weekend, coupled with a loss by Duke, Gonzaga has moved up to #4 in both polls. I'm guessing many of these voters do not have access to the Big 10 Network, because the Zags were far from impressive against the Hoosiers. While the 70-54 final score seems to show that Gonzaga ran Indiana off the court, the reality is that the inexperienced and over matched Hoosiers hung around and kept the game close. The Zags really struggled shooting the ball, as they shot 3-16 from beyond the arc. Equally upsetting was the number of second-chance points that IU was able to get. GU did not take advantage of their tremendous athletic advantage, and only out-rebounded the significantly smaller Hoosiers by four. While the team is 6-0, there is a significant need for improvement if they hope to be undefeated for the Battle in Seattle.

WSU this season: After losing the core of their past two NCAA Tournament teams, many fans felt that this would be a rebuilding year for WSU. However, the Cougs are off to a 6-2 start, with both of their losses against ranked opponents (Baylor and Pitt). In their most recent game, WSU was defeated by the very talented Baylor Bears. Daven Harmeling and Aron Baynes each scored 14 points in the defeat. With talented freshman like Klay Thompson (11.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game), DeAngelo Casto (3.4 points and 4.4 rebounds), and Marcus Capers (1.9 points and 2.1 rebounds) playing key minutes, this team will need to rely on the veteran presence of Harmeling, Baynes, and Taylor Rochestie to have a successful season.

What We are Watching For: Can the Zags adapt to the slower pace and physical game that WSU will play? In the defeat last year, GU forced up shots early in the shot clock, and played exactly the way WSU wants its opponents to play. With Kyle Weaver and Derrick Low pressuring the backcourt, Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin shot a combined 3-20 last year. With all that has been written about the improved toughness that this team has, this game should provide the ultimate test of mental strength and toughness. For the Zags to win, the seniors need use the experience of the last two years and not try to force the issue on the offensive end.

Looking at the Match Ups: In Klay Thompson, the Cougs got one of the better shooters in the 2008 recruiting class. Thompson fits into Tony Bennett's system perfectly, and does an excellent job of getting open without the ball. It should be fun to watch see if the length and athleticism of Micah Downs can make life difficult for Thompson. In their victory over WSU, Pitt used Jermaine Dixon to bother Thompson throughout the game. Dixon is only 6'3, but he has the long arms like Micah that can really bother a shooter. Another great match up will take place in the paint. Josh Heytvelt will face his most physically daunting opponent of this young season when he guards Aron Baynes. The 6'11 Aussie uses his great strength to establish position on the block, and finishes very well around the hoop. Baynes had a field day last season against the Zags, but he did not have to worry about the injured Heytvelt. Both of these guys are playing at an extremely high level, and it should be a pleasure to watch them battle.

The Final Prediction: Based on their play this season, it seems fair to say that the Cougs have become the type of the program that can reload as opposed to rebuild. WSU still plays with great intensity on the defensive end, and they have a system that can bother any of the top teams in the country. However, after losing the last two years, the Zags have an extra incentive heading into this game. There is no way that Pargo and Bouldin go a combined 3-20 again, and with a healthy Josh Heytvelt and Steven Gray, the Zags should emerge with a 70-58 win.

Future Zag Sam Dower Drops 22 in Losing Effort

2008-12-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

The 2009 commit from Osseo, Minnesota kicked off his senior season last night against Henry Sibley High School. Sibley is one of the best teams in the state and is loaded with talent that includes four players 6'7'' or taller, including a 7 footer.

Dower's Osseo Orioles lost 64-51 but it was not without a fantastic effort from Sam Dower (right). The athletic big man had 22 points and 11 boards in the loss. According to reports, Dower was not dominant in the paint against the huge Sibley lineup. He instead got a majority of his points on fast breaks and in transition. Dower is known for his ability to run the floor and he showed that last night. He was also able to capitalize on put backs from the offensive glass.

The result wasn't what Sam wanted as Osseo fell but his versatility really shined last night. The fact that he already has good body control and good hands is a very positive thing for Gonzaga fans. Typically, big men take time to perfect body control but it looks like Sam will be able to come in right away and contribute. Good luck the rest of the way, Sam.

Learning More About Jeff Withey from a Man Who Facilitated His Growth

2008-12-09T16:01:00.000-08:00

One thing that Gonzaga has been able to capitalize on during its impressive growth is luring big-time transfers who were unhappy in their original situations. Transfers like Dan Dickau, Erroll Knight, and Micah Downs have been instrumental pieces to Gonzaga's success as a program. Recently, a new transfer prospect has emerged on the Zags' radar. Jeff Withey, a four-star prospect out of high school spent his first semester at the University of Arizona before deciding to transfer because of the coaching changes at the university.

He never stepped on the court for the Wildcats so many fans do not know what Withey can bring to a program. TKR was lucky enough to get an interview with Trent Suzuki, who acted as Withey's recruiting coordinator as well as his personal trainer. He has trained many world-class athletes and has had a first hand look at Jeff's progression throughout his high school career. Suzuki was also instrumental in the recruitment of a current Arizona star which led to Jeff trusting in him to handle his recruiting as well.

"I've been training Jeff since his freshman year in high school. I worked with Chase Budinger so he heard about me through him" Suzuki told TKR, "I ran Chase's recruitment as well and since that worked so well, Jeff decided to let me run his recruitment. I ran it very fair and impartial and gave all the coaches equal ground."

Suzuki still maintains a good relationship with Withey and offered some insights into what drove Jeff to transfer from Arizona.

"The situation (at Arizona) became unfortunate because he wanted to have stability in the program. You just never know who is going to be the coach there so he just wanted to make sure he had all of his eligibility with a coach who is stable" Suzuki continued, "Everything happens for a reason and Jeff and his parents, who are a very Christian family, believe that . He just wanted to put his future in his own hands and that is something his family thought about. They prayed about it and this was what it came to."

During his high school days, Gonzaga was not a school that was actively pursuing Withey. However, since his decision to transfer, various sources have reported that Gonzaga is a major player and Suzuki notes this as well.

"He mentioned them. I haven't really spoken at length about Gonzaga with him since he has been sick recently but we have been texting back and forth about stuff. But if he mentioned them, he is definitely thinking about them" Suzuki told us.

The two other major players that have been reported are Texas and Kansas, and this is nothing new for Jeff Withey as they were there when he chose Arizona during his high school recruitment.

"Texas and Kansas were some of the final schools for him," Suzuki said, "They were right there. He already has a good relationship with Coach Self and Coach Barnes."

The nice thing about talking to Trent Suzuki for us was that he has had a front-row seat for Withey's development. We asked him to describe him as a player for us.

"Jeff is a very athletic guy, very branchy. He has tremendous shot blocking ability and has great defensive instincts already. He can shoot the three ball and has pretty good back to the basket skills. He obviously hasn't played at the college level but the Arizona coaches were very happy with his progress while he was there."

From all reports, Withey has been described much like Suzuki said and his weaknesses all appear to be very manageable and something that the Gonzaga coaching staff is used to dealing with.

"Jeff's got to get stronger. I know that better than anyone being his strength coach. When I started with him, he was 6'10'', 160 pounds." Suzuki said. "He is around 220 now so he's still learning how to play stronger and play in a stance. When you are that tall in high school, you really have no need to play that big because you can just use your athleticism."

Suzuki had a great deal of praise for Withey and claimed that the only thing that can really hold him back from being in the NBA early is his strength and the ability to play strong in the post. His praise even stretched beyond the basketball court.

"He is a very humble kid and quiet by nature. He loves hanging out with his friends and playing video games; he's really just your regular Southern California kid. He loves being outside and going to the beach and he comes from a great family and is very grounded with his principles."

As we mentioned earlier, Suzuki is one of the most well-known and respected trainers in the country. We were lucky enough to get his take on the Gonzaga program.

"I worked with Nike during some of their camps and got to work a little bit with Jeremy Pargo, you've got a good one there. I do follow your program and am a big fan of what Mark Few has done," Suzuki said "I have also become good friends with Coach (Bill) Grier since he has come down here and am a big believer in that kind of basketball."

"Gonzaga is well-known down here, they are always at the top of their conference and I'm a big fan of how they play. I'm always very excited when Gonzaga is interested in one of my guys."

Wazzu Links and a "Big-Ten Themed" Zags Around the Web

2008-12-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Would anyone like to take any more shots at the state of Nebraska? I guess we probably should move on now that another Zag game is on the horizon. The Washington State game is one of the biggest games on the schedule this season and the only in-state rivalry game (anyone want to take shots at UW?). The Cougars have had Gonzaga's number the past two years but this year's Wazzu team is going through a transition after losing some key player. The Cougs will stil give Gonzaga all they can handle. We will have more on Wazzu later today.

For now, here are some links to get you ready for the team from Pullman...

- CougCenter...nice lookin' blog done by some WSU fans
- Washington State Message Board...where they believe Taylor Rochestie has the edge over Jeremy Pargo in tomorrow's game
- Official Wazzu Website...updated stats, profiles etc..
- Wazzu on ESPN.com

Some other links around the Internet got my attention as well...

- Some recruiting news in the form of Cole Stefan. He has visited Illinois State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has scheduled Nevada as his next visit. According to Stefan, he will only make on visit this winter and that is his trip to Reno. Hopefully he visits Gonzaga before deciding his college fate but they are left out of this Scout (subscription) article. Hopefully this Minnesota scout writer is still bitter about the Zags grabbing Sam Dower because Stefan appears to be a solid talent.

- People always tend to freak out about the Zags being called "America's Team"...ya I don't like it either but these IU fans are visibly shaken.

- Gonzaga is included in this article which is why I linked it but after the performances thus far of Purdue and Michigan State, I'm not sure I would use the title the author did. Kudos to Michigan though.

Jeff Withey Update

2008-12-08T22:02:00.001-08:00

With the great success of players like Dan Dickau, Erroll Knight, and Micah Downs, Gonzaga is no stranger to dealing with high profile transfers. It appears that GU is making an active attempt to add to this terrific list, as the Zags are in hot pursuit of Jeff Withey.

Withey has had a unique experience since enrolling at the University of Arizona. After the sudden departure of Lute Olson, Withey formally filed his transfer papers. However, after filing these papers on October 29th, his transfer was denied by Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood.

Here is the quote from Livengood about Withey's decision to transfer:

"it's in the best interest of the University of Arizona to have Jeff complete an academic year here. That's what the letter of intent states."

It appeared that Withey would be forced to spend his entire freshman year at Arizona, but over the past 24 hours things have changed. Both the Arizona Rivals page and the Tuscon Citizen (click to read article) are reporting that Withey will be granted his release soon. Even more exciting for Gonzaga fans are the following quotes from an interview between Withey and the Arizona Rivals page (click to read article).

"In the coming weeks, Withey will decide on a new school, and it appears that the three programs in most serious contention are Kansas, Texas and Gonzaga."

"Right now I'm looking at the schools that recruited me in high school and I'm trying to get a feel for who is going to recruit me," Withey said. "I'll probably make a decision in the next couple of weeks."

TKR's Take: I think it would be fair to say that Jeff Withey would be the ultimate christmas gift for the Gonzaga coaching staff. Withey has a combination of height and athleticism that you rarely see. There is no denying that he needs to add strength and polish his offensive game before he will be able to dominate at a high level, but adding Withey to a class of Arop, Dower, and potentially Kong would be incredible. Withey would not be able to play for the school he transfers to until January 2010, when he would be considered a freshman. This might even be an added bonus for the Gonzaga coaches, as they would have over a year to get him in the weight room and work on his fundamentals and skill set.

Important Links Regarding Jeff Withey
Rivals profile
Scout profile
Scouts, Inc. profile

Inside the AP Poll: What Gives, Nebraska?

2008-12-08T15:33:00.000-08:00

One of the best (or worst) things about the polling system in college basketball is that it provides an insight as to what the nation thinks about every team. The AP Poll is decided by a collection of sports writers from across the country, who's job it is to make an educated and objective decision regarding the 25 best teams in the country. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet and full disclosure, individual polls are made public and we can see the different opinions on our beloved Zags. Here are some stats that we pulled from today's AP Poll:

The Zags were ranked fourth overall (duh!)
Gonzaga received two second place votes in today's poll from writers out of Riverside, CA and Salem, OR
14 out 72 voters ranked Gonzaga as the third best team in the nation or better
20 of the 72 voters ranked Gonzaga as the fifth or worse team in the nation
The lowest ranking Gonzaga received was 8th, by a voter from the state of Nebraska

Going through the 14 voters that put the Zags above their fourth ranking it is clear that a majority are from the left coast. A couple papers from California, and some from Utah, Idaho and Oregon all put Gonzaga 3rd or better. The Seattle voter, interestingly enough, put the Zags fifth. Gonzaga is definitely making some waves across the country, however, and that can all be attributed to the scheduling of Mark Few. People often times complain that the team has to travel too great lengths to play good competition but I would wager that Mark Few is traveling great distances to expose his team to the East coast that probably doesn't want to stay awake until 3 am to watch Gonzaga take on USF or LMU. So far this year his scheme has worked. Two voters from the state of Florida, where the Old Spice Classic was held, ranked Gonzaga third in the nation. Impressed by the effort against his Volunteers, a Tennessee sports writer voted Gonzaga third as well.

As any Gonzaga fan can assume, a majority of votes that put Gonzaga as the fifth or worse team came from the East Coast (except Seattle of course). Through our research, it appears that three of the votes putting Gonzaga fifth or worse came from the state of North Carolina. Perhaps they are a little worried about Heytvelt dominating Hansbrough again. Another couple of voters against the Zags came from the Midwest which is not surprising because they know how mediocre Indiana is this season and Gonzaga did not look like the fourth best team in the nation on Saturday. Rest assured the Gonzaga will have the ability to build on the their image in the coming weeks. Although they don't travel East again until January 7th (Tennessee), they will play one of the top teams in the nation in the University of Connecticut. Games against Washington State and Arizona should also garner some national attention. Not to mention that 'little' game in Spokane against last year's national runner-up, the Memphis Tigers.

Here is the poll which has Gonzaga as the 8th best team in the nation...interesting.

As you can see from this Nebraskans point of view, Tennessee remains the better team even though Gonzaga beat them in their head to head match up...starting to sound kind of like the BCS isn't it? The rest of his poll looks pretty good except for having one-loss Louisville ahead of Gonzaga.

Hopefully this provides a new insight to the poll process and how our excellent non-conference schedule affects our national image. Hopefully the Zags keep taking care of business and our ranking keeps getting lower.

Movin' On Up: Gonzaga Ranked 4th by AP, Coaches

2008-12-08T11:15:00.001-08:00

Gonzaga took advantage of a Duke loss to Michigan and rose one spot to fourth in the latest edition of the AP and Coaches Poll.

Right on the Zags' heels are the Oklahoma Sooners who have (with exception to North Carolina) put together the most impressive list of performances. Carolina continues to steam roll the competition and Pitt and UConn have been impressive thus far.

If Gonzaga and Connecticut take care of business before December 20th, the Battle in Seattle will feature two teams in the Top 4.

Around the WCC: 12/3-12/7 edition

2008-12-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

The big story from the WCC over the last four days is the tragic injury for Brandon Johnson. Johnson tore his Achilles tendon against San Diego St., and he will miss the remainder of the season.

LMU (o-8; 0-1): Things are starting to turn ugly in Los Angeles. With the issues surrounding Bill Bayno, and injuries to some of their top players, it is starting to become a possibility that LMU won't have a win heading into 2009. In their lone game this week, the Lions fell to Wyoming by a score of 62-55. LMU continues to get good production from LaRon Armstead, as the talented freshman had 15 points and 4 rebounds in the defeat. The return of Vernon Teel over the next two weeks should provide a huge boost to this struggling team.

Schedule this week: 12/13 @ UCSB

Pepperdine (1-7; 0-2): Speaking of struggling programs, Pepperdine recorded their seventh consecutive loss earlier today. The Waves fell to Dan Monson and his Long Beach St. 49ers 80-61. The game was relatively competitive until the midpoint of the 2nd half, when the 49ers heated from beyond the arc. While it was expected this team would struggle, I have been very disappointed in the play of Mychel Thompson. Thompson was impressive as a freshman, and it looked like he was ready to emerge as one of the top players in the conference this season. However, Thompson hasn't score in double figures since the second game of the season, and only scored six points against LBSU. Thompson's poor play saw him earn a spot on the bench against UC Irvine, but the results remained the same, as he only scored two points in the 71-63 defeat.

Schedule this week: 12/13 vs. Pacific

Portland (5-2; 1-1): Who would have thought that Portland fans might be frustrated with a 5-2 start to this season? After playing great basketball over the first month of the season, the Pilots fell back to earth with a 63-58 loss to Eastern Washington. Portland had the lead with just over 12 minutes remaining, but they could not contain the duo of Benny Valentine and Milan Stanojevic, who scored 16 and 17 points respectively. Robin Smeulders led the way for Portland with 18 points, but the usually consistent Nik Raivio shot only 2-12 from the field. The Pilots did bounce back later in the week, with a 68-65 victory over Idaho. Raivio bounced back from his poor performance against Eastern Washington, as he led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds.

Schedule this week: 12/13@ BYU

St. Mary's (6-1; 1-0): In a match up of two traditional mid-major powers, St. Mary's beat Kent St. 75-69. In the victory, the Gaels were led by 26 points from Patty Mills and 19 points from Omar Samhan. Although he struggled on the offensive end, Diamon Simpson grabbed 15 rebounds. I would consider this to be the top victory for the WCC this week, especially after Kent St. defeated St. Mary's in Moraga last season.

Schedule this week: 12/13 @ San Diego St.

San Diego (4-4; 0-1): In their 57-46 loss to San Diego St., USD lost much more then a basketball game. As I mentioned earlier, Brandon Johnson, who is one of the elite guards in the WCC, was lost for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Johnson is not the type of player that USD can just replace, and this injury likely ends any hope of USD competing for the WCC championship. TKR would like to with Brandon Johnson a speedy recovery from this horrible injury, and his tremendous offensive ability will be missed.

Schedule this week: 12/8 vs. San Jose St.; 12/10 vs. New Mexico; 12/13 @ Oregon

San Francisco (6-3; 1-1): Rex Walters and his USF Dons continue to be one of the pleasant surprises this season. After playing great in a tough defeat against USC last week, it appeared that the Dons had fallen back to earth when they were blown out by Cal Poly. In the 60-41 defeat, Dior Lowhorn scored 21 points, but none of his teammates were able to score in double figures. However, this has proven to be a resilient team, and they demonstrated this again with their 78-74 victory over Long Beach St. Dior Lowhorn matched his season high with 26 points and also grabbed eight rebounds in this terrific game. USF can be a very good team if they can find someone to complement the tremendous Lowhorn.

Schedule this week: 12/9 @ Pacific; 12/13 @ Boise St.

Santa Clara (4-4; 2-0): Don't look now, but the Santa Clara Broncos have found their groove. After beginning the season 1-4, the Broncos have won three consecutive games and are playing terrific defense. Against San Jose St., John Bryant had the game winning basket with 7.5 seconds remaining, which secured the 59-56 victory. Bryant scored 20 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in the victory. San Jose St. will compete for the WAC title this year, so this is a very good victory for Santa Clara. The Broncos followed up this thrilling victory by destroying Sacramento St. 51-32. John Bryant again led the way with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Much like Dior Lowhorn at USF, this Santa Clara team could be scary if they can find someone to complement the dominate John Bryant.

Schedule this week: 12/13 vs. Notre Dame (CA) Argonauts

Welcome Back to Reality: Zags Struggle in Victory over Hoosiers

2008-12-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

The scheduling of Indiana before games with Washington State and Arizona may have been a blessing in disguise for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In case the Big 10 Network announcers didn't make it clear enough throughout the game, Indiana is young, inexperienced, and just not that talented. In all honesty, it looked like the Zags completely overlooked this team and Indiana punched them in the mouth. Luckily for Gonzaga, their depth was just way too much for Indiana and they were able to escape Indianapolis with a misleading 16 points victory. There aren't many times when depth alone wins games but today it did because the team that wanted it more was not wearing blue. It is a win though and their were some good individual performances but you have to think that Washington State is licking their chops because if Gonzaga plays the way they did today against the Cougs...they won't be able to escape with a W.

Here are a couple negatives we saw from the game...

Gonzaga: The smallest big team in the nation. As we have mentioned in previous posts, Gonzaga seems to be struggling with an identity. They seem to be forgetting that they are the team with size. You'd never guess that we are loaded with guys that are 6'10'' or above based on the amount of shots we are taking from the outside. Austin Daye, Micah Downs, and Matt Bouldin are all decent outside shooters but the strength of their basketball abilities are in other areas. Austin took six three point attempts this afternoon and did not make a single one. He has such a rare ability to get to the basket and make shots with his length but he just does not seem to want to dominate in the post. It had to be one of Austin's worst games in a Gonzaga uniform. His stat line is absolutely befuddling. The worst stat for him today was his rebounding. I thought he would be a double double machine this year but he only had one rebound in the game. I don't mean to pick on Austin and I'm sure no one is more upset than him today. I'm sure we have not seen him at his best yet and I do think that he is taking some time getting back into the flow of the game. Injuries like the one he suffered this summer have as much mental effect as they do physical.

Are bad habits becoming trends? My biggest worry for this team is in the rebounding category and this all ties in with the fact that we don't want to play tough sometimes. In today's game, Matt Bouldin and Steven Gray out rebounded Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye, 9-7. If this continues, Gonzaga will continue to sputter because guards getting rebounds slows the pace down and against a Big 10 team or Washington State, you have to push the pace and get them out of their comfort zone. The Zags got punished on the boards against Tennessee as well and it will be interesting to see if this poor rebounding continues. The most uncharacteristic trend for this team is their free throw shooting. I keep waiting for them to turn it on but it seems to be getting worse. The Bulldogs shot 59% from the line today and some of the misses have been head scratching. I hold out confidence that they can turn it around before it starts becoming a major problem but we're six games into the season and there has been no improvement.

Here's a visually amusing look at the stat sheet for the Gonzaga Bulldogs....

Stats by StatSheet.com

It wasn't all negative for Gonzaga today, they had to do something right to win the game...

Jeremy Pargo continues to play beautiful basketball. He shot 5-8 from the field today and didn't force anything. He made some beautiful assists and was two away from notching a double double. He finished with 13 points and 8 assists and is really embracing his role as distributor for this team. It was a perfect game for him because their were points in the game where he had to take over and drive to the hoop and he did. I'm really confident that with him at the point, this team will never be out of control because he can always take over at any point because of his strength and quickness. If there are any doubters about Jeremy Pargo and what he means to this team, this game should really make it clear that without him, this team would fall apart.

Josh Heytvelt is becoming borderline unstoppable. The big man from Clarkston, Washington finished with 17 points on 6-12 shooting and 6 rebounds. It feels like he is right on the brink of becoming one of the best centers in the nation. His versatility presents so many match up problems for opposing teams. He seems to be getting very comfortable away from the basket and his mid-range jumper is becoming a thing of beauty. He does everything so effortlessly and his on court demeanor has to make any Gonzaga fan smile. He has the look of a guy that wants to put everyone on his back and carry a team to a title.

Some other game notes...

--Mark Few had a quick trigger with Steven Gray today. Gray struggled once again from three-point land, shooting 1-4. He only played 14 minutes in the game as the majority of his minutes went to freshman Demetri Goodson who has just been superb.

--The mob squad (still waiting for a better nickname) of Goodson, Rob Sacre, and Ira Brown had a nice collective game today. Sacre was ridiculously efficient in his 11 minutes. The sophomore center had 6 points and 6 boards today and seems to be close to 100% after his injury.

--Matt Bouldin and Micah Downs had great games defensively today. Downs only finished with 5 points but had a couple of assists and really did an outstanding job using his length to frustrate the Hoosiers. Bouldin had four steals before you could even blink and has really improved his defensive play this season. Matt had a quiet 13 points and continues his solid play.

Hall of Fame Showcase: Zags vs. Hoosiers

2008-12-05T19:38:00.000-08:00

When: December 6th, 2008 @ 10:30 AM PST

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

TV: Big Ten Network
Betting Line: Gonzaga by 20

After meeting in the NCAA in two consecutive years, the programs at Gonzaga and Indiana have gone in opposite directions. Since the two teams met in the 2006/2007 NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga has continued to emerge as one of the top college basketball programs in the country. However, the same can not be said of the historic Indiana University Hoosiers. Last season marked the end of the Kelvin Sampson era, after the head coach was fired for his repeated recruiting infractions. Indiana was hit by NCAA penalties and the transfer of key players from the program. The hiring of Tom Crean was the first step in the right direction, as the former Marquette head coach is known for running a successful program and following the rules. While the match up tomorrow will mark a game between two programs at opposite ends of the basketball chain, there is no question that Tom Crean and the Hoosiers will be back in the very near future.

Gonzaga This Season: With a perfect 5-0 start to this season, it appears that this Gonzaga team has the mentality and talent to meet the lofty preseason expectations that have been placed on it. The highlight of this young season was winning the Old Spice Classic over Thanksgiving weekend. Victories over Oklahoma St. and Maryland led to the tremendous championship game against the 12th ranked Tennessee Volunteers. In one of the finer regular season performances the Zags have put together in the past couple of season, Gonzaga jumped out to an 18 point lead in the 2nd half and was able to hold for an 83-74 victory. The play of Jeremy Pargo and Josh Heytvelt has been exceptional this season, and it appears these two seniors plan on leading Gonzaga to incredible heights this season.

Indiana This Season: After the turmoil that the Indiana program went through over the past year, not many Indiana fans had high expectations entering this season. That's probably a good thing, as the Hoosiers have struggled to a 4-3 record. There have been no embarrassing losses for the Hoosiers so far, because they really don't have the talent to compete with teams like Notre Dame, St. Joseph's, and Wake Forest. Tom Crean is being forced to rely on JC transfers and freshman this season, but next year he will welcome in a highly touted recruiting class that will get IU back into Big Ten contention. At this point, Crean is searching for moral victories and trying to build a mentality of toughness and determination that will became the staple of his program for many years.

What We are Watching For: This obviously won't endear me to any IU fans, but the main thing I am watching for is whether or not Gonzaga plays down to its opponent. One of the most frustrating aspects of Zags basketball in recent memory has been the fact that GU tends to play down to the level of its opponent. The mark of an elite team is that it dominates the lesser opposition it plays, while competing against the best teams in the country. With Indiana in full fledged rebuilding mode, Gonzaga has the significant advantage in talent, athleticism, and experience. If this team is as good as everyone thinks it can be, then this game should be decided by halftime.

Looking at the Match Ups: In Tom Pritchard, IU has a PF that can score around the rim and dominate the glass. Pritchard has been nothing short of fantastic as a freshman, and it really seems that he can be a Al Horford type player at the college level. It will be fun to watch the Pritchard vs. Heytvelt match up tomorrow, as Pritchard will represent the first PF who will really "bang" in the post with Josh. Pritchard is a high-motor guy who will fight for every rebound, and it is vital that Josh dominates the glass and doesn't allow Pritchard to get cheap points off of offensive rebounds.

The Final Prediction: My advice to any team that has IU on the schedule this season is to get your shots in now, because this program will be back and competing at a high level sooner then many people think. However, with the reliance on such inexperienced and marginally talented playes this season, the Zags should coast to an 80-53 victory.

Q&A Regarding Brett Kingma

2008-12-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

Among the many recruits at Kraziness in the Kennel in October was Brett Kingma. The 2011 recruit from Mill Creek, Washington has emerged as a priority recruit for Coach Few and the staff. Last week TKR ran some quotes from a terrific story in the HeraldNet about Brett and his recruitment. Recently, TKR had the fantastic opportunity to interview Michael Cane, who wrote the story for the HeraldNet last week. Last night, Michael had the opportunity to watch Kingma and his Jackson high school teammates in their season opener (click here for his game recap). We would like to thank Michael for taking the time to answer our questions, and this should really provide Gonzaga fans with a good understanding for the type of player Brett Kingma is.

TKR: At this point, what are Brett's greatest strengths and weaknesses on the court?

Michael Cane: Brett is an excellent shooter with good range and a quick release. He also makes some outstanding passes, including a few spectacular assists last night from midcourt.
I think he can improve his shot selection. In some cases he forced quick shots instead of moving the ball around. Last night he was 8-for-20 from the field (1-for-6 on 3-pointers).

TKR: Where do you think we will see the greatest improvements in Brett's game from last season?

Michael Cane: Brett appears to be a bit taller and stronger than last year. I figure he'll be more physical and better at fighting off defenders

TKR: What current or past college basketball player would you compare Brett's game to and why?

Michael Cane: I think it's too early to make a comparison like this. But Brett and his dad feel like Brett would fit well into Gonzaga's system, so you can make indirect comparisons to former Bulldogs guards like Dickau and Stepp.

TKR: While Brett holds offers from the 4 schools you mentioned, do you know of any other schools that have been showing interest or been in contact?

Michael Cane: I've heard rumors but I'm not sure. I'd rather not speculate.

TKR: How long has the Gonzaga staff been recruiting Brett, and when did they offer him?

Michael Cane: Brett has made three unofficial visits to Gonzaga but I'm not sure when the offer was made

TKR: Where would you rank Brett among the top players in the state for the 2011 class?

Michael Cane: I tend to keep the blinders on and focus mainly on our local players. Brett is easily the most highly touted sophomore in our area. Elsewhere, I hear a lot about Garfield's Tony Wroten, who according to some recruiting analysts is the No. 1 Class of 2011 player in the country.

TKR: Is Brett more of a pure PG, or would you classify him as a scoring guard?

Michael Cane: Based on what I've seen, he's more of a scoring guard with a dangerous mid- to long-range game. He's good coming off screens and also shows the ability to create his own shot on quick pull-up moves - quick release and good elevation. He's a capable passer too though. He seems to make good decisions and find openings in tight spaces. He's excellent at the foul line too. Last night he was a perfect 9-for-9.

TKR: Ultimately, do you expect Brett to end up as a Gonzaga Bulldog, and if you had to guess, when can we expect a verbal?

Michael Cane: Again, I don't like to speculate on this stuff. But Brett's dad told me Gonzaga is currently Brett's top choice and that Brett might commit to a program within the next few months.

Zags-Hoosiers Break in Lucas Oil Stadium

2008-12-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

The sexy new trend for stadiums is for them to be able to facilitate any sort of athletic event, not to mention other entertainment events like concerts. Stadiums like the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas and Ford Field in Detroit all will become main locations for big time basketball events as well as their initial purpose which was to host their home football teams. Lucas Oil Stadium (right) joins this group and the Gonzaga-Indiana match up will be the first basketball game ever played in the home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Stadium manager Mike Fox says that their will be 26,000 seats available to watch the action and he hopes to fill them all. For the entire article from WISHTV in Indiana, click here.

This should be a very exciting time for the Zags because they have never really played on a stage bigger than this (literally). Hopefully the huge backdrop of thousands of seats doesn't throw off Gonzaga who is used to playing in a home gym that only holds 6,000 people.

Q&A With Some Knowledgeable Indiana Fans...

2008-12-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

To get you all ready for the Gonzaga-Indiana match up, we have been talking back and forth with some guys from a couple Indiana Blogs. The Hoosier Report and Inside the Hall were nice enough to do a little question and answer session with us. This is a very new look Indiana team so this should be a good resource to try and learn as much as possible about the Hoosiers before the insanely early 10:30 AM tip off for us over here on the left coast.

1) What type of offensive system is Tom Crean trying to implement? How have the players responded to his system and coaching?

Hoosier Report: IU's roster has turned over almost entirely, so it's hard to say what we will see in the long run. He's known for a set offense with a focus on offensive rebounding, but with the guard heavy-roster that Crean inherited/cobbled together in the spring, I don't think we've seen much of it yet.

Inside the Hall: It's hard to say at this point. Crean is easing this team into things -- and rightfully so given the circumstances -- and it'll be a few seasons before he'll have the personnel to put his stamp on the program. The players (and fans) seem to geniunely like Crean. He's intense and demanding, but at the same time, he's a guy that really cares about his players and he's respected for that.

2) Obviously Indiana is forced to rely on the contributions of freshman and JC transfers. What newcomers have performed the best, and who has the most potential down the road?

HR: Virtually everyone is a newcomer. None of the returning players were recruited as scholarship players, and only two of Kelvin Sampson's recruits (Matt Roth and Tom Pritchard) actually joined the team. None of IU's seven top scorers had ever played a minute for IU until this season. Pritchard probably had stood out the most. He leads the team in scoring, is shooting 59 percent from the field, and has faced some tough matchups, most notably Notre Dame's Luke Harangody and Wake Forest's half-dozen big men. As bad as this team is, if Prtichard hadn't been able to step in and play reasonable, IU might be winless right now.

With the possible exception of juco big man Tijan Jobe, I don't think that any of IU's newcomers are stretches. I think all are capable of being good Big Ten players, but there isn't an Eric Gordon in the bunch. On a typical IU team, very few if any of these guys would be playing more than 20 minutes per game. I think that this experience will pay off for the program a couple of years from now, but it can be painful to watch right now.

ITH: As far as a consistent performer, freshman Tom Pritchard has been top dog. He's our big man down low and is averaging 14 points and 7.6 boards a game. But, in games against good, athletic bigs, he's struggled.

Other than that, junior college transfer Devan Dumes has shown some promise, and freshman Nick Williams – the Alabama Player of the Year last season in high school – has flashed some skill as well.

3) Where have you seen Indiana improve the most since the beginning of the season?

HR: It's tough to say. Last night's beating by Wake Forest was a step back, but was typical of every game IU has played against major competition. IU played well against Cornell last weekend, finally taking good care of the ball and shooting well, but that hasn't yet happened against a major opponent. Given IU's lack of size and depth in the frontcourt, perimeter shooting and ball handling have to be the strength of this team, but after some promise, IU took a step back.

ITH Omitted Question 3 from the discussion

4) What is the perception of the Zags among Indiana fans?

HR: I can only speak for myself, truly, but I think the vast majority of IU fans have great respect for what Gonzaga has done in the last decade. Of course, Indiana, long the home of a legendary one-class high school basketball tournament, loves a Cinderella story, and it's amazing and unpredictable what Gonzaga has been able to accomplish. If there is one knock, and I'm sure you have heard it before, it's that the Zags have never matched their 1999 tournament performance despite some high seeds. Nevertheless, that's a minor quibble.

ITH: Well, I think IU fans, like the rest of the country, know the Zags aren't some flash in the pan anymore. They are a consistently good basketball team year in and year out. There's no denying that. And this year, we're just looking at them as another very good team that's going to run us out of the gym. That's the reality we face in Crean's first year at the helm.

5) What type of defense has Indiana been playing primarily this season? Do they play a high pressure defense or press at all?

HR: With the caveat that I'm not much of an x's and o's guy, it seems to me to be a very basic defense. IU hasn't pressed much, if at all, and the man defense that IU has been playing strikes me as very man-oriented: in other words, defenders sticking close to their man rather than a lot of switching and playing the ball. It's understandable, given the attrition. These guys are playing hard, but Gonzaga fans shouldn't lose any sleep over the threat of a disruptive IU defense.

ITH: They've mixed it up quite a bit defensively depending on the matchup. In Wednesday's game with Wake Forest, they went mostly zone because of Wake's size up front. They're not a team that presses and the defense to this point can hardly be characterized as high pressure -- IU is giving up 73 points a game on 46 percent shooting.

6) What do you feel is this teams greatest strength and greatest weakness at this point?

HR: Well, the weaknesses are well documented: lack of size, lack of depth, inexperience, turnover problems, inconsistent shooting, spotty foul shooting. The strengths at this point are that IU plays hard, and hasn't dropped a game to a less talented team.

ITH: Strength: Pritchard. He's a Kelvin Sampson recruit that opted to honor his commitment and he's playing as well as any freshman in the Big Ten. He's not a guy that does anything spectacular, but he's fairly polished offensively and he's Indiana's best rebounder and interior defender by default.

Weakness: Turnovers. It's been the theme thus far. The Hoosiers have 20+ turnovers in five of their seven games and as the competition picks up, it's not going to get any easier. The problem is that IU has been forced to play two freshmen (one is a walk-on) primarily at point guard and mistakes are common place with that type of youth running the show.

7) Give us your prediction for the game. What are you hoping to see from the Hoosiers?

HR: I wish I had any optimism about this game, but I don't. I expect Gonzaga to win by 30-35 points. We aren't used to moral victories at Indiana, but I would be thrilled if IU stayed within about 10 points for the whole game. The thing I would most like to see from this team is a low number of turnovers. IU simply can't afford to give away possessions, but we've been doing it constantly.

ITH: Considering we just got dropped by 25 points to a team ranked lower than Gonzaga (Wake Forest), if we keep it under 20 it will be a success. Anywhere in the 20-35 point range on the loss scale will be about expected. Did I mention we were bad? Because we're bad.

8) What expectations do Indiana fans for the Tom Crean era? Would you describe the fanbase as nervous, excited, cautious, ready to implode, etc?

HR: I think the IU fanbase has the right perspective about this team. Most fans have absolutely no win-loss expectations for this team, but most expect to see improvement as the season progresses, and there might be some grumbling if that doesn't happen. Overall, I don't know a single IU fan who wasn't thrilled about the Crean hire. He's already an accomplished coach with a Final Four on his resume, but at 42 years old can be at IU for a long time. He has an impeccable reputation for ethical conduct, he has ties to the Midwest and Big Ten, and he's a protege of Tom Izzo, the Big Ten's most successful coach of the last 20 years. He's a great recruiter. IU fans have very high expectations. Our historical resume is comparable to that of Kentucky, North Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA, and Kansas, and we expect Crean to return IU to that level in the long run.

ITH: Tom Crean has preached patience with this program, and by and large, the fanbase has really responded to that. Considering there's only one scholarship player back from last year, and he was a role player, you can't expect much out of this year. Fans know this. We're just looking at this bunch now to play hard, to not give up and to develop as the year goes on – regardless of the score at the end of the game. (It's corny, but it's true.) Even though it's going to get ugly, we have these guys' back.

We're confident Crean can turn the program around, can build it up again. Look no further than in his first real year of recruiting he wrangled in the No. 6 class in the nation according to Rivals for 2009. We'll be better next year, and we'll be better the year after. We have new basketball facilities going in that will help immensely; we have the Indiana name and a coach that actually is invested in bringing in kids that will graduate and will fit the "Indiana" mold.

We're confident we can be IU again. We just have to realize it isn't going to happen overnight.

Zags Around the Web

2008-12-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

It feels like the Zags haven't taken the court in a month or so. With all the excitement brewing after the Old Spice Classic championship, we can't wait for Gonzaga to take on the next phase of their nonconference schedule. The Zags hit the road as they take on Indiana in a couple days, then they to dreaded Pullman to take on instate rival Washington State. Their road swing is capped off with a trip down south to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Wildcats. Gonzaga's nonconference feels like something you would schedule in a video game...obviously Mark Few has a lot of confidence in his squad. In other news....

--I've got to give props to KGA Radio host Sean Widmer and his Eastern Washington Eagles for their victory over the Portland Pilots last night. It's a tough loss for the Pilots who were having an excellent start. They should still be able to finish well in the WCC.

--Take a look at the post below for everything you need to know on the Indiana Hoosiers. Yes they are down this year but Tom Crean is going to have them on the upswing shortly.

--Many people are still unaware about 2009 commit Mangisto Arop (right). This article from the Hamilton Spectator in Ontario sheds plenty of light on Manny. Do check it out, here is one of the quotes in the article regarding Manny's game:

“Manny is definitely a scorer, but what makes him stand out from a lot of other kids who score is that he has the ability to lock down people defensively on the ball. And he is a tenacious offensive rebounder. No question, in that tournament, he was one of the top five players.”

--Rivals took the liberty of breaking down the 'mid-major' recruiting classes for 2009. The Zags check in at third according to rivals, behind San Diego State and UNLV. There are a lot of familiar names on this list...including TKR favorite Anthony Marshall who will be taking his game to UNLV. Other former Gonzaga prospects include Marshall Henderson (Utah), Brandon Davies (BYU), and the entire Nevada class.

Something tells me that Gonzaga might just wind up on the top of that list when this class is all said and done. We've only used half of our available scholarships. My wish list remains as such: Bol Kong and Daequon Montreal.

-- Seattle Times article on the upcoming Gonzaga-Indiana game...the players continue to stress the unity of this team and the fact that their is not one individual star but a bunch of excellent players. Hopefully this continues to be the case.

--As a blogger myself, I try and pay attention to other crazy bloggers like me. The Zags have really blown up since their Old Spice win. In this article, the author...or blogger questions whether or not Gonzaga is truly a top 5 team. He seems to agree with the others in saying that, thus far, Gonzaga has shown to be a top team in the country.

Some Light Reading on the Indiana Hoosiers

2008-12-03T23:37:00.000-08:00

Well...there isn't much to write home about if you are an Indiana Hoosier fan but it doesn't mean that they don't have a very passionate fan base. The Zags will be taking on IU at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 6th at 10:30 AM. The game will be on the Big Ten Network so many Zag fans will be relegated to a early morning at the Sports Bar or you can always tune into 1510 KGA Radio. Here are a few links to get you ready for Indiana...

TKR's Preseason Breakdown of the Hoosiers...probably the longest 'new faces' section we have every written
Hoosier Report...very nice blog covering all Indiana Athletics
Inside the Hall...one of the better basketball blogs I have read, everything IU Hoops
Indiana Scout Message Board... still upbeat about the future, very active message board
Official Indiana Basketball Website...updated news, stats, etc...
Peegs...an Indiana Rivals site with all the recruiting news for the Hoosiers...it looks like the future is bright.

Around the WCC: 11/24-12/3 Edition

2008-12-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay, but with the Old Spice Classic running through Sunday night, TKR was unable to get to its WCC weekly recap. This will be an extended version, as it will cover how all the WCC teams did from November 24-December 3.

LMU (0-7, 0-3 this week): If their start to the season is any indication, it appears that LMU has set itself up to be in the cellar of the WCC this season. It is disheartening to see this LMU team struggle so much without head coach Bill Bayno. Bayno is currently on an indefinite leave of absence, and there have been no reports about any timetable for his return. Since the last edition of Around the WCC, LMU was defeated by Wagner (72-51), Arkansas-Little Rock (67-59), and the University of Arizona (84-57). Even more frustrating for Lions fans is that Vernon Teel, who has been the best player for LMU this season, will miss 4-6 weeks with a broken foot. The one shining light for LMU has been the play of Jared Dubois. The freshman has become the main offensive threat since the injury to Teel, and he responded last week with a career high 23 points against Arkansas-Little Rock.

Schedule this week: 12/6 vs. Wyoming

Pepperdine (1-5, 0-1): Since opening the season by defeating Cal State Monterey Bay, the Pepperdine Waves have lost five consecutive games. This week saw the Waves play only one game, and they fell to Cal State Bakersfield by a 79-72 score. In defeat, Pepperdine got terrific play from the freshmen combo of Keion Bell and Lorne Jackson. Bell led the way with 23 points, while Jackson scored 17. While both committed some costly mistakes during the game, the future looks bright for both of these young men.

Schedule this week: 12/3 @ Long Beach St.; 12/7 vs. UC Irvine

Portland (4-1, 1-0): I'm really starting to believe that this Portland Pilots team can make some noise in the WCC this season. After opening the season with a surprising victory over the University of Washington, the Pilots have maintained their strong play. This week saw Portland defeat the Nevada Wolfpack 63-61. While Nevada is young and has struggled so far this season, this is still a terrific win for the Pilots. Kramer Knutson led the way with 15 points, and Portland continues to receive terrific play from JC transfer T.J. Campbell, who scored 13 points and had 6 assists in the victory.

Schedule this week: 12/3 vs Eastern Washington; 12/6 vs. Idaho

St. Mary's (5-1, 2-1): Over the Thanksgiving weekend, St. Mary's participated in the 76 Classic in Anaheim, California. Although the Gaels went 2-1 in the tournament, I would classify their performance as a huge disappointment. St. Mary's came out flat in the opening game against UTEP and fell 75-62. This was a frustrating and disappointing loss because a victory in the opening round would have setup a match up against Wake Forest. By losing in the opening round, the Gaels were forced to play in the consolation bracket, and were unable to face high level opponents like Arizona St., Baylor, and Wake Forest. Although the Gaels responded by defeating Cal State Fullerton (79-54) and Providence (81-75), this tournament will likely by considered a failure by Randy Bennett and his team.

Schedule this week: 12/4 @ Kent State

San Diego (4-3, 2-1): Like St. Mary's, San Diego will look back on their preseason tournament as a failure. The Toreros ended the Paradise Jam Tournament with a 80-45 defeat at the hands of Miami (FL). While the Hurricanes came into the season ranked, I thought that USD had the talent and experience to secure a victory. However, USD played poor basketball from start to finish in the defeat. Since the conclusion of the tournament, USD has gone 2-0. The Toreros defeated San Diego Christian (82-48) and Cal State Bakersfield (77-65). Brandon Johnson and Gyno Pomare continue to lead the way for USD, but the Toreros must take advantage of games against Oregon, San Diego St., and Mississippi St. if they want to be in at-large contention in March.

Schedule this week: 12/6 @ San Diego St.

San Francisco (5-2, 2-1): USF has proven to be one of the pleasant surprises in the WCC so far this season. This past week saw the Dons pick up impressive victories over UC Santa Barbara (73-72) and Colorado St. (65-63), while falling to USC (74-69). While the two wins were very impressive, I came away most pleased with the performance against USC. Although the Trojans have struggled to start the season, they have tons of talent and some very strong athletes. However, the Dons were up in this game with less than eight minutes remaining. Dior Lowhorn continues to prove that he is one of the top PF's in the nation, as he is averaging 20.6 points per game.

Schedule this week: 12/3 @ Cal Poly; 12/6 vs. Long Beach St.

Santa Clara (2-4, 1-2): I honestly have no read on how good this Santa Clara team can be. The Broncos have lost four games by a combined 16 points. They have been competitive against quality teams like UAB, Georgia, and Arizona, but it doesn't really matter if they keep losing to these type of opponents. They were able to end their four game losing skid by defeating the Montana Grizzlies 71-68. Perhaps all these close games can serve as a learning experience for Kerry Keating's team. With John Bryant and his 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game anchoring the paint, Santa Clara has one of the more talented big men in the entire country. I expect Santa Clara to build some momentum heading into WCC play and challenge Portland for 4th place in the conference.

Schedule this week: 12/3 @ San Jose St.; 12/6 vs Sacramento St.

How Tough is Gonzaga? A Statistical and Emotional Look

2008-12-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

All across the nation, sports writers and personalities are praising Gonzaga. They claim that this team is for real and different from the Zag teams of the past. They are no longer the cute mid-major; but can compete for a national championship. So what has changed? Gonzaga has been synonymous with Cinderellas, moustaches, and overachieving since thier arrival on the basketball forefront. Prior to the 2008-09 season, Gonzaga had also become notorious for their lack of tournament success. The past few years have seen the season end in disappointment. A variety of theories have been thrown around to explain why Gonzaga seizures in the postseason. Many have attributed it to the fact that Gonzaga did not play a physical brand of basketball. The blame went to the players as well as Mark Few for teaching his players to merely outscore the opposition and not worry about making stops.

This team 'appears' to be different. Through five games, the perception of Gonzaga is that they have increased their toughness and are becoming a complete team. Looking at the #5 ranking, the undefeated record, and the Old Spice title, it appears that Gonzaga has bridged the gap and deserves all the praise.

Toughness is not just the way in which a team carries themselves. It is very recognizable in the stat line as well as the flow of the game. Stats like rebounding, steals, free throw attempts, blocked shots and turnovers are all 'toughness' categories because they are all little things that can dictate the pace and more importantly, the emotion of the team. Here is a look at the per game stats as compared to last year's per game stats. Obviously, the data field for 2008-09 is only five games as compared with 33 from last season but it still provides a good insight to the categories that can often times dictate a season.

These stats have to be taken with a grain of salt because two of the games (MSU-B and Idaho) were blowouts which saw many of the starters rest and thus the game lacked intensity throughout. The rebounding stat is the one that jumps out at me. Against Tennessee, Gonzaga has trouble with their team defense and were exposed on the glass, getting out rebounded by 24. Their rebounds per game is still up from last year which is impressive because it shows that the UT game was an isolated incident and something we shouldn't expect to see game in, game out. Another facet of the game which Gonzaga has exceled in are blocked shots. Blocks are going to be huge this season for Gonzaga. With the length that guys like Downs, Daye, and Heytvelt have, Gonzaga should be near the top in blocked shots at the end of the year. I expect the free throw attempts to increase over the year. Often times in blowout games, Gonzaga gets open looks that don't result in a lot of physical play which takes them away from the free throw line. Hopefully our team free throw percentage increases over the year too. Right now it is an abysmal 66.7% compared with 71.2% last year.

Since Adam Morrison departed, the overall intensity of the Zags has decreased but this team is very emotional and plays with a chip on their shoulder. The past two seasons saw David Pendergraft become an emotional leader for Gonzaga but a lot of the other guys were more reserved players. Players like Derek Raivio, Sean Mallon, Kuso and even Jeremy Pargo early on played with a calmness and level demeanor. This year's team has attitude and it looks like it is translating into toughness. The most emotional players this season have been Austin Daye, Micah Downs, and Josh Heytvelt. Josh's emotions have done such a 180 that he feels like a different player. His role is to exude emotion but also restrain it and show leadership that ripples throughout the team. We've seen him get in the face of some players and restrain them from showing up an official after a bad call. And, of course, he still shows the emotion we love when he makes big play. Austin Daye and Micah Downs play with an edge. They are the most competitve players on this team. At times their emotions get the better of them and they can get on a tilt but they bring a swagger to this team that is reminiscent of Adam Morrison slamming the ball against his head.

To say that this is a complete team may be a little premature but I haven't been able to see a glaring weakness yet. This can be attributed to the recruiting that Mark Few has done. He has combined the old Gonzaga ways of outscoring opponents with a new found toughness side of the team. While guys like Daye, Downs, etc can outscore anybody, Mark Few has recruited players that have provided toughness of the bench, something that Gonzaga has never really had. Ira Brown, Demetri Goodson, and Robert Sacre are the enforcers of this team. They probably won't contribute much to the total score at the end of the game, but they will be great contributors to the 'toughness stats' I mentioned above. Ira is a player that does all the little things. The versatility he has is astounding. At one point in the Maryland game, he was pressing the point guard and then went down low to block out the post and get a rebound. This is a weapon that not many teams have. Meech Goodson is a ball-hawk. His ability to come in and pressure the ball and frustrate the opponent is a welcome addition to the Gonzaga stable of guards. You can bet that Meech will get his fair share of steals and will drive teams crazy (see Bobby Maze and Tennessee). Robert Sacre is still coming back from injury but his physical size has really helped Gonzaga so far. He is a bruising player that does not mind staying in the post and cleaning the glass. His offensive game is not polished yet but Gonzaga doesn't need any more scorers thus far. The best part is that the three of these guys get it. They know their role and embrace it. You won't see Meech, Ira, and Robert taking over any games with their offensive side this year. Meech and Sacre will eventually be great scorers for Gonzaga but this season, they have different assignments and that is to bang around a little bit and do the little things to get the win. This quote sums up how Meech plays basketball and the type of attitude he brings to this team:

"He was mouthing off at me at the five-minute mark of the first half so I let him know I'm not going to back down," Goodson said. "I think it got our team fired up."

I know MaxZag is desperately seeking a nickname for the trio of Meech, Ira, and Sacre but hasn't settled on one. If anyone has any ideas I'm sure he would love to hear them.

I know, I know. Gonzaga has not even scratched the surface of the season and their toughest games are still ahead but the path this team is following appears to be heading in the right direction. The physicality and edge the Zags have been playing with is going to have to come out this month. Washington State and Connecticut are two particularly physical teams and will probably provide the biggest tests for Gonzaga. Tennessee in January will also be a huge match up as now the Vols have the revenge factor. It's hard to hide enthusiasm when talking about this team because they have become so multi-dimensional. For the first time in a long time, I am confident that Gonzaga can not only outscore the opposition, but outwork the opposition.

Zags Around the Web: Toughness Edition

2008-12-01T21:05:00.000-08:00

One thing that TKR really harped on throughout the summer was the importance of the mental makeup of this team. Everyone who follows Gonzaga basketball knew how much talent this team was going to possess. However, the question of whether this team would be mentally tough enough to overcome adversity and step up to challenges still remained. If the Old Spice Classic is any indication, this team will respond to any challenge that will be presented throughout the season. It appears that it is not only Gonzaga fans who have realized this, but also the national media .

Andy Katz at ESPN wrote a terrific story about the toughness this team showed in the game against Tennessee. Andy Katz Story

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the story:

"Before, we used to hide in our shells and not punch back,'' Gonzaga fifth-year senior Josh Heytvelt said. "This game showed we've matured a lot and we're a high-level contender for the rest of the season.''

"In the past, everyone would continue to say, 'This is a finesse team,' but this year's team is more athletic and isn't backing down from anyone,'' Brown said. "We have something to prove to everyone that we can compete with the best.''

"Every year, we come in thinking that we can go deep in the tournament,'' Gonzaga junior Matt Bouldin said. "This year, the expectation is more of a reality. We see ourselves there. We just have to work to get there. We felt going into the season we were one of the best teams in the country, and now we have to keep proving it.''

Over at Fox Sports, it was more of the same praise from Jeff Goodman. Jef f Goodman Story

Some great quotes from this story:

"They're definitely a lot tougher," Vols junior forward Tyler Smith said of the 'Zags. "They wanted to get us back from last year and they came out with a lot of firepower and intensity. They proved their point tonight."

"He was mouthing off at me at the five-minute mark of the first half so I let him know I'm not going to back down," Goodson said. "I think it got our team fired up."

TKR's Take: Both of these writers are completely correct in these columns. In the past couple of years, Gonzaga has played some of the best finesse basketball in the country. However, when times got tough, the Zags tended to fold. With the leadership and toughness of Ira Brown, and the edge Meech Goodson brings to the table, it seems that this team is not prepared to back down from any challenge. The schedule this season is tough, and like any season there will certainly by ups and downs. Therefore, it is vital that this team is able to step up and respond to all the challenges they will face this season. For the first time in awhile, I have full confidence that Gonzaga will respond at the highest level.

After his MVP performance at the Old Spice Classic, there have also been some terrific columns regarding the improved leadership of Jeremy Pargo.

Gary Parrish at CBSSports.com wrote a fantastic colums that addressed the great leadership that Jeremy displayed. Gary Parrish article

Quotes from the story:

"He's one of the premier guards in the country, and this is why he came back, to play in games like this and show that he's a lot better and that he understands the game better," Few said. "He was able to hear things from the decision makers at the next level that reinforced what we were telling him."

"I had guys tell me what I needed to do to become better and make my team better," Pargo said. "We played three teams (in the Old Spice Classic) that played up-tempo and applied pressure, so I just wanted to slow everything down and keep everything under control and not get erratic or wild out there. And (though) there were some times when I wanted to go, this summer helped me learn how to control that, helped me know when to pull it back at the right times and when to go at the right times."

Bob McClellan at Rivals put together a great column about Pargo's performance at the Old Spice Classic. Bob McClellan article

Quotes from story:

"Last year we had maybe 20-23 turnovers, and I had six," Pargo said. "I wanted to control the game and make sure guys got the ball in the right areas. If we don't turn it over against a team that pressures and runs like they do you put yourself in a better position."

"He was able to hear things from the decision-makers at the next level that reassured him of what we're telling him, that he doesn't need to score to dominate a game. He needs to just quarterback this club. He scored when he needed to score when we were struggling there a little bit at the midpart of the first half. Then he handled their pressure and got our guys some great shots. Some of those wide-open 3s were because of him, simple setups. It's a great sign of maturity."

TKR's Take: The most important thing I took from the Old Spice Classic was the maturity and leadership that Jeremy displayed throughout the tournament. As one of the article mentions, the NBA is looking for a 6'2 scorer. It seems that Jeremy has embraced both what the coaching staff and the NBA scouts have been preaching and is looking to establish himself as one of the premier floor generals in the nation. I can honestly say that Jeremy is playing the best he has every playing in his GU career, and really has positioned himself as one of the elite PG's in the country.

Breaking Down Gonzaga's Old Spice Championship Game

2008-12-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

It is safe to classify the Old Spice Classic as a tremendous experience for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In one of the better performances I have seen from a GU squad in the last couple of years, Gonzaga defeated Tennessee 83-74 in the Old Spice Classic championship game. The match up between these top 15 squads had the intensity of a NCAA Tournament game, as both teams went back and forth in the first half. The game stayed tight until the 10:00 minute mark of the second half, but over the next five minutes, Gonzaga built an 18 point lead. Tennessee was able to cut the deficit to six points in the last couple minutes, but Gonzaga regained their poise and emerged as champions.

Positives to take from the game:

Over the course of this tournament, Jeremy Pargo proved himself to be one of the top PG's in the nation. Against the Vols, Pargo controlled the pace and tempo of the game, while putting together a near flawless performance. In previous seasons, Jeremy has shown the ability to take over a game on the offensive end, but never has truly demonstrated whether he can lead and run a team. However, this season Pargo has transformed himself into the ultimate floor general. With all the great weapons that this team has, Pargo has embraced the role of provider, as he dished out seven assists to go along with 10 points against UT. There is no question that he deserved to be named the Old Spice Classic MVP, and I see no reason why his tremendous play wont continue throughout the season.

I would like to formally welcome back the Steven Gray we all grew to love last season. After beginning the season in a 3/18 shooting slump from behind the 3 point line, Gray hit 4/6 from behind the arc. When that first 3 went in last night, it was clear that a huge burden had been lifted off of Steven, and from that point on he began to play more carefree and loose. This led to improved effort on the defensive end, and strong aggressive play on the offensive end. Steven is vital to the success of this team, and I consider him to be a 6th starter. It was such a relief and good feeling to see him regain his confidence, and I expect to see much more of this Steven Gray throughout this season.

How impressive has the play of Meech Goodson, Rob Sacre, and Ira Brown been this season? While we know what the starting five and Steven can bring to the table, the play of these three guys has been nothing short of tremendous. After great contributions from Ira and Rob in the first two games of the tournament, it was Meech's turn to shine against the Vols. While his impact does not show up in the stat line, it is clear the impact he is having on this team. I loved watching Meech jaw with Wayne Chism and Bobby Maze, and he is a great demonstration of the toughness that this team plays with.

TKR will beginning focusing on the 'four factors' of winning basketball games that are shown in the graph below. For an explanation of the four factors it measures, click here. In last night's physical match up, the Zags struggled on the boards but they were able to curb that negative effect by shooting the ball well and getting to the line well. The Zags also handled the ball well against the pressure of the Vols and had fewer turnovers per possession. Winning three out of these four factors, it is easy to see how Gonzaga was able to extend their lead as much as they did and eventually win the ball game.

Stats by StatSheet.com

While it's hard to imagine any negatives out of the great performance over the weekend, a few things did jump out at me.

Last night, this team reminded me why I can never feel comfortable until all the time is off the clock. The reason this game was so close towards the end was because of the poor time management and poor play once the lead had built up to 18 points. The first thing I want to examine was the time management. Just off the top of my head, I can remember ill-advised shots from Bouldin and Pargo early in the shot clock. When you are up by 18 points, the goal is to run your offense while also running out the clock. However, the Zags continued to shoot with 15 or 20 seconds remaining on the shot clock. Many of these were deep 3's that the guys could have taken at any point in the shot clock. Great teams need to know how to play with a lead, and hopefully it is something that the Zags can develop over the course of the season.

If I'm Coach Few, I spend this week reviewing how to rebound when playing zone defense. I understand that Tennessee has some great athletes, but there is no excuse for the Zags to be out-rebounded 50-26. With the height and length that Josh, Austin, Micah, Ira, and Rob provide at the bottom of the zone, no opponent should dominate the boards against this Gonzaga team. This needs to be fixed before we take on good rebounding teams like UConn, Arizona, and of course the rematch with UT later in the season.

Winning the Old Spice Classic is a tremendous achievement for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The teams has already been rewarded for this performance, as they have moved up to #5 in both polls. The key for this team and the coaching staff is to continue to improve. As the ESPN announcers mentioned, this team is only playing at 70% of its ultimate potential. They must keep up the hard worked and understand that the season is a marathon not a sprint. The talent and leadership is clearly there, and it is up to everyone affiliated with the team to build on this tremendous start. This starts on Saturday with a big game against the Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis.

Gonzaga Muscles Their Way into Top 5

2008-12-01T12:02:00.001-08:00

Is all this national attention overwhelming anyone else?

After Gonzaga ran through the field in the Old Spice Classic, it seems that the nation has taken notice of this team. Early season praise for Gonzaga is spread all across the Internet and deservedly so. After defeating Tennessee last night in Orlando, Gonzaga has risen to fifth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

The class of the two best basketball conferences in the nation stand in front of the Zags. North Carolina, Connecticut (who Gonzaga takes on December 20th), Pitt, and Duke make up the rest of the Top 5.

Congrats to Mark Few and the staff for the early season success. The team looks to build on that ranking December 6th when they begin their torrid December against the Hoosiers of Indiana.

Zags Outlast Vols; Take Home Old Spice Crown

2008-12-01T01:22:00.000-08:00

The Old Spice Classic was touted as the deepest early season tournament and it lived up to the hype. It was a storybook run for the Gonzaga Bulldogs as they were able to survive a late rally in tonight's championship game to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers, 83-74 (cheers to MaxZag for nearly nailing the score in his game prediction).

Everyone knew Tennessee would come out fighting and the key for Gonzaga was to punch back and find their 'tough side'. The first half ended perfectly for the Zags as they put together a nice scoring run to secure a four point lead heading into the second half. Thanks in large part to the coming out party of sophomore sharp-shooter Steven Gray, the Bulldogs increased their lead to 18 points in the second half.

Bruce Pearl led teams rarely fade into the night and the Vols battled back valiantly with the aid of some 'questionable' decisions by Gonzaga. Cameron Tatum, who was probably the most outstanding player for Tennessee throughout the tournament, hit a big three pointer late in the game to shrink the deficit to six.

Tennessee would never get any closer as Micah Downs nailed five of six free throws down the stretch and Jeremy Pargo capped off the game with a fast break dunk.

The Zags were dominated on the boards, getting out rebounded 50-26 but they made up for it by shooting a blistering 52% compared with 35% for the Volunteers. Steven Gray led all scorers with 19 points and Matt Bouldin added 17 of his own. Josh Heytvelt, Micah Downs, and Jeremy Pargo joined Bouldin and Gray in double figures as Gonzaga continues to spread the ball around.

Jeremy Pargo was named Tournament MVP for his efforts.

The tournament victory will serve as a huge confidence booster for the Zags as they enter a very difficult December. Rarely is a team's NCAA Tournament seed defined in December but it is plain to see that this month will go a long way in dictating where the Bulldogs stand on the national stage. Indiana, Washington State, Arizona, Connecticut, and Utah will all come calling in the next 4 and 1/2 weeks.

Mark Few will have a few days to bring his team back to reality before they travel to Indianapolis to take on the storied Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, December 6th.

Old Spice Classic Championship Game: Zags vs. Vols

2008-11-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

When: November 30, 2008 @ 5 PM PST

Where: The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Orlando, FL

TV: ESPN
Betting Line: Tennessee by 1.5
Official Game Notes

How often do two Top 10 teams from different conferences get the opportunity to play each other twice in one season? My guess would be that this happens once every 5-10 seasons. Gonzaga and Tennessee will have the opportunity this year, as both teams have emerged from their side of the bracket to meet in the championship game of the Old Spice Classic. What makes this game so beautiful is the fact that one team will have a chance for revenge, as these two teams will play again on January 7th in Knoxville. However, for the purpose of this preview, we will be focusing solely on the game that will take place tomorrow.

How the Zags got here: When the initial Old Spice Classic brackets were released, I'm sure many fans expected that this team had the talent to reach the championship game. However, I doubt that these fans would have guessed the path the Zags would have taken. In the opening game of the tournament, Gonzaga played some of the most sloppy and uninspired basketball I have seen in the past couple of seasons. GU trailed Oklahoma St. with 7 minutes remaining, and it seemed that this tournament was going to end before it even began. However, behind a huge spark from Ira Brown, and terrific performances from Jeremy Pargo and Micah Downs, the Zags were able to pull away down the stretch for the 83-71 victory. While the win over Oklahoma St. was expected, playing the Maryland Terrapins in the next round wasn't. With the Michigan St. Spartans coming into the tournament ranked #6, it seemed that they would be the opponent in the next round. However, Gary Williams and the Terps stunned the Spartans and moved on to the next round. It seemed that Maryland was drained both physically and emotionally after its surprising win in the first round. Gonzaga played strong basketball from start to finish, and behind Josh Heytvelt's 22 points, coasted to a 81-59 victory.

How the Vols got here: With an opening game against the Siena Saints, it seemed that UT had been given a very tricky path to the championship game. Siena was the trendy pick to be the surprise team in the tournament and give some of the higher ranked teams fits. I guess Bruce Pearl and his team didn't get this message. The Vols were the better team from start to finish in the 78-64 victory. 4 Vols scored in double figures, and they used their great depth to wear down Siena. In the next round, Tennessee and Georgetown put together a performance worthy of a national championship game. The two teams went back and forth throughout the game, but their incredible depth eventually wore down the Hoyas. Tyler Smith led the way for the Vols with 21 points, as UT was able to secure a 90-78 victory.

What We are Watching for: If Gonzaga is going to win this game, they must be able to handle the waves of pressure that UT will bring. When these teams met at the Battle in Seattle last season, the Tennessee pressure bothered GU throughout the game and never allowed the team to get in a rhythm. Gonzaga must take care of the ball and not get caught up in the frantic pace that UT plays at. It is important to understand that while the Vols play at this frantic pace, there is a brilliant method to this madness. There is no denying that many teams have a huge size advantage against Tennessee, but many teams get caught trying to play at a helter-skelter pace. GU must play at their tempo and not allow UT to dictate the pace and tempo of the game.

Looking at the match ups: With all the talent and athleticism that will be on display, this game is full of dynamite individual match ups. The one that I am most excited to watch will be Tyler Smith vs. Micah Downs. Smith is the leader of this Vols team, and perhaps the top player in the entire SEC. However, it is very rare that he will be guarded by a player who can match his length and athleticism like Micah can. We have seen Micah assume different roles depending on what is needed from him in each game, and against Tyler Smith he must be at his defensive best. Micah has proven to be a great defender, and he will need to be at his best to contain the talented Tyler Smith. It should also be fun to watch Wayne Chism and Austin Daye match up. Both these guys technically play PF for their respective teams, but neither fits the mold of the traditional PF. Austin must be aggressive on the offensive end and take the game to Chism, as he is one of the more irreplaceable players on the UT roster. If Austin has his full offensive arsenal working, he is capable of dominating Chism and taking him out of the game completely.

The Final Prediction: I have gone back and forth trying to predict who will win this game and why. With their great depth and athleticism, UT is better build for this 3 games in 4 days tournament. However, after the dominating performance that GU put together against Maryland, and the fact that they had Saturday off to prepare for the Vols, I predict Gonzaga emerges with a 83-76 win.

Zags Around the Web

2008-11-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

- What a fantastic story Gary Parrish was able to put together about Josh Heytvelt. Obviously this story is appealing to all Gonzaga fans, but even the casual sports fan would enjoy reading this story about the evolution of Josh Heytvelt.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

The average college basketball fan knows Josh Heytvelt in one of three ways -- either as the bouncy center pre-drug arrest, the injury plagued center post-drug arrest, or for the drug arrest and only the drug arrest. If you're not a Zags fan, you almost certainly fall into one of those categories. But there's a new version of Heytvelt on display here at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex -- JH 4.0, if you will -- and it's not as noticeable in the basketball games as it is in the postgame press conferences, where Heytvelt sits at the table beside his coach, jokes around, laughs and presents himself as normal.

"He's totally different now, 300 percent more mature," Few said. "It used to drive me nuts just trying to talk to him because he'd never engage with you. He was just so socially inept."

"If the basketball thing works out it'll be the greatest story ever," Few said. "But it's already a great story."

While I provided these quotes as a context to the story, I would really encourage everybody to take the time to read the article in its entirety.

- As TKR has previously reported, Coach Few and the rest of the staff are heavily recruiting Brett Kingma. If the quotes from this recent HeraldNet article are any indication, it appears that they may be closing to securing a verbal from the elite 2011 prospect.

Here are some revealing quotes from the interview with Gregg Kingma (Father of Brett):

"Certainly Gonzaga is at the top of (Brett's) list right now because of their history of being real successful with players like him," Gregg Kingma said. "He's real excited about that and I wouldn't be surprised if he did commit early at some point."

How soon might that happen? Greg Kingma said it wouldn't surprise him if Brett made a verbal commitment in the next few months. A verbal commitment is non-binding.

TKR's Take: This is terrific news for Gonzaga fans. Many people have compared Kingma's game to Blake Stepp and Dan Dickau, who were terrific performers in the Gonzaga system. It would be nice to secure this early 2011 verbal, and then build the rest of the class around Kingma. As we learned with Brock Osweiler, this verbal is not binding, but it sure would be nice to lock up one of the top players in the state this early.

- Jeremy Pargo and Josh Heytvelt were part of an Andy Katz story regarding the Old Spice Classic and the impending game between Gonzaga and Tennessee. The story focuses on the decisions of Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt, and Tyler Smith to return to school this season.

Here are some quotes:

Meanwhile, Heytvelt's senior classmate, Jeremy Pargo, couldn't be more pleased to pass the ball around, not seek his shot, and compliment everyone else on the team that is contributing like reserve Ira Brown Thursday night and fellow stand-in Steven Gray Friday night.

"We're all playing with self-confidence and a sense of urgency, including myself," Pargo said.

"There aren't many guys in the NBA who get to be on the national stage and actually play a lot of minutes," Few said. "They're going to play in big games this season but they wouldn't have been playing in big games had they come out, maybe for a minute, or sit on the pine."

"I'm pretty happy [with the decision] and will be happier if we win the game Sunday," Pargo said. "If we do that, I'll see the light at the end of the tunnel of what we can accomplish."

A Few Links to Get Ready for the Vols

2008-11-28T22:55:00.000-08:00

Well...I guess these two squads were not satisfied with playing only once this season so they decided to do it again. This Sunday the Zags will take on Tennessee for the Old Spice Classic title. Here are a few links to familiarize yourself with UT and get the pulses of Volunteer Nation.

BruceBall Blog...this is one of the best basketball blogs I've seen, great info.
Vol Nation...dedicated to everything Tennessee, good message boards
RockyTopTalk...basically all football but their is some basketball talk if you dig.
Official Tennessee Hoops Site...updated stats, rosters etc...

Zags Coast to Old Spice Finals

2008-11-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

If only all performances could be as decisive as this one. After struggling against Oklahoma St. last night, Gonzaga dominated all facets of the game in the 81-59 victory over Maryland. To give Maryland credit, the Terps were able to hang around for the first 15 minutes or so, but the Zags ended the first half with a big run and never looked back. Leading the way for GU was the dynamic Josh Heytvelt. In his finest performance since his sophomore year, Heytvelt scored 22 points on 9/10 shooting, and grabbed 9 rebounds. What made his performance so impressive was the way Josh scored from every area on the court. Josh scored at will in the post, and was able to extend his game to beyond the 3 point line.

Along with Heytvelt, what other positives can GU fans take from this game:

Austin Daye is everything he was hyped to be, and possibly even more. Daye was terrific tonight, as he used his length to dominate on both ends of the court. Austin was able to score in a variety of ways, including a couple of beautiful post moves that demonstrate some of the added strength he has. However, I came away thrilled by his impact on the defensive end. It is became a game-by-game occurrence to see Austin steal or tip one inbound pass when he is guarding the inbounder. Despite being only 200 pounds, Austin has also been dominant on the glass against all opponents. Tonight, he grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with his 17 points.

Great quote from Austin on his performance (Jim Meehan story): Daye said the Zags “weren’t really on the attack (against Oklahoma State). We took a lot of 3s. I think I took five and that’s probably the most I should ever take. I just felt like I should attack more and see what I could do inside and Josh did a great job in there.”

The depth of this team continues to make a huge impact. Against Oklahoma St., it was the impact of Ira Brown that sparked the team to victory. Today, it was the terrfic play of Meech and Rob Sacre that helped the Zags. Meech scored 5 points and has 2 assists in his 15 minutes. Meech put his incredible athleticism on display when he scored a circus put back off a Gonzaga miss. Equally impressive was the contribution of Rob Sacre. Nobody was sure that Rob would even play in the Old Spice Classic, but tonight he demonstrated his great strength and power with 5 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes. The depth that he and Ira provide in the frontcourt is vital for this teams success. Both have shown that they can contribute at a high level, and with the backcourt weapons this team has, it is difficult to find any glaring weaknesses.

While this is certainly a case of me nitpicking, there are some areas that this team needs to improve on:

Sadly, the play of Steven Gray is becoming a common area of critique on TKR. Against Maryland, Steven continued to struggle with his outside shooting, as he shot 0-3 from beyond the arc. For this team to compete for a Final 4 and National Championship, Steven must re-discover his rhythm from last season. I was encouraged to see him finish well around the hoop, and it looked like he was playing with more emotion, but this team needs Steven to convert the numerous open looks he will get.

I hate to look at the boxscore and see 12 assists vs. 15 turnovers. I understand that it is early in the season, and the team is still trying to lose the rust, but there is no excuse to have more turnovers then assists. With all the offensive weapons on the team, there is no reason for any player to force action or play selfish. This can be one of the top offensive teams in the country as long as they continue to score within the offense. Every player will get open looks within the flow of the offense, so there is no need to force passes. It comes down to taking care of the ball and not making lackadaisical decisions.

The reality is that this team is playing some of the top basketball in the country. In the past two days, Gonzaga has defeated two upper-half teams in both the Big 12 and ACC. However, the real test will come on Sunday when GU takes on Tennessee for the first of two meetings this season. Tennessee was the preseason pick to win the SEC, and they looked terrific against Georgetown earlier today. The Zags have a terrific opportunity to make a huge statement on their quest for a 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Zags, Terps Clash in Second Round of Old Spice Classic

2008-11-28T07:40:00.000-08:00

When: November 28, 2008 @ 2:30 PM PST

Where: The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Orlando, FL

TV: ESPN2
Betting Line: Gonzaga by 5 1/2

If you would have told me that Gonzaga would be playing Maryland today, I'm not sure I would have reacted too well. Michigan State was the highest ranked team to enter the Old Spice Classic but the Terrapins were able to knock them off in a game that turned into a rout. The Spartans never really found any sort of rhythm and were hamstrung by a number of injuries as well as early foul trouble by their star player, Raymar Morgan. Give credit to the Terps though, they had some outstanding performances led by Greivis Vasquez, Dave Neal, and Eric Hayes who did a little bit of everything.

Maryland now looks to upset another top-10 team in Gonzaga. These two teams are not very familiar with each other. The last time they matched up was in 2005's Maui Invitation which saw No. 8 Gonzaga defeat the Terps in an opening round game.

Maryland is actually a pretty similar team to the one Gonzaga just defeated. Like Oklahoma State, they have some excellent guards who, for the most part, carry this team. They are led by Greivis Vasquez who is a star for this team because of his amazing combination of size and quickness. At 6'6'', Vasquez will be one of the biggest guards the Zags see all year and could present match up problems in this game. I'd look for Mark Few to put Micah Downs on him and try to frustrate him with his length. I'm not sure if Micah has the quickness to keep up with Vasquez throughout the game. Meech Goodson could match his speed but gives up a lot with his stature. The key with Vasquez is to get him out of his comfort zone. He is notorious for having great games but also have turnover filled games where he makes some questionable decisions. He had 149 turnovers last year and had three against Michigan State which led the team. He's an outstanding talent, but if Gonzaga can force him to take bad shots they will win this game.

Gonzaga had an awful first half of basketball last night but still managed to stay in the game. They can't do that again today and expect to hang around. The Cowboys were a transitioning team but the Terps have one of the best coaches in the land and will bury Gonzaga if they play poorly. The major key for the Zags is for Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye to play more than 30 minutes and be in the top three in rebounding when the game is over. They each played less than 25 minutes yesterday because they were saddled with early fouls. Maryland likes to play small and get out and pressure you and Gonzaga has to slow it down and pound the Terps.

Another key for Gonzaga is free throws. Missing 13 free throws last night was something that is inexcusable for this team. It's a quiet gym with a pretty quiet audience in attendance so the noise should not be an issue. I look for this problem to be solved relatively quickly because I don't think that Austin, Matt, and Josh will continue to miss free throws. Going along with the free throw shooting, I'm looking for Austin and Josh to get to the line a little more. Daye only went to the line once and Josh missed all three of his free throws. These two really have to be dominant for Gonzaga to win this game.

Bouldin and Pargo seemed to shoot their way out of their early game slumps last night and at the end of the game, Matt and Jeremy were two of our best offensive weapons. I'm hoping that Steven can come out and shoot the lights out. His three point shooting adds such a great feature to Gonzaga. If he comes out and makes a few early on, Steven Gray can lead this team in scoring and really change the course of the game. I'm hoping Meech gets a few more minutes against this fast Maryland lineup. He looked outstanding last night and only had one mental error on the inbounds pass which was called for five seconds. His defense should come in handy as well as his ability to push the tempo when Jeremy and him are on the court together.

It should be a very exciting game today in Orlando. If Gonzaga plays forty minutes of basketball the way they played in the last ten minutes against Oklahoma State, they will win the ball game. If our post players get in foul trouble early and we are forced to go small, it could be a long day for Gonzaga.

My prediction: 87-78 Gonzaga Wins

A Few Links to Get Ready for Maryland

2008-11-27T23:19:00.001-08:00

It's a quick turnaround for Gonzaga as they will be taking on the Maryland Terrapins tomorrow at 2:30 PST on ESPN2. We'll have a preview on the game tomorrow morning but here are a few links to get familiar with the Terps...

Testudo Times...Mostly football stuff right now but some bball on this Maryland blog.

Turtle Waxing...Another blog with a lot of football, that should be changing soon.

Maryland's Scout page...Check the message boards for some confident trash talk

Official Maryland basketball page...updated stats, rosters, etc...

GO ZAGS!

Zags Wake Up in the Second Half; Defeat Oklahoma State

2008-11-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

It was ugly, but it will do. In the first half, my head was scrambling with all the negatives I was seeing out of Gonzaga. The Zags came out flat, looking like they had just finished Thanksgiving dinner during the Maryland game. However, they came out in the second half and dominated the last 10 minutes of play to get an 83-71 victory. The game changing performance goes to Ira Brown. The kid has a flat out nose for the ball and is getting very comfortable around the basket. I thought his season ended after he landed hard after a missed dunk, but he came out and played like a 26 year old and led this team to a win when it looked like nobody else wanted to. Don't let Ira's line mislead you. His six points were enormous and although he only had three boards, he should have had 3 more assisted rebounds because he is such a great leaper and tips it out to teammates easily.

It was a very gritty performance by this team tonight and they showed some toughness with their backs to the wall. I loved the second half. It was back and forth and both offenses played great. Give tons of credit to Oklahoma State, Coach Travis Ford did a great job tonight and they really did live by the three point shot. Micah Downs had some struggles in the first half but finished with a nice double double of 17 points and 13 boards. He hit some crucial three point baskets as well. There is no doubting how much Micah means to this team. His ability to make huge shots is something Gonzaga will need down the wire. He struggled around the rim early on but he hit a three in the corner that made my jaw drop. Pargo drove under the hoop and bounced it to Micah in the corner and before you could blink, the ball was in the hoop. There is little this kid can't do on the court.

Jeremy Pargo played beautifully. He had some ill-advised shots in the first half but so did the rest of the team. He finished with a line of 15 points, 5 boards, and 6 assists. He's going to get a triple double sometime this season, no doubt. He managed the game well overall. I laughed looking at the box score because seeing Matt Bouldin and Jeremy Pargo shoot the most times out of anyone was probably the last thing I wanted to see. They both made key buckets in the second half even though their first half's were less than impressive.

Big Kudos to Rob Sacre. I thought he looked nice down low for this being his first game back and he ate up some minutes out there. He should be getting in the groove soon and could become a real threat to spell Josh.

Austin was good. He got hit with some early fouls as well but shot 4-7 even though I think the three shots he missed were halfway down. He had seven boards which was third on the team behind Micah and Matt. I love his length. He had a huge steal off the inbounds pass which really helped Gonzaga secure victory and his shot is so smooth.

The first negative I want to get out of the way was the officiating. They had some very quick whistles but honestly, I think it favored Gonzaga more than Oklahoma State so that can just be put aside pretty quickly.

There are a number of Gonzaga-related things that made me queasy about this game. Not just because of the way we were playing but because I had seen this kind of performance so many times before. I'm a Mark Few fanatic but some choices he made tonight were a little head-scratching. Some of the lineups that were put on the floor made it seemed like he was trying to test Gonzaga to find someone that wanted to score. With 13:54 in the second half, the Zags were going back and forth with the Cowboys and our only solid source of scoring on the floor was Micah Downs. I know Josh and Austin were in foul trouble but in that kind of game, we need scorers. Gonzaga stumbled up until around the ten minute mark and then Ira and Bouldin showed up and made some big shots. Another coaching error which I didn't understand was the guard rotation. Matt was off in the first half, he came back strong in the second but his first half was one of the worst he has had at Gonzaga. Demetri Goodson, on the other hand, looked completely at ease out there and was making some nice plays. Meech was used sparingly while Gray and Bouldin were out there consistently in the first half. By the way, how great is the Meech and Pargo combination? Absolutely exhilarating.

I understand that Matt and Steven have experience but good teams ride the hot lineup and we seemed to always want to sub for guys that were playing great. This leads into my next point and that is Steven Gray. I'm praying it is just a slump but I see no enthusiasm in his eyes recently. He was expected to be one of the leading players for this team but he has looked lazy. He's getting burned on defense and his dribbling has been sloppy. I don't think his shooting is going to be a long-term issue. Great shooters have slumps and make no mistake, Gray is a great shooter. He's got to fire it up a little bit and get hot. One great game will build his confidence so high and Steven Gray is a guy that Gonzaga needs if they are going to be a final four team.

Josh Heytvelt was saddled with some fouls throughout the game which really made him uncomfortable in the post in the latter parts. We say the "Heytvelt Drift" way too much. A big key for this team is for Josh to camp out in the post and stay there. We have enough three point shooters on this team. While I disagreed with some of the calls, Josh did not have his best night. He had a few great bank shots but only had 3 rebounds which is unacceptable. I think this had to do a lot with the zone being played. Josh had some great blocked shots but never could get into a groove with the early fouls. I also think Oklahoma State was playing great defense (sometimes illegally) against Josh, so give credit to them.

The free throw shooting was a little bit mind-blowing. Not only because we missed so many (13/26) but because our veterans were missing them. Matt missed two, Josh missed three, and Jeremy missed two. The biggest surprise miss was Austin Daye, I didn't even realize he knew how to miss free throws. I really think that nerves were a huge part of it. Matt is still a great free throw shooter, as are Josh and Austin. Jeremy has never been great at the line but will pick it up. The best part was the Rob Sacre, cold as ice and sidelined for so long, comes in and drains two free throws with ease.

Great game by Oklahoma State, if you are a Cowboy fan, you have to like what Travis Ford is doing. I thought they played great in the post for being totally undersized. And good lord do they shoot that three ball well. Every time Gonzaga made a big bucket, a Cowboy got loose in the corner and drilled a three...until Ira Brown came in.

Next up is the Maryland Terrapins who looked impressive in their surprising rout of sixth-ranked Michigan State. The game tips off at 2:30 PST in Orlando. This is going to be a big test as Maryland looked excellent tonight. In the other half of the bracket, Georgetown prevailed but not very impressively. Tennessee rolled through a very disappointing Siena team. Many thought Siena could pull the upset but the Volunteer defense was swarming.

Getting Ready for Zags and Pokes

2008-11-26T18:38:00.000-08:00

When: November 27, 2008 @ 6 PM PST

Where: The Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Orlando, FL

TV: ESPN2

Zags this season: Gonzaga heads into this game with a 2-0 record. The team opened the season with a decisive 83-52 victory over Montana State-Billings. Terrific performances from Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye, who scored 15 points each, allowed GU to coast against a clearly inferior team. The game against Idaho was more of the same story, as Gonzaga jumped out to a 47-11 halftime lead. While Micah Downs put together a complete performance on the offensive end, it was the defense played by Gonzaga that was most impressive. Idaho shot 14-47 from the field in the 80-46 loss. However, is it clear that neither of these opponents are anywhere near the level of the upcoming Old Spice Classic field.

Oklahoma St. this season: Although he has only been in charge for 4 games, Travis Ford has put his stamp on the Oklahoma St. Cowboys. The Pokes have jumped out to a 4-0 start, and are averaging 89.5 points per game. It has become clear that the Cowboys will live and die by the 3 this season. In just 4 games, they have shot 97 three pointers, and have made an impressive 38. Much like Gonzaga, the Pokes OSU has gone up against some inferior competition to begin the season. Their 4 victories have come against the University of Texas-San Antonio, North Texas, Tulsa and Grambling. Oklahoma St. has used these games to get accustomed to Ford's system, but it should be interesting to see how their run n' gun system fares against some of the best teams in the country.

Who We are Watching for: James Anderson leads the Cowboys on the offensive end, and is emerging as one of the top scorers in the Big 12. The former McDonald's All-American is thriving under the new system of Travis Ford. This season he is averaging 19.5 points and 7.3 rebounds, and has a career high 28 points against North Texas. Byron Eaton returns for his senior season as the starting point guard. Like Anderson, Eaton was a McDonald's All-American, but he has not lived up to the considerable hype he received coming out of high school. He has had a strong start to his final season, and is averaging 17.5 points and 5.0 assists.

Looking at the match ups: When you look at this game, there are two fantastic individual match ups to keep your eyes on. The first is at the PG position, where it will be great to watch Jeremy Pargo vs. Byron Eaton. Both have played significant minutes since they were freshmen, and both are the clear leaders for their respective team. They have striking similar builds, as both are strong and stocky guards who finish well at the hoop. In my opinion, Pargo is the more complete point guard, but if Eaton can stay out of foul trouble, he has the potential to be very active. The second fantastic individual match up is Micah Downs vs. James Anderson (left). Both have great length and athleticism, while possessing terrific shooting range. Anderson has the been the best player for Oklahoma St. this season, and it appears that Micah Downs has reached the fantastic potential he has. It should be a pleasure to watch these two compete on both ends of the floor.

The final prediction: While Oklahoma St. has had a terrific start this season, I think they are a couple of seasons away from national prominence. The Pokes can rely on the three when they are playing the worst teams Texas has to offer, but not against this Old Spice Classic field. The depth and talent that the Zags possess will lead them to a 79-65 win.

Helpful Links:
Preseason Breakdown of Oklahoma State
A History Lesson of Oklahoma State and Gonzaga
Old Spice Classic Preview
Old Spice Classic Opponent Blogs

Breaking Down the Old Spice Classic

2008-11-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

Well, we've talked about it long enough. For a couple years now, Gonzaga fans have been anxiously awaiting the 2008 Old Spice Classic. The Classic kicks off on Turkey Day, November 27th and runs through Sunday, the 30th. The event will be covered on the ESPN family of networks.

Gonzaga tips off at 6 p.m. PST against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on ESPN2. The key for the Zags is for them to never, ever play on ESPNU. If you are watching Gonzaga on ESPNU, it means they have lost their opening round game. I have respect for the Cowboys but the Zags should win this battle.

If they do prevail, Gonzaga will likely take on Michigan State unless they falter against Maryland. That game would tip off at 2:30 p.m. PST. The other side of the bracket has 3 teams that could win the tournament. Siena, Tennessee, and Georgetown all await the winner of the bottom bracket. The goal for the Zags is the championship game which will be at 4:30 PST.

Here is a look at the teams that will be competing for the Old Spice crown, we'll have a larger breakdown on Oklahoma State tomorrow.

Oklahoma State Cowboys/ Big 12/ (4-0)

Last Season's Results: 17-16 (9th in the Big 12 at 7-9)

Players to Watch: Every guard they have is supremely talented. James Anderson (20points per game so far), Terrel Harris (18 points a game), and Byron Eaton (5 assists per game) lead the insane pace for the Cowboys.

What they win with: Oklahoma State hoisted up 39 three point shots against Grambling State in a game this year. If they get hot, they can beat anyone. They will push the tempo but live or die on the outside shot. If they're cold, they can be run out of the gym.

Why they'll struggle: They have little interior presence. Ibrahima Thomas (10 ppg) is their only real post presence. Unlike Gonzaga, a majority of the Cowboys rebounding comes from the guards. Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye should be salivating.

Match Up Problem for the Zags: James Anderson. Any of these guards for Oky State can light it up but Anderson is one of the best players in the Big 12 and maybe the nation. He's under the radar but should make a statement in the Old Spice.

Can they win the Old Spice? Live by the three, die by the three is what they'll go by. With that mantra, I don't think they can. Until they get some sort of post presence, they can't compete with the best in the nation.

Maryland Terrapins/ ACC/ (3-0)

Last Season's Results: 19-15 (6th in the ACC at 8-8)

Players to Watch: Remember Greivis Vasquez? The point guard that many thought would be a Zag is a Terp and he is a good one. Vasquez has a great stat line this year with 22 points and nearly 8 boards a game. He also adds 5 assists a game. I really like guard Adrian Bowie as well. He brings a ton of energy and has 10 points a game so far. He'll play alot.

What they win with: They play a tough style of basketball under one of the best coaches in the nation, Gary Williams. They major thing they do is play solid defense. Williams has always stressed defense and this team is no different.

Why they'll struggle: I always thought Maryland would be a team that is always at the top of the ACC but they really don't have the talent they once had. Vasquez, while talented, tends to play extremely reckless and thus leading to turnovers.

Match Up Problem for the Zags: Gonzaga won't play against many guards the size of Vasquez. At 6'6'', he's extremely tall and that is a major reason why he leads the team in rebounding (as well as every other major stat category). He's going to be a decently tough match up in case they unlikely scenario happens and these two teams play.

Can they win the Old Spice: A lack of talent and a turnover prone star guard spell trouble when you are playing a Tom Izzo team. I don't expect the Terps to advance into the championship bracket.

#6 Michigan State Spartans/ Big 10/ (2-0)

Last Season's Results: 27-9 (4th in the Big 10 at 12-6)

Players to Watch: You would be hard pressed to find a better combo than point guard Kalin Lucas and forward Raymar Morgan. Lucas is a pure point guard that has averaged 15 points and 6 assists a game. Morgan is a highlight reel who is averaging 22 points per game.

What they win with: Michigan State can wear you down. There is no team that mimics their head coach more than the Spartans. They are an extremely tough team and defend well. Michigan State won't do many things wrong, so if you are going to beat them, you have to be nearly perfect.

Why they'll struggle: Injuries are the only thing really holding this team back. Delvon Roe, one of the best freshman in the nation, is still working back from a micro fracture surgery and big man Goran Suton may not be playing due to lingering knee problems.

Match Up Problems for the Zags: I have been praying for this match up since the bracket came out. Lucas is good but so is Jeremy Pargo. They tough match up will be Raymar Morgan. Morgan is a 6'8'', super athletic forward who will make life tough. Look for Ira Brown to match up with him. He's the best option to match Morgan's athleticism and speed.

Can they win the Old Spice? Absolutely. This is one of the top teams in the nation and they are very experienced. I'm glad the Zags might possibly match up with them now because they get better as the season goes along. If Lucas plays to his potential, watch out. I'm not sure if they have the depth to go all the way without Goran Suton, however.

Wichita State Shockers/ MVC/ (2-1)

Last Season's Results: 11-20 (9th in the Missouri Valley Conference at 4-14)

Players to Watch: This is an extremely young Shocker team and they are paced by two freshmen. Garrett Stuzt is a big 7 footer who is averaging 13 points a game but only three boards. Toure' Murry is a very athletic guard who is averaging 12 points a game.

What they win with: This is an exciting, young team to watch. They return only one starter from last season so you really don't know what to expect from the Shockers. They can surprise someone if their freshmen get hot. Stutz and Murry have been extraordinary thus far but haven't really been tested. They'll have growing pains but the future looks good.

Why they'll struggle: The main reason is because they are playing Georgetown. This is a really tough match up for the Shockers because their are only a few teams in the nation more fundamentally sound than the Hoyas. The youth movement is in action for Wichita but it is not going to happen overnight.

Match Up Problem for the Zags: If this match up happens, I'd be stunned. They'd have to meet in the consolation championship which I don't think either team will be in. The one guy I like for the Shockers is veteran Ramon Clemente. At 6'6'', 230 pounds, Clemente is a load and leads the team with nearly 12 rebounds a game. He's in the Ira Brown mold and does everything for his team.

Can they win the Old Spice? Sorry Shockers, it's just not going to happen. There are too many good teams in this tournament.

#16 Georgetown Hoyas/ Big East/ (2-0)

Last Season's Results: 27-5 (1st in the Big East at 15-3)

Players to Watch: They Hoyas have one of the best front court combos in the country. Freshman Greg Monroe has been sensational in his first two collegiate games. He's got a college-ready figure and has averaged 17 points and 8 boards a game. DaJuan Summers has all the tools to be a top player in the nation. The athletic forward can do everything. He's struggled to reach his potential thus far, but if he can reach it he will be a star.

What they win with: The teams in this tournament could star in a fundamentals video. Georgetown is led by John Thompson III who, much like is father, is tough nosed and big on the half court game. They are great in the set offense and wear teams down alot like Washington State. The prefer a slow tempo because JT III stresses the backdoor offense.

Why they'll struggle: The Hoyas are in a mini-transition phase. The loss of Jonathan Wallace and Roy Hibbert means they are without a lot of their production from a season ago. The jury is still out on Greg Monroe and if he can come in and be consistent. Their is also a pretty big lack of depth on this team. Their starting five is excellent, but their are questions on their bench.

Match Up Problem for the Zags: This was a game I really wanted to see in the second round of the NCAA tournament (fricken Steph Curry). I think the clash of tempos for this team will be fun to watch. The Zags run early and often. The Hoyas are more content to hang back and let the game come to them instead of forcing the action. Whoever the tempo of this game favors will win because the Zags aren't good at slowing down and the Hoyas aren't good at running.

Can they win the Old Spice? This is the team I think will win the top half of the bracket, so yes. I'm a sucker for the Thompson family and think they are great coaches. They'll walk through Wichita State but will have tough tests in the next two games. Their solid guard play should really help them out as well.

Siena Saints/ MAAC/ (2-0)

Last Season's Results: 23-11 (1st in the MAAC at 13-5)

Players to Watch: Kenny Hasbrouck is one of the best players that you have never heard of. The powerful guard is averaging 21 points a game so far this season and can also work the glass. Alex Franklin and Edwin Ubiles are excellent options at the wing/post for the Saints. They are both averaging in double figures and have loads of talent to work with.

What they win with: Siena can score in bunches and that is what they rely on. Their defense is nothing to write home about but their offense is outstanding. Much like Gonzaga, they like to run on teams and they can typically out hustle and score anyone. The key for them is a consistent back court. If Hasbrouck keeps lighting it up, this team could become very dangerous.

Why they'll struggle: As I mentioned, Siena's defense has historically been their weak point. The Saints are not a good team when it comes to defending the perimeter and opponents shot 37% from beyond the arc against them last year. They often force the action which means they are not a very good rebounding team. They get a great deal of one-shot possessions which can kill you against teams like Georgetown, Tennessee etc...
Match Up Problem for the Zags: I love this match up for Gonzaga, except for one major thing and that is perimeter defense. So far, the Zags have shown that they have become a much better defensive team but if this game was to happen, we would know very fast just how good they are. Siena can shoot from anywhere and can run around the opponent. Perimeter D has killed Gonzaga in the past and it could haunt them if they have not improved.

Can they win the Old Spice? I like this team a whole lot and think they can make a nice run in this tournament. I don't, however, think they can win the tourney. The Tennessee-Siena match up is probably the most intriguing round one game in this tournament. It can go either way and if Siena wins, who knows what they are capable of.

#12 Tennessee Volunteers/ SEC/ (3-0)

Last Season's Results: 29-4 (1st in the SEC at 14-2)

Players to Watch: Arguably the best player in the SEC is Tyler Smith. The 6'7'' junior forward is averaging 19 points a game on the young season and can do a little bit of everything. Wayne Chism runs the paint for the Volunteers and is averaging around 10 rebounds a game for the Vols. Watch out for freshman guard Scotty Hopson, he's absolutely sensational.

What they win with: The Volunteers have a lot of 'tweeners, guys that don't really fit any sort of position but they are great basketball players. Chism and Tyler Smith are two players that are probably undersized against most in the country but are so versatile that they present teams with match up nightmares. They're front court is dangerous and their guards oozes athleticism.

Why they'll struggle: Much like Georgetown, this team is in a mini-transition. The loss of JaJuan Smith and Chris Lofton takes away a lot of production. It's a relatively inexperienced team that will count on their athleticism to generate offense. Especially in their back court, the Vols will have some struggles but overall it's such a talented team that their won't be much drop off from last year.

Match Up Problem for the Zags: Gonzaga was extremely frustrated with Tennessee in their match up last season. I think the key here is making sure the athleticism of the Vols doesn't surprise the Zags. Last year they struggled to keep up with them and the ran Gonzaga out of the gym. The major issue will be Tyler Smith and Chism and it will be interesting to see how Heytvelt and Daye deal with them.

Can they win the Old Spice? I'm probably the most excited to see Tennessee this year. They are a big question mark for me because they should have a much different look than last year's team. The talent is there but the inexperience could hold them back. If they sleep on Siena, they will be in the consolation bracket before they know it. Siena will not be afraid of the name on the front of their opponents jersey.

Whew! That's a lot of information. The Old Spice Classic has such a deep and exciting field this year.

Looking at these little breakdowns of the opposing teams, you have to feel confident if you are a Gonzaga fan. I don't think any team in the field has as much talent combined with experience as Gonzaga. Michigan State may be close but injuries are going to affect them.

Like Chris Sprow of ESPN told us, Gonzaga can beat every one of these teams but can also lose to 80% of them on any given night. This is a very true statement because you are probably going to see three games in this tournament that you could wind up seeing in the sweet sixteen. Just think about that. If Michigan State plays Gonzaga and Tennessee plays Georgetown, you are looking at four teams that can all make valid claims that they could compete for a final four.

Recruiting Spotlight on Daequon Montreal: Interview with Mike Christensen

2008-11-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

Today we were lucky enough to get a few of our burning questions answered by Mike Christensen who covers the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) basketball team for the Times-News located in Twin Falls, Idaho. CSI is one of the most storied junior college programs in the nation and Christensen does an excellent job reporting on them. The Zags have their eye on Daequon Montreal who is a member of CSI and has been blowing up this year. At the power forward position, Montreal has been a double-double machine and Christensen has some high praise for Montreal.

The Kennel Report: What aspects of Daequon's game have you been most impressed with this so far this season?

Mike Christensen: Daequon has been a rebounding machine this season. He's quick to the ball and while he's not an incredible athlete, he's got a real quick jump off the floor. While those around him are gathering to go up, he's already snatched the ball.

TKR: Where has he improved the most since last year and what does he still need work on?

MC: His outside shooting, especially from 15-17 feet is improved and he is money with his baseline jumpers. His consistency on his shot needs some work as he is hot and cold at times.

TKR: What kind of leadership role does Daequon have on this young CSI team?

MC: Daequon is the clear-cut leader of this team. He's not overly boisterous, but he says what needs to be said and leads a very young team by example.

TKR: Have any new schools entered the recruitment process for Daequon?

MC: The list is ever growing. CSI's head coach, Steve Gosar, said the interest in Daequon jumped after the first weekend of the season when he had three double-doubles and grabbed 13 or more rebounds per game.

TKR: Would you say that Gonzaga is still one of his biggest suitors?

MC: When I've heard him talk about recruiting, the Zags are on the list of those he mentions. With attention increasing, it'll be interesting to see who rises to the top.

TKR: What kind of player do you think Daequon can be in big time college hoops?

MC: I'd liken his game to Tim Duncan. He's all about fundamentals rather than flash. He'll be a solid player. His numbers (like his game) won't be eye-popping, but he could easily average around 10 points and 10 boards a game.

TKR: Where do you think Daequon ranks among the top junior college big men in the country?

MC: A few of JUCO's best big men have come to Twin Falls this season and Daequon value on the court ranks right up there. I'd certainly think he's in the top 10.

TKR: Do you think he could come to a school like Gonzaga and make an immediate impact?

MC: Yes. He's kind of a quiet assassin. You watch the game and think he had a quiet night, then you look at the stats and he had 18 and 12.

TKR: And is there anything else you would like to add about him that we didn't hit on?

MC: He's just a pleasant guy to be around. Well-mannered, well-spoken, great smile. He's loves being and "old-fashioned" player, who just gets things done.

Old Spice Classic Opponent Blogs

2008-11-25T10:57:00.000-08:00

The day we have been anxiously is nearly here. Gonzaga will be taking part in the loaded Old Spice Classic which begins on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th. To get Gonzaga fans prepared for the tournament, we thought we would go ahead and link some blogs that cover the 'other' teams in the Old Spice. I've checked out each of these blogs and they are top-notch and should provide some great insight to the rest of the field. Check them out!

Michigan State Spartans: Spartans Weblog
Maryland Terrapins: Testudo Times
Georgetown Hoyas: Hoya Hoops, The Van Buren Boys
Tennessee Volunteers: The BruceBall Blog, Rocky Top Talk
Siena Saints: Siena Saints Blog
Oklahoma State Cowboys: I can't find any blog covering them but OrangePower is their message board

I can't find anything on Wichita State but if any of our readers know of any good sites covering Wichita State Basketball, let us know and we will post it.

You'd be hard pressed to find a field as deep as the Old Spice Classic. We also have a lot of respect for each team in the tournament and some of the coaches that will be roaming the sidelines are the best to ever do it.

GO ZAGS!

Part 2 of TKR's Interview with ESPN the Magazine: Sarah Turcotte

2008-11-25T01:08:00.000-08:00

ESPN the Magazine was gracious enough to spend some time with TKR and answer a few of our questions. If you missed our first interview with Chris Sprow, an editor and report for ESPN click here or scroll down. We are very excited for our second interview with ESPN the Magazine. Sarah Turcotte, the college hoops editor for ESPN the Mag was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. Hope you all enjoy...
The Kennel Report: Being nestled up here in the Pacific Northwest, we get a one-sided view on Gonzaga. How is Gonzaga viewed on the East coast and across the country? Do you think people see them as a Cinderella, prima donna, etc?

Sarah Turcotte: No way they get to be Cinderella anymore. We’ve even kicked them out of Giant Killer contention. They have a legit team, play a legit schedule and have a legit coach. No one’s going to be surprised by the Zags in March. Ever. Again. The trick now is that Gonzaga is a target. It’s fun to see teams like St. Mary’s and San Diego get fired up about an upset. Because of Gonzaga, we have to pay attention to the WCC every season.

TKR: What is the ceiling for Gonzaga this year, can a national championship come to Spokane?

ST: Never say never, but I’m not sure this is the year. Getting past Carolina and UCONN is going to be tough for any team. I do, however, think Gonzaga has a great shot at making it to Detroit.

TKR: Gonzaga returns one of the best point guards in the nation in Jeremy Pargo. Is he a top 10 point guard in the nation, where do you think he ranks?

ST: I’m a big fan of Pargo’s. I’d probably put him top five on my list. For me, he’s up there with Lawson, Evans and Holiday. It’s always fun to watch a point guard capable of scoring the way he can (though I’m sure coach would rather him be dishing a bit more).

TKR: How does the media world view Josh Heytvelt after his arrest a few years ago. Do you think he can return to form for Gonzaga this year?

ST: Honestly, we think it’s funny. While there’s no excuse for a student athlete to make those kind of mistakes, we got plenty of laughs over the circumstances of his arrest. Because of that, he’ll always be a punchline unless he really gets back to that I-own-Tyler-Hansbrough form of two years ago. I’m hearing he’s healthy and in shape, so hopefully he’ll redeem himself.

TKR: Let's say Gonzaga was in the Pac-10 this year. Do they win it? Why or why not?

ST: I like this question. And the Pac-10 is really thin this year compared to where they have been recently. I saw UCLA play an abysmal game against Michigan the other night and I’m not sure USC will be nearly as good as people think, even though Derozan is solid. I’ll say yes. I’d take that bet.

TKR: What has to happen for Gonzaga to reach its potential and what could hold them back?

ST: The front line has to be very good. Heytvelt and Daye have to carry a pretty heavy load. Most of the top teams are much, much deeper in the post.

TKR: Do you think Austin Daye should enter the draft after this season and is he a sure fire lottery pick?

ST: Yes, it’s not a particularly strong year. He should go. And I think he’d have to be pretty disappointing this season to drop out of the lottery. Most scouts have him in the 6-8 range.

TKR: Every year Gonzaga fans are forced to deal with rumors of Mark Few being the lead candidate for every job opening. Do you foresee any job or opening that would cause Mark Few to leave Spokane, or will he be in Spokane for his entire coaching career?

ST: Remember when Roy Williams was going to stay at Kansas? There’s always a better, more attractive job out there. Few’s in a great spot, but we actually had a note about this in a recent issue (if it didn’t get cut), folks don’t think he’d leave the Pacific Northwest, but Oregon could be a real possibility, should the job open up.

TKR: Many casual basketball fans view the WCC as Gonzaga and a bunch of no name schools. How do you view the WCC, and do you feel it is realistic for the conference to get 3 NCAA Tournament bids again?

ST: See above. We dig the WCC. It’s certainly realistic for three bids to come from the WCC, but this year might be tricky, especially if the Big East gets like 90 bids like everyone is predicting.

TKR: With the upcoming Old Spice Classic, Gonzaga will be participating in arguably the top pre-season tournament this season. What is your take on the Old Spice field, and where would you rank Gonzaga against the rest of the field?

ST: Michigan State? Georgetown? It’s a crazy-good field. I’d rank Gonzaga third behind MSU and Gtown. MSU is one of the best-coached teams in the country, and Monroe could give Heytvelt and Daye fits.

Exclusive Interview with Chris Sprow of ESPN the Magazine

2008-11-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Kennel Report was lucky enough to get an interview with Chris Sprow of ESPN the Magazine. Sprow is a Spokane native who is a General Editor and Reporter for one of the best sports magazines in the nation. We also interviewed Sarah Turcotte as well and will have her answers up later today. Turcotte is the college hoops editor for ESPN the Magazine. The Kennel Report: Being nestled up here in the Pacific Northwest, we get a one-sided view on Gonzaga. How is Gonzaga viewed on the East coast and across the country? Do you think people see them as a Cinderella, prima donna, etc?

Chris Sprow: I think the little-school-that-could vibe is long gone. Gonzaga is as big as Wake Forest, has beaten teams like UNC and UConn in New York and Boston respectively, and they’ll continue to schedule and win that way, get invited to tourney’s like Maui and others and start seasons ranked. Those games are money games not just for GU, but for the other team. Cinderella doesn’t get those games. More so: It’s one thing to be a small college, but I think the Cinderella varnish is far more associated with a program that truly has what were lesser-recruited kids coming out of high school. A real Cinderella wins through guile, execution or a ton of three’s. But while GU is recruiting good kids, they also have ones who are eyeing the NBA and see the TV schedule. Even a traditional tough “out” like a Butler doesn’t have their Freshman projected as top five picks. Once you beat a top five team and the talent on both sides looks the same, it doesn’t matter where you’re “tucked away”, you’re legit, and your only problem with perception is self-induced or involves people in New York who like to get to bed before 3 AM. Beyond that, your biggest problem is that your TV view has the student section basically off-screen. How can this happen? Only the Izzone does similarly (and foolishly.) TV recruits for you. Let it work, people.

TKR: What is the ceiling for Gonzaga this year, can a national championship come to Spokane?

CS: Gonzaga has no ceiling offensively, but that was never the problem. If they can defend with serious intensity for 35-38 minutes instead of 20-25, they can beat anybody. The problem with Gonzaga has been not being able to stop teams that are truly on their game offensively (think Nevada in Seattle a couple years ago). I think the team will continue to get better because they have deeper athleticism (which means more minutes where you can slap the floor and play defense with that type of energy, it’s not Few’s fault if he can’t play a trap 10-deep), but it still has to be consistent. So yeah, they can, but I still see them as an Elite Eight/Sweet Sixteen team that needs to capture defensive lightning.

TKR: Gonzaga returns one of the best point guards in the nation in Jeremy Pargo. Is he a top 10 point guard in the nation, where do you think he ranks?

CS: He’s one of the best. Pargo is better against athletic players—it takes his game up a notch. There is not a single team where he couldn’t start at point guard, I think, in the country, and 99% of them would be better for it. (Except maybe St. Mary’s, oddly.) Also, is there a better dunker at his position? No.

TKR: How does the media world view Josh Heytvelt after his arrest a few years ago. Do you think he can return to form for Gonzaga this year?

CS: Fans are harder on Josh than the media. He was a kid. He needed to grow up. He just needs to remember that wouldn’t have been a big headline if he wasn’t a big-time talent. Mark Few knew that. Everybody saw him steal Hansbrough’s lunch money in the Garden. If Gonzaga was so concerned about their status as a power, the fact that a kid being an idiot could be such a huge story nationally should answer all those questions.

TKR: Let's say Gonzaga was in the Pac-10 this year. Do they win it? Why or why not?

CS: I think they could win it, though the Pac-10 has some works in progress. UCLA, ASU, USC, Stanford, Cal and the Cougs are all transitioning. You can’t lose a bunch of first-rounders every year as a conference and not be down some. Now, GU is better than UCLA right now, but will they be in March? I’m not sure. Howland’s teams start suffocating people by then. GU needs to think the same way.

TKR: What has to happen for Gonzaga to reach its potential and what could hold them back?

CS: I think it’s almost problematic when every starter can make three’s. You make a couple and suddenly every guy feels like throwing up a heat-check. GU needs to kill people on the boards and let the outside stuff open up naturally. How can they not be a good high-low team with three starters at over 6’8” and two great passers in Bouldin and Pargo in the backcourt? So this team needs to build their offense starting at the hoop. If they have frontline depth issues, then they need to be fouling out the other team’s big guys early. Sometimes when you can do a lot of things well, you don’t focus on the one thing you need to do to win that game. Also: defend better, defend harder and defend all game long. I think they continue to get better every year in that area, but it’s March in a nutshell.

TKR: Do you think Austin Daye should enter the draft after this season and is he a sure fire lottery pick?

CS: Sorry, if you’re a top ten lock, you have to go. Top twenty, still close. If you say otherwise, buy a Wall Street Journal. He can get his degree. Vince Carter got his degree. A lot of guys do (really). Someday that dude will buy Gonzaga a new science building, but it’s not because he got a Bio degree in 2011. Think about this: Daye may have gone top 15 last year. If so, think if that ACL-scare was the real deal. He could stay, but that should involve an insurance policy, and Mark Few knows that. It’s a credit to any program when you do right by a kid. Nothing more.

TKR: Every year Gonzaga fans are forced to deal with rumors of Mark Few being the lead candidate for every job opening. Do you foresee any job or opening that would cause Mark Few to leave Spokane, or will he be in Spokane for his entire coaching career?

CS: Only Oregon, and honestly, the guy seems comfortable. He’s paid well, plus they have a Swoosh on the jersey’s (that matters), good camps, they charter, the games are sold out, he recruits nationally (and into scary places in Africa!!!, if you’ve followed the ludicrous Bol Kong story) and the dude likes to fish. When he turned down IU, I got the feeling he might be a lifer. (As a Spokane-native, I sort of hope I’m right.)

TKR: Many casual basketball fans view the WCC as Gonzaga and a bunch of no name schools. How do you view the WCC, and do you feel it is realistic for the conference to get 3 NCAA Tournament bids again?

CS: Looks like three tourney teams right now, just on paper, which is good for any league of that size. Let’s face it, until Gonzaga goes to a Rose Bowl or San Diego builds the Bill Grier Dome, which seats 23,000, there’s a perception issue (follow the money), but it’s already considered a solid hoops league. If coaches stay, in some ways, it already is. I think as well if teams continue to find international gems, they can win in recruiting in a way they haven’t before.

TKR: With the upcoming Old Spice Classic, Gonzaga will be participating in arguably the top pre-season tournament this season. What is your take on the Old Spice field, and where would you rank Gonzaga against the rest of the field?

CS: They can beat any team in the field, and can lose to 80% of then too. It looks like a Sweet 16 field. I think talent-wise, Gonzaga is right there with MSU and Georgetown. Hard to pick one. Tennessee is also scary because Bruce Pearl could win 15 games with Loyola Marymount’s roster, Maryland is down but always tough, and even the middies in Wichita State are Siena are really tough. If you have a letdown, you could easily lose, just like any roadie in the WCC...

Zags Crack Coaches' Top 10

2008-11-24T11:17:00.001-08:00

The ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll has been released today and the Zags find themselves as the tenth best team in the nation. After two blowout victories over Idaho and Montana State-Billings, Gonzaga has capitalized on some of the missteps of fellow top-25 teams. Mark Few's squad now finds itself as the highest-ranked team on the west coast, surpassing Ben Howland's UCLA Bruins who are ranked just behind Gonzaga at 11th.

St. Mary's is on the outside looking in, ranked 27th and receiving 43 votes. They are 57 points behind 25th ranked Davidson.

Only two teams in the upcoming Old Spice Classic, Wichita State and Maryland, are not receiving votes in the Coaches' Poll. Oklahoma State received two votes and Siena received 10. The tournament will feature #6 Michigan State, #10 Gonzaga, #12 Tennessee, and #16 Georgetown.

There is no doubt that the field at the Old Spice is the deepest preseason tournament in the nation and should be outstanding to watch.

Around the WCC: 11/16-11/23 Edition

2008-11-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

LMU: To say this was a disappointing weak for the LMU Lions would be quite the understatement. The Lions kicked off the week with a tough loss to UC Davis. In the 64-55 defeat, only Vernon Teel managed to score in double-digits, as he led the Lions with 23 points. The week worsened for LMU, as they fell to #9 Notre Dame 65-54. Although LMU was competitive throughout the game, they had no answer for Luke Harangody, who had 27 points and 15 rebounds. Making matters worse, was the news that head coach Bill Bayno has taken a leave of absence to deal with a serious medical issue. It seems that things can only go up, and TKR would like to wish the best to Bill Bayno and his family.

Schedule this week: 11/24@ Wagner; 11/29@ University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Pepperdine: It seems that this might be a very long season in Malibu. After winning their opener, Pepperdine has now dropped 4 games in a row. This week saw the Waves fall to BYU, New Mexico St., and Arizona St. The disheartening aspect of these losses, is that all 3 came by over 20 points. In the 82-53 loss to BYU, no Pepperdine player was able to score in double figures. After a competitive first half against New Mexico St., the Waves were outscored by 23 points in the second half, and fell 90-66. Pepperdine had no answer for James Harden and Arizona St., as the All-American guard scored a career high 33 points, and collected 12 rebounds, in the 61-40 victory.

Schedule this week: 11/29 vs. Cal State Bakersfield

Portland: The Portland Pilots have been the biggest surprise in the WCC so far. Portland opened the season with a great win over Washington, and followed that up with a 2-1 week. Portland began the week with a tough 81-76 loss to Portland St. The game was close throughout, but the Pilots had no answer for Jeremiah Dominguez, as he led the Vikings with 23 points. This was especially bittersweet for Portland fans, as Dominguez began his career at Portland. However, the Pilots were able to recover behind a terrific team performance, as they dominated Yale throughout the 77-58 victory. In the win, all 5 starters scored in double-digits. The Pilots finished the week with a terrific 75-72 victory at UC Davis. T.J. Campbell led the way with 20 points and 5 rebounds.

Schedule this week: 11/29 vs. Nevada

St. Mary's: How this team has not cracked the Top 25 continues to baffle me. St. Mary's was dominate in both their wins this week. The Gaels began the week by hosting Fresno St. as part of the ESPN Hoops Marathon. With the offense being led by Patty Mills, who scored 27 points, St.Mary's coasted to a 99-85 victory. Things were even easier for the Gaels later in the week, as they blew out the Vanguard Lions. Diamon Simpson and Patty Mills carried St.Mary's to an easy 86-54 victory.

Schedule this week: 11/27 vs. UTEP

San Diego: As we get closer to the NCAA Tournament, San Diego may look back at this week as a blown opportunity to pick up some quality wins. While the Toreros went 2-1 this week, the loss to Wisconsin might haunt this team. USD opened the week with an impressive 65-51 victory over Nevada. Rob Jones scored 23 points in the victory, as Billy Grier's squad held Luke Babbitt to just 3 points. After the victory, the team headed to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam. USD opened the tournament with a lacklustre effort in their 73-66 victory over Valpo. Gyno Pomare led the team with 17 points, but the Toreros were never able to assert their dominance against Valpo. This poor effort carried over into the semi-final game against Wisconsin. San Diego put together a putrid performance on the offensive end in their 64-49 loss. Only Brandon Johnson played at a high level, as he scored 17 points in the defeat.

Schedule this week: 11/24 vs. #16 Miami; 11/29 vs. San Diego Christian

San Francisco: Along with Portland, USF has been biggest pleasant surprise in the WCC. Although the Dons opened the week with a 87-74 loss to California, their performance in the game was noteworthy. The game was close until late in the second half, and Manny Quezada was scintillating, as he scored 27 points off the bench. California is a well-coached and athletic team, and USF played them very tough. The Dons finished the week in impressive fashion, as they defeated the Academy of Art by the score of 74-23 (this is not a typo). Dior Lowhorn scored 26 points in the victory, which saw the Academy of Art score only 9 points in the 1st half.

Schedule this week: 11/24 vs. UCSB; 11/29 vs. Colorado St.

Santa Clara: This was the type of week that will give Kerry Keating nightmares. Santa Clara headed to the University of Arizona to compete in the NIT Season Tip-Off. With Arizona in turmoil, Santa Clara had an excellent opportunity to win the round robin and advance to New York City for the final round of the tournament. However, this was not to be for the Broncos, as they stumbled to defeat in both of their games. Santa Clara opened the round robin with UAB. It seemed that they were on their way to victory, but UAB overcame a 9 point deficit and the Broncos fell 64-61. The tough luck continued against Florida Atlantic in the next round. Despite holding a 58-57 lead with less then two minutes to play, Santa Clara fell 65-61. John Bryant was dominant in the defeat, as he scored 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

Schedule this week: 11/24 @ Georgia; 11/25 @ Arizona; 11/30 @ Montana

LMU Head Coach Takes Leave of Absence

2008-11-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

What has already been a tough start to the season for LMU just got a whole lot tougher. The Lions, who are off to an 0-4 start, will be without their head coach for an indefinite period of time.

The Los Angeles times ran the story today, and it appears that Bill Bayno is dealing with a serious medical condition.

"Recently, I was diagnosed with a serious medical condition, in part, related to the stress and anxiety of head coaching," Bayno said in a statement released by the school. "It will require treatment, which will force me to take a leave of absence. It is unfortunate and I feel badly for the university, the coaching staff and most of all my players and their families, all of whom I will miss very much. I ask for privacy for myself and my family and I thank you for your prayers and support."

Max Good will be promoted to interim coach while Bayno takes care of his health problems. TKR would like to wish a quick recovery to Coach Bayno, and the most important thing is that he gets fully healthy.

The Wild World of Gonzaga Recruiting

2008-11-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

One thing the Gonzaga coaching staff does amazingly well is keep secrets. This becomes increasingly frustrating when it comes to recruiting; especially the 2009 class. As a passionate follower of college recruiting, I have never seen so many waves of kids go pass through Gonzaga's radar only to commit elsewhere. Don't believe me? Check out our May breakdown of the 2009 recruting prospects. We are proud that Sam Dower has stuck around and committed to Gonzaga but other than that, it has been an absolute guessing game. The flurry of confusion began when Brock Osweiler decommitted. The big man from Montana was a sure fire Zag and seemed to be in love with the program. College football and Dennis Erickson took him away from Spokane and that sent the staff scrambling. Even in this haze, we still know a few things...

What We Know: Sam Dower and Mangisto Arop are the newest Gonzaga Bulldogs. Both recently signed and appear to be stars in the making for Mark Few. Dower is a big man from Minnesota and Arop is an athletic guard from north of the border. Mangisto, or Manny was a huge surprise for Gonzaga fans. He burst on the scene and basically the first news we heard about him was the fact that he committed to Gonzaga. Dower, on the other hand, was part of TKR's first batch of recruits to watch and he looks to be a real gem. We got to watch him scrimmage with the team a little bit and he has skills but will have to add some weight to truly dominate.

What We Think We Know: Gonzaga recruiting is so odd that the United States government is getting involved. The most frustrating, yet promising, part of 2009 recruiting is the Bol Kong saga. Kong's a Sudanese native who is being blocked from the country because his native country is one that has harbored terrorists. The situation appears to be resolving and all signs point to the fact that Kong will get this worked out and play at Gonzaga. This is complete and total rumor but the sources are trustworthy and I'm sure the school is doing a lot to get this kid in the country. Kong is supposedly a rare talent and a guy that could be a star at Gonzaga. Words like phenom get tossed around when discussing Kong and it would be such a great story if he would be able to get into the country. I'm sure the rumors will continue to circulate and the general public will be kept in the dark but you've got to root for a kid like Bol Kong.

What We Would Like to Know: How does this class end? The 2009 recruiting

class is the most important class that Mark Few has ever recruited. Gonzaga will be losing a number of program defining players. Jeremy Pargo, Micah Downs, Josh Heytvelt, and Ira Brown will be leaving. Many believe that Austin Daye will be headed to the NBA after this season, a thought that I am not totally sold on yet. If Daye leaves, Gonzaga will be pencil thin in the post. Two names that have been hanging around for quite a while are Kelly Olynyk and Daequon Montreal. Montreal (right) is a star at one of the best junior college programs in the nation and Olynyk is a 6'10'' guard-forward that is starting to blow up in Canada. Montreal has been outstanding so far in his sophomore season at the College of Southern Idaho. In recent action, Montreal had 23 points and 18 boards. He seems to fit what Gonzaga needs but his name is getting mentioned less and less when it comes to Gonzaga recruiting. Olynyk visited last weekend and seemed to be enthralled with the program but he's been growing so much and so fast that no one really knows where he fits on the court. The Zags don't really need a point guard which means Olynyk is going to have to add a lot of weight to that 6'10'' frame and become a solid wing/post player if he winds up here.

My Best Guess: I know I'm going to look back on this in a couple of months and kick myself. I want to see Daequon Montreal as a Zag. I really think that he is college ready right now and that is something that Gonzaga needs. Especially if Daye leaves, the Zags are going to need bodies in the paint that are ready to contribute and Montreal could be that guy. While I write this, my gut feeling tells me that this won't happen but I'm holding out hope. We should be heading over to Idaho at some point this season to watch Daequon in action but all reports have been extremely positive. As far as Olynyk is concerned, I'm in the wait and see mode. I'd imagine that the staff is going to be cautious with him and see how he progresses this year. He's got the body and length to be a star but it is still kind of a mystery about where he will play on the court once he gets to college.

There is always a chance that neither of these guys wind up at Gonzaga and we get some foreign player or a high-profile transfer. In fact, that may be the odds on favorite right now. The perfect situation right now is if Kong comes and Daye stays. We'd have one more scholarship to throw around and maybe attract a transfer that is ready to play in the paint. That would take pressure of Sam Dower to contribute right away.

Oklahoma State vs. Gonzaga: A History Lesson

2008-11-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

The Gonzaga Bulldogs and Oklahoma State Cowboys have only played two games in the history of the respective universities. In those two games, their has been about enough intrigue and drama to make you think these squads were rivals dating back a couple decades.

It's easier to write this piece on the history of the GU-OSU match up because the Zags are 2-0 all time between the squads. Another reason why it is so interesting to look at these two games is because they both featured shining performances by so many Gonzaga legends. The 2004 match up in Oklahoma City was one of the best and most heart-pounding Gonzaga games I have ever watched. If you don't remember, this was when Ronny Turiaf dominated the paint for the Zags but the big man from France was struggling with an ankle injury the entire game. The Cowboys were led by the Graham brothers and John Lucas. They were a team that was steamrolling through the season and ranked third at the time. They had all the ingredients for a championship team. The Zags were the upstart squad; featuring a young Adam Morrison and an inexperienced J.P. Batista who had to play serious minutes because of Turiaf's injury. Gonzaga jumped out to a nine point lead at halftime and seemed to have the game in hand early in the second half when they ran the lead out to 16 points. Turiaf, who was not even supposed to be seeing action, played 18 minutes and had 10 points. This game was about Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista. Batista, hailing from Brazil, had 18 points and only missed one shot the entire evening. The Cowboys closed the gap at the end but after an Adam Morrison hit a jumper in the lane, the Cowboys were down three. A last second desperation heave by John Lucas fell short and Gonzaga gave Oklahoma State its first loss on the year.

There is not much you can say about the 2005 game...unless you let Bill Raftery and Gus Johnson tell you about it...

The Battle in Seattle between the two teams in 2005 had a different storyline. Adam Morrison was the leading scorer in the nation and this was a game the Zags were supposed to win. Led by Mario Boggan, the Cowboys were frustrating Gonzaga, especially Morrison. He shot a below average 6-14 from the field and never seemed to hit a rhythm but in a game like this, you knew Morrison would have the ball in his hands in the final seconds. As a Gonzaga fan, it's hard to admit some things but in this game the Zags got extremely lucky. Nobody played well for Mark Few that day and the game probably should have been a loss for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga's other star player, J.P. Batista was off as well, shooting 5-12 from the field but still finishing with 17 points. The Adam Morrison bank shot will go down as one of the greatest shots in Gonzaga history and it is well deserved.

So what can these games tell us about what it going to happen when these two teams face off on November 27th? Expect the unexpected. Yes, the Sutton family has moved on from Oklahoma State but the Cowboys always play hard and you can count on them to bring it again against the touted Gonzaga Bulldogs. If anything, new coach Travis Ford will re-instill that toughness to this team. Judging by the past, you can't expect a blowout.

It may be a new cast of characters but I expect the plot to be very similar to the games in 2004 and 2005. I think the Zags will win but don't sleep on the Cowboys. You can bet that the 2005 game still sits fresh in the mind of Oklahoma State guard Bryon Eaton and Gonzga guard Jeremy Pargo. Both players started the 2005 game and will be leading their teams in battle come November 27.

TKR Exclusive: Interview with Pablo Torre of Sports Illustrated

2008-11-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

I couldn't be anymore excited to present TKR readers with this terrific interview that we were able to facilitate. TKR has been given the truly rare opportunity to pick the mind of Pablo Torre, who writes for Sports Illustrated. Pablo did much of the research and scouting for the recent Sports Illustrated preview of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. It is a rare opportunity to discuss this team with a person who has as much insight and information as Pablo. TKR would like to thank Pablo, as well as Chris Mahr and Kevin Sachs, who made this interview possible.

TKR: With this being his senior year, do you think Gonzaga fans will see the pre-suspension Josh Heytvelt, or is he not capable of returning to that form?

Pablo Torre: I think he is still quite capable, and barring any other injury-related setbacks, I'd bet on him being closer to the pre-suspension Heytvelt of yore. The talent is still there: coaches will tell you that being hurt last year affected his conditioning and caused a pretty marked loss of explosiveness, which he does rely on quite a bit. He seems to be back now. And I also think that having the spotlight on him now as a senior--especially with that boneheaded off-the-court drug stuff--should actually keep him focused, if he wasn't already.

TKR: Micah Downs had a terrific summer, and recently started in the opening exhibition game. What role do you expect Micah to have for the team this year, and do you think he will finally reach his full potential?

Pablo Torre; His role will be increased, no question. His main talent is that he's a marksman, and if he stays hot--last year, there were stretches when he was making shots from everywhere--he'll be challenging Gray and Bouldin for playing time. You don't want to take too much away from a game against Idaho, of course, but a performance along the lines of 5-8 from the field, 3-5 from three and 5-5 from the line for 18 points might not be all that uncommon. A big part of that consistency of performance, of course, will depend on how well he's integrated into the team off the court and in the classroom, allowing him to shed his present rep as a slightly inscrutable hoops nomad.

TKR: In Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga has one of the top Point Guards in the country. Where do you rank Pargo among PG's in college basketball, and what type of season do you expect from him?

Pablo Torre: I think I'd put him in the latter half of the Top 10 with the caveat that he can score on anyone above him. And though NBADraft.net apparently likens him to Marcus Banks, I think he'll be better than that (and better than his older brother, Jannero, for whatever that's worth). At the very least, he's a big game scorer: 22 points against San Diego in WCC final, 18 and 27 in two games Saint Mary's, 25 against Memphis, 28 against Oklahoma, 23 against UConn. Not a bad resume, although with the scorers on this team this year, I don't think he'll need to do it quite as much--which is helpful to him, by the way, as he'll need to show NBA teams that he's not just a converted shooting guard but someone who can genuinely distribute. That said, I don't think he'll be the best point guard in the WCC. That's Patty Mills, who's Top Five in my opinion heading into the season (along with--in no particular order--Stephen Curry, Darren Collison, Jonny Flynn and Ty Lawson).

TKR: The injury scare to Austin Daye was one of the big stories this summer. How healthy do you think Austin is, and is he capable of carrying this team to a Final 4 and a national championship.

Pablo Torre: By all accounts Austin's fine, and I think Mark Few thanks St. Ignatius Loyola every night that it was just a bone bruise and minor ligament tear instead of a fully ripped ACL. And ironically, being forced to rehab and work out in the gym this summer should be a blessing in disguise for him: as Kelli Anderson reported in our preview issue, Daye wound up putting on significant weight (16 pounds, bringing him to 206), which is definitely a welcome addition. Last year, the guy was 8 inches taller than his point guard but about 30 pounds lighter. Now, he has all the tools in the world: the NBA pedigree (thanks to his dad); the height (6'10) and wingspan (7'5); and certainly the touch (he shot 41.3% from three). With that new weight, Few says he wants to have him bang around inside more. If he can do that, the upside is terrifying. (And Austin himself has vowed that anything less than an Elite Eight will be a disappointment, which you like to see.)

TKR: One of the more exciting prospects on the team this year is Demetri Goodson. How big of a contribution can he make this year, and do you think he is an NBA talent?

Pablo Torre: I'm going to hold off on the NBA talk for Meech at this point, as I'd really have to see him play more. But the skillset he brings will definitely soften the blow once Jeremy leaves--Goodson is one of the fastest kids Gonzaga's had in recent memory, and he's more of a pure point. If his shot develops, he can be a real weapon. I like him as a potential steadying force off the bench to spell Pargo: he won't be able to replicate his scoring, but he'll fit quite nicely into the flex offense.

TKR: One of the big question marks entering the season is frontcourt depth. While we know what we will get out of Austin and Josh for the most part, what can we expect from Ira Brown, Rob Sacre, and Will Foster?

Pablo Torre: Out of that trio, all you hope for, and really need, is energy and rebounding. They have tremendous size (Sacre at 7'0, and Foster at an absurd 7'4), obviously, which helps, and the coaches will bring Ira Brown off the bench to spell Daye and help defend the bigger-bodied forwards in the paint. The good news is that the frontcourt outside of Austin and Josh shouldn't need to score. They just need to be able to bang inside and run some in relief.

TKR: Do you believe that this team has the talent and the depth to make the Final 4 and compete for the National Championship?

Pablo Torre: They really do have the talent, yes. SI has them at No. 13 right now, but I'd say that their upside is along the Elite Eight lines. And if everyone stays healthy, at that point, I don't see why a Final Four isn't out of the question.

TKR: What do you feel is the biggest issue/factor that could prevent this team from reaching its potential?

Pablo Torre: I think Josh Heytvelt either getting hurt or regressing is the biggest thing you fear (though as I said, I wouldn't bet on it). I think Gray, Bouldin, Daye and Pargo will all be there in the end. They just need a post presence inside, and he's it. If he isn't, the coaching staff won't be able to sleep easy in March.

The Zags are Getting Defensive

2008-11-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

In the early years of the Mark Few era, Gonzaga was never known as an outstanding defensive team. This trend continued during the time of Adam Morrison when the Zags relied on outscoring the opposition and rarely on making defensive stops. In the first two games of this young season, we have seen some outstanding defensive performances. Granted, the two games that Gonzaga has played will probably be their two easiest games this season. No matter how you cut it, though, 11 points in the first half is a stat that is hard to ignore. The defensive improvements that we have seen thus far this season are not exclusive to one factor or individual, but rather a collective team effort led by outstanding coaching. Here are a few of the factors we have been exceptionally happy with...

The major change that has driven this transformation is the arrival of Ray Giacoletti. Ray has brought a kind of intensity that hasn't been seen around these parts for years. Like we talked about on 1510 KGA last night, he is a no BS guy. He finds it absolutely imperative that everyone plays hard nosed every play and the team is really starting to play the way he coaches. In this time in college basketball, Gonzaga cannot win a national championship with only offense and that was a big thing holding them back for many years. If the game was close, the Zags struggled to get stops. With Ray in place here at Gonzaga, this team should not have any trouble making the defensive play. When the former Utah coach was let go, he seemed like an outstanding fit for the Zags. Gonzaga was a running team and Giacoletti was about stops. In fact when he was at Utah, he was quoted as saying:

"The first thing we want to do is establish a tone on the defensive end of the floor. In college basketball today, you have to get stops . . . Everybody wants to run these days, and we do, too. We want to push it hard and take advantage of opportunities.

There have been a number of excellent individual performances thus far and a major one that we have seen is the defensive efforts coming from the guard position. Coming into this season, many Gonzaga fans believed that Steven Gray would replace Matt Bouldin in the starting lineup. One major reason of this was because Gray was the better defender. During his first two years at Gonzaga, Bouldin was not a great defender. He always seemed to be a step slow and in games against quick guards, he hurt the Zags. Just by looking at Matt now, you can see that he has trimmed down and appears to be much quicker on his feet. He has played some outstanding defense and is flying around out there and forcing steals, something we never saw too much out of Matt in his first two seasons. Jeremy Pargo has always been a pretty solid defender and he has continued that thus far. The arrival of Demetri Goodson has been a blessing. He is an absolute ball hawk and is constantly hounding the ball handler. He is the type of player that the other team hates because his intensity on the defensive side of the ball is largely unmatched. I would have to think that Meech is the player that Ray Giacoletti could design if he was able to. He is a fast guard that can get stops but can also run on offense, something that Ray is dedicated to.

One thing that a coach can only recruit and not coach is length and Gonzaga is one of the most 'long' teams in the nation. Led by Austin Daye, Micah Downs, and Josh Heytvelt this team is presenting all sorts of nightmares for the opposition. Austin's length is sometimes startling. Putting him on the inbounds passer has to be the opposing team's nightmare. Numerous times, Daye has just plucked the inbounds pass out of the air and taken it the other way. Another benefit of the amazing athleticism that Daye, Downs, and Heytvelt have is their ability to block shots. The Zags blocked 10 shots in the first game and added four more against the Vandals. Their ability to play the ball in the air is matched only by a few other front lines and their overall quickness helps them get to the shooter to close out.

Sticking with the guys up front, a huge part of our success so far has been the rebounding. Through two games, Gonzaga has out rebounded the opponent 91-58. Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt have accounted for 37% of those rebounds thus far. This is the stat that makes me the most excited about this year. In the past, we have seen guys like Matt Bouldin and Jeremy Pargo or even Micah Downs lead the team in rebounding. There is no reason why Austin and Josh can't average a double-double. For this team to succeed, these two have to dedicate themselves to dominating the boards and getting the ball out to our guards to run. Otherwise, the Zags will have to fall into a more half court game, which is a foreign thought to this running team. Another huge key to this season is the presence of Ira Brown. He is the quintessential rebounder. Last game he didn't even attempt a shot but had four rebounds. He had four in the first game as well and if you watch him, you know he can bang around down there against whoever. Even if he doesn't pull the board down, he can clear some space for his teammates. Get ready for Ira because he is going to play some serious minutes this season.

What always bothered me about the last few seasons for Gonzaga was the amount of stupid fouls we committed in the post. Our post men in the past were often outmatched and would resort to just banging around without a cause. This often hurt Gonzaga on key defensive plays and sent the other team to the line. It's hard for any team to outmatch the size of Gonzaga this year and this team has an extremely smart basketball IQ. Yes, dumb fouls are a part of college basketball (see Arizona-UAB) but this years team is a smart and athletic bunch and that should help them avoid the stupid foul. I would rather have our team play solid, smart defense as opposed to the "make them earn it at the line" strategy. Fouls often interrupt the flow of the game and give the opposing team the momentum and too many times we have seen Gonzaga players foul the opponent only to give them an opportunity for a three-point play. Thus far, the total foul count is down and that is a trend that I think could be telling as the season plays itself out.

Their biggest critic, Mark Few, has even been delightfully surprised by this team's commitment on the defensive side of the bal:

“I was totally, incredibly pleased with how they took our game plan and how they took the challenge of setting the tone with our defense, we talked about doing it the last couple days and they took it to heart.”

Cliff Dixon to Seton Hall

2008-11-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

Well we never knew much about Mr. Cliff Dixon and it appears that we won't be getting any more familiar with him in the future.

The big man out of Hutchinson Community College has committed to Seton Hall and head coach Bobby Gonzalez. He looked like a hell of a player but it's hard to really gauge how good he is because we never saw much tape of him.

According to FoxSport.com's Jeff Goodman, Dixon is currently suspended from play.

Cliff will be joining former Gonzaga prospect Jordan Theodore, who is currently a freshman.

Zags Around the Web and Other WCC Musings...

2008-11-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

Whether you agree with it or not, this year's Gonzaga team is getting tons of love from the press. After two blowouts in which the Zags showed little to no weakness, this praise looks to be deserved. Just think about this. In the first game against MSU-B, Michael Hall scored the last 14 points of the first half against the Bulldogs. In the first half last night, Idaho could only muster up 11 points. Beautiful.

-- If you missed last night's Arizona-UAB game, it was probably a good thing but ESPN analyst and hairstyle enthusiast Steven Lavin ranked the Zags as the second best team in the West. Obviously he has UCLA as the best team out West. Gonzaga was followed by USC, Arizona State, and fellow WCC team St. Mary's. It's hard to disagree with the ranking because of how good UCLA has been in the past few years but if you watched them against Miami of Ohio, it's clear to see that they are vulnerable. As far as the Gonzaga-Arizona match up goes...let's just hope Kyle Fogg and Jamelle Horne are on the floor as much as possible for the 'Cats.

-- In some surprising news to me, former Gonzaga prospect Jeff Reid has signed a letter of intent with St. Louis University. The Zags were extremely off and on with Reid. They loved him early on and then seemed to move away but then Reid showed up at Gonzaga's Elite Camp. I liked Reid and thought he would end up at Kansas State. Best of luck to Jeff.

-- The next opponent for the Gonzaga Bulldogs is the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. The 'Pokes are 2-0 on the young season. They beat Texas-San Antonio by 19 in their first game and beat North Texas by 12 points two nights ago. Oklahoma State has two more games before they match up with the Zags. They will play Tulsa on Thursday and Grambling State on the 23rd of November

Looking at how the rest of the WCC fared in recent action.

Santa Clara's John Bryant had 23 second half points but it wasn't enough in SCU's four point loss to Florida Atlantic, 65-61
A very good BYU team routed the Pepperdine Waves, 82-53
A well contested in-state rivalry ended in a Portland State victory over the Portland Pilots. The question now is how much will the Vikings beat UW by when the face off in December.
San Diego welcomed back Gyno Pomare in their very impressive victory over Nevada, 65-51. The Torero's shut down super freshman Luke Babbitt, who only had three points.
A very inconsistent San Francisco team kept their most recent match up with Cal very close. Cal won by 10 but, in good news for the Dons, Manny Quezada and Dior Lowhorn had excellent games with 27 and 20 points, respectively.
St. Mary's looked excellent at home in their 14 point victory over Fresno State, 99-85. Patty Mills had 27 points and Omar Samhan pulled down 13 rebounds...but this video is probably the thing everyone will remember from that game.

Excellent Team Performance: Zags Improve to 2-0

2008-11-18T20:26:00.000-08:00

With a dominant defensive performance, and great shooting from the perimeter, Gonzaga strolled to an 80-46 victory over the Idaho Vandals. The Bulldogs did an excellent job of contesting every shot, and used their length and athleticism to disrupt the Idaho offense throughout the game. The result was never in question, as GU jumped out to a 17-0 lead to start the game. By the end of the opening half, the score was 47-11, and the team could finally turn its attention to the impending Old Spice Classic next week.

What can Zag fans take from this dominant performance over a clearly inferior team?

The focus on defense is clearly paying off. I have never seen a Gonzaga team play such intense defense throughout the course of a game. Sure, there have been bunches in games where the team has looked committed to defense, but it appears that this year, only a 40 minute commitment will be tolerated. I loved watching Meech and Pargo harass the Idaho guards up the court, and Micah and Matt did a terrific job staying in front of the man they were guarding. Here is a great quote from Coach Few regarding the 1st half defense:

"That might've been as good a 20 minutes of defense as we've played in awhile," Few said.

Pargo is emerging as one of the elite guards in the country. Some Gonzaga fans will look at the box score and see that Jeremy had only 5 points, and probably assume this was not one of his finest performances. The truth is, Jeremy controlled every aspect of the game from his position. Along with his 5 points, he had 8 rebounds and 7 assists. He rarely looked out of control, and always made the right decision with the ball. We all know that Jeremy can score and take over a game on the offensive end, but with this team it will not be necessary very often. Clearly, Coach Few recognizes the high level Jeremy is playing at:

"Jeremy Pargo set the tone," Few said of his point guard and reigning West Coast Conference player of the year. Pargo had eight assists and just three turnovers. He grabbed seven rebounds

Micah and Josh are playing at a consistently high level. Both of these guys have displayed flashes of greatness during their time at Gonzaga. However, neither has been able to put together consistent performances that match their talent. It seems that they both realize that this is their last chance to impress scouts and lead this team to its highest level. Micah shot the ball with great accuracy, as he led the team with 18 points. He rarely forced his shot, and was able to score consistently within the offense. Josh played like a man against boys, as he dominated the paint throughout his 15 point and 7 rebound performance. This team has so many weapons, and everyone is playing for the team:

"We've got four or five guys who can get 20 points on any given night," Downs said. "Nobody worries about who scores."

"We've got enough different weapons," Few said.

While there is no denying that the Zags looked great, there are still some things that have me a little concerned.

I know it has only been two games, but Steven Gray has not played at the level that I think he is capable of. It is concerning to see Steven struggle with his shooting, but he is to solid of a shooter to stay in this funk. What really worries me is his sloppiness on both sides of the court. Steven has seemed lackadaisical passing the ball, and continues to make poor decisions with the basketball. I also noticed that Steven has the tendency to drift away from his man on the defensive end. He gave up numerous open looks, which could be difference against a team like Michigan St.

Will Coach Few punish Austin Daye for his technical foul? If I'm not mistaken, Coach Few's rule is that a player typically does not start the next game after he receives a technical foul. This was clearly the case of one of the Idaho guys jawing at Austin after his dunk attempt was blocked. Austin responded by drilling a 3, and then talking some trash. A good referee would have told both guys to quiet down, and given them each a warning. What worries me, is that this team can't afford to have Austin sitting on the bench against Oklahoma St. The Old Spice Classic is a heaven-sent opportunity for Gonzaga to stake its claim to a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. It is vital that Austin starts next week, and I hope that Coach Few does not punish him for some harmless talking.

This was a complete performance by the Gonzaga Bulldogs. They were dominant on both the offensive and defensive end. My confidence is sky high, and I can't wait to watch this team take on some great competition next week in Orlando. Bring on Oklahoma State!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Primer for the Zags and Vandals

2008-11-17T22:18:00.001-08:00

November 18, 2008

6 P.M. @ the McCarthey Athletic Center

TV: KHQ/FSNW

Radio: KGA 1510

Taking a look back at the history of the the series between Idaho and Gonzaga, you may be a little stunned to find that the Vandals lead the series 67-63. If the current trend continues however, the series will soon be in Gonzaga's favor. The Bulldogs have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between the border rivals.

This season appears to be no different for the Zags and the Vandals. Idaho has been ranked by the coaches at the bottom of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) this season and, although I believe their new coach has them in the right direction, they should be no trouble for Gonzaga. Taking a look at the team that Mark Few has assembled, it is clear to see that this is a game that should be relatively similar to Saturday's game against Montana State-Billings. Last game against the Yellowjackets saw a number of the major questions for the Zags get answered positively. Does Josh Heytvelt have the swagger back? It looks like it. Is Austin Daye's knee going to have lingering affects? Don't bet on it. Gonzaga was victimized by the hot hand of former Idaho Vandal Michael Hall but aside from that, the Bulldogs looked smooth and succinct. Josh Heytvelt should be tested little throughout this game as Idaho is pretty thin in the post. Luciano De Souza has been playing well but the 6'7'' forward will probably not face up against Josh. That job will likely to go to junior college transfer Marvin Jefferson and Brazilian forward Luis Augusto. Jefferson was recruited well out of the junior college ranks but should not deter Josh much and Augusto has been ineffective to start the year. It could be a 20+ point, 10+ rebound performance for Josh tomorrow if he is on the court long enough.

Changing our focus over to the Vandals, they appear to have a pretty solid stable of guards. Led by Mac Hopson and Kashif Watson who have averaged 16 and 13 points a game respectively, the Vandals start three guards. Leading returning scorer Trevor Morris joins Watson and Hopson in the back court. Hopson is a solid point guard for the Vandals and has 9 assists in the past two games. The Zags should be able to capitalize on Idaho's knack for committing turnovers. Watson and Morris have combined this season for 1 assist and 11 turnovers. Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin and the rest of the Gonzaga guards should have the advantage against these guards. Much like Michael Hall, these guards can get hot and shoot well from outside, hopefully this game never gets as close at the one with Montana State-Billings. If you have to watch one guy from the outside it has to be Trevor Morris who has taken the most 3-pointers on the team. I like the way Luciano De Souza plays the game. He is a big forward from Brazil who has the ability to step out and shoot the outside shot. He is 6-10 from three point range and should be floating around the perimeter quite a bit tomorrow.

So far this season the Vandals have taken on two opponents on very opposite ends of the basketball spectrum. The first game for Idaho was a laugher in their favor as they took on Evergreen State out of the NAIA ranks. They defeated the Geoducks (Yes that is their mascot) 91-69. The next game was not so good for the Vandals. They took on one of the best teams in the nation in the Spartans of Michigan State. They were routed by Tom Izzo's squad 100-62.

Looking at the match up and you have to like the home team. In a bit of fun news, the Idaho Vandals are looking to go 2-1 for the first time since 2002-03. Sadly, I don't think this is going to happen this year. Gonzaga is just too strong all around for our friends to the East. Look for Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye to lead this team in scoring and rebounding again. They should really enjoy this match up.

Another thing to look for is the continuing development of the rotation. This is our last chance to tweak the lineup before we head to Orlando to compete in the Old Spice Classic. What you see in the first half tomorrow is probably what you get.

For a prediction on this one...I'm hoping that this game is more of a blowout than the game against MSU-B. My wish may not come true but I think we can hang a similar number to the one Michigan State put on the Vandals. I haven't seen many 100 point games in the Mark Few era so I'll err on the safe side and say 98-60 Gonzaga

Your Idaho Vandal Link List:

Our Idaho breakdown back in September

Idaho Vandals Basketball Website

Gonzaga Game Notes

TKR Exclusive: Updates on Sam Dower and Cole Stefan

2008-11-17T19:48:00.001-08:00

With Sam Dower officially signing with Gonzaga, and Cole Stefan being one of the top targets for Gonzaga in the class of 2010, TKR felt it was time to check in with Marquise Watts, head coach of Net Gain Sports. Earlier today, our correspondent was able to put together a terrific interview with Coach Watts. In case we have any new readers, Coach Watts is the AAU coach for both Sam Dower and Cole Stefan. TKR would like to send a big thank you to both our correspondent, and to Coach Watts for putting together this informative and terrific interview.

TKR: Have you spoken with Sam since he officially signed? How does he feel about signing, and how do you feel now that he is officially signed?

Coach Watts: I talked to Sam a couple of times. Sam is feeling good, and he is really excited. It's one of those things where he wants to have a great senior year, but at the same time, he can't wait to get started at Gonzaga. He keeps talking about how good of a team Gonzaga is going to have this year, and all the good stuff about the school.

I'm just happy anytime good stuff happens to good people. I'm ecstatic about it, because Sam is as good as they come. It's going to be greatness for Sam Dower. He is willing to work hard, and with Coach Few, Coach Rice, and Coach Giacoletti, he has some of the best coaches in the business. With a kid like Sam, those coaches are going to be great for him. Put all of that together, and I think Sam is going to have a great career.

TKR: What type of production do you expect from Sam for his senior year? How high do you think he can be ranked at the end of the season?

Coach Watts: I told him that I think he should average 25 (points) and 12 (rebounds) this year. I really think he is capable of 25 and 15. In limited playing time last year, when he came off the bench, he averaged 14 points. I saw what he did during AAU this summer, so I know he should be a walking 20 and 10. I really do think that is realistic.

I think when all is said and done, when the rankings come out in May, Sam will end up in the top 75. I think he is #119 on rivals right now, but he should end up between 75-85.

TKR: What schools are recruiting Cole Stefan the hardest? What schools does he hold offers from, and does he have any favorites?

Coach Watts: Cole has offers from Illinois St., Northern Iowa, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Drake, Tulsa, Oral Roberts, and William and Mary. The schools that are recruiting him the hardest are Gonzaga, Nevada really likes him, and Washington St., he is a Tony Bennett type player. Minnesota is recruiting him as well, but Cole wants to see how the 09' class works out. Penn State is recruiting him, and he has offers from the Montana schools. Pretty much, half of the MVC (Missouri Valley Conference) has offered him.

He is pretty open with his recruitment. He really loved his time at the Gonzaga elite camp. He liked how men's basketball was the focus and that it was the main sport. There's no football team, and that is really exciting for Cole. His sport is going to be the focal point. The coaches showed him highlight when he was there, and he was impressed with how the students and the school react to basketball.

Cole has not started one game at the high school varsity level yet. Last season, he played behind the guy who will be the starting PG at Iowa this season. He played for the best school in the state, and they had 3-4 DI players. His recruitment is similar to Sam's. They have many similar schools interested, because they weren't the focal point for their teams last season. This year, Cole will probably be the leading score in the area. In ESPN Rise Magazine preview issue, Sam was on 1st team all state and Cole was on the 3rd team.

TKR: What do you plan on working with Cole the most during the upcoming AAU season? Where does he need to improve the most to contribute at the DI level?

Coach Watts: Right now, he is one of the best at catching and shooting. I would put Cole up against any player in the 2010 class at catching and shooting. The thing he is working on is putting the ball on the floor, and then elevating and making some buckets. He is improving athletically, and is meeting with an individual trainer 2-3 times per week.

He is really getting after it, and improving. Guys are saying his game has improved greatly since they last saw him play.

TKR: Does Cole plan on taking any visits this year?

Coach Watts: Cole was supposed to visit for the Idaho game. He had to reschedule his visit though. He has got tests in school this week, and one of his parents had a meeting. It just made it so that this wasn't the right timing. He wants to come out for a really really good game.

I am coming out for the Memphis game, and we are going to look at his schedule to see if he can come to. It is tough, because Gonzaga plays on Saturday nights. Cole and Sam typically have games on Saturday, so it is hard to get into Spokane for a game that night.

TKR: Where does Cole compare with some of the elite players like Sam Dower and Trent Lockett that you have coached?

Coach Watts: I think Cole is a better natural scorer then those guys, and he has always been right up there. Sam slowly came into his own, while Trent just got so big and athletic that he became special. Cole has always been a guard, and has always played the two or the combo guard. When I look at his potential, I would yes he can definitely play at a school like Gonzaga. I've coached Cole since he was 12, so I have seen him play more than the other guys.

Cole's best ability is that he can flat out score. Last week in fall league, the kid hit 7 threes in row. During the game, I was sitting on the side, and I jokingly told him to show me something. He was bringing up the ball on a break, and took one dribble past halfcourt and then shot. He hit it, and it was nothing but net. Cole was our second leading scorer this past summer. Sam averaged 22 points and Cole averaged 15.

With all of those guys, I feel blessed. I am truly blessed because I have been able to coach great kids.

TKR would like to once again thank Coach Watts for taking the time to do this terrific interview. Coach Watts has been terrific to TKR, and always provides our correspondent with lengthy and informative interviews.

Gonzaga Up to #9

2008-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

-Both Gonzaga and Notre Dame benefited from the struggles of Duke this past week, as both teams moved up a spot in the polls. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are now ranked #9 in the AP Top 25, and remain #11 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll.

I don't foresee any opportunity for the Zags to make a significant move up the rankings this week. However, with potential games against Michigan St., Tennessee, and Georgetown looming in the Old Spice Classic, the team has a terrific opportunity to be ranked in the top 5 by December.

- All the talk about Utah potentially competing for an NCAA Tournament berth may have been premature. The Utes, who host Gonzaga on December 31, lost their opener to Southwest Baptist. The Division II school from Missouri nailed 16 3's in route to the 80-79 victory. Hopefully this result, as well as early season struggles for both Duke and UCLA, reminds the Zags that they need to bring their best effort every night.

- Here is a link to the ESPN College Hoops Tip-off Marathon. This great college basketball event kicks off tonight with UMass vs. Memphis, and ends tomorrow night with the NIT Regional finals. Be sure to watch St. Mary's tonight at 11:00 PM, when they host Fresno St. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.

WCC Review

2008-11-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

With the convincing 83-52 victory over Montana St. Billings, Gonzaga began what should be an incredible year for the Zags. However, GU was not the only WCC team to being their season this weekend. Here is a recap of the performance from the rest of the WCC.

- The best victory of the weekend easily belongs to the Portland Pilots. The Pilots kicked off their season with an impressive 80-74 win over the Washington Huskies. Portland was led by Robin Smeulders, who scored 20 points on the night. However, the most impressive aspect of the Portland win, was the balance and depth they displayed. I had thought that it would probably be another season before Eric Reveno was able to turn around the program, but it appears that Portland is certainly heading in the right direction.

- USF earned another impressive victory for the WCC, as they travelled to Hawaii and earned a 75-70 victory over the Rainbows. The Dons were led by Blake Wallace who scored 21 points and Dior Lowhorn who scored 16. USF is currently playing Texas St. in the finale of the Verizon Wireless Tip-off Classic, and hopefully the Dons can stay unbeaten.

- St. Mary's, Santa Clara, and Pepperdine all coasted to victories in their debuts. The Gaels dominated Seattle Pacific from start-to-finish in their 86-55 win. Patty Mills led the Gaels with 15 points and 8 assists. Santa Clara had little trouble in their 68-40 victory over CSU East Bay. John Bryant went for a double-double, as he scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Tom Asbury was able to secure a victory in his return to the Pepperdine bench. The Waves needed all 25 points from Mychel Thompson, as they struggled to a 91-82 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay (TKR Note: As I was writing this, Pepperdine lost 66-65 against Arkansas Little-Rock).

- One of the most impressive performances of the weekend came in defeat, as USD fell to UNLV 65-60. The Toreros traveled to Las Vegas without the services of Gyno Pomare, Clinton Houston, and Trumaine Johnson, as all three were suspended for a violation of team rules. However, USD was able to compete with a UNLV team that began the season just outside the top 25. USD got terrific performances from both Rob Jones and Brandon Johnson, as they scored 19 and 14 points respectively.

- Sadly, I must now recap the weekend for the LMU Lions. There is no question how bright the future is at LMU under Bill Bayno, but there is no denying that this season will be a struggle. The Lions have started the season with an 0-3 record, that includes losses to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Iowa St., and UC Davis. Vernon Teel has been the top performer for the Lions, as he has scored in double-digits in all three games. It does not get any easier for LMU, as they host Notre Dame this Friday.

Taking Care of Business: Gonzaga Moves to 1-0 on the Season

2008-11-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

After extinguishing the hot hand of Montana State-Billings guard Michael Hall, the Gonzaga Bulldogs cruised to a nice 83-52 victory over the Yellowjackets. Hall frustrated the Gonzaga faithful at the end of the first half as he simply could not be stopped and he capitalized on the Zags constantly settling for the outside shot. He scored 14 consecutive, unanswered points to end the half. At halftime Gonzaga was only up five points and their was an odd silence throughout the McCarthey Athletic Center when both teams headed to the locker room.

The Zags soon realized who they were and who they were playing and opened it up in the second half. Here are some quick points for discussion regarding the game last night...

I was excited to see the amount of time Will Foster got and it appears that the staff may still not be confident enough in him to play him in excess. Ira Brown got 17 minutes and played great in the post. I wonder if this will stick for the year.
The rebounding was perfect. The Zags dominated the glass and the leading rebounders were Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt. These two have to continue owning the boards if this team is going to dominate. No more guards leading the team in rebounds.
Gonzaga held Michael Hall to five points in the second half. The kid jacked up 17 shots including 12 three point attempts.
Thankfully Gonzaga attempted five less three point attempts in the second half and that included two by fan favorite Andrew Sorenson. Aside from Steven Gray, I'm much more confident in everyone getting to the basket and scoring. Bouldin's shot looked excellent last night but aside from that, Gonzaga was ice cold from beyond the arc.
Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin have impressed me so much in two games. They are not forcing the action to go their way and Pargo is getting the ball to the playmakers when he didn't have a look. Pargo didn't shoot as well as you'd like but he had 10 assists and Bouldin was 5-9 from the field.
Steven Gray never really seemed comfortable out there. He was 1-5 from three-point land last night and hasn't shot the ball particularly well in the two games this season. The season is still very young so it's not time to start worrying but he's got to be that "lights out" shooter for this team to reach the top.

The end of the first half was frustrating but I don't think it was anything more than a hot hand surprising the Zags. The game was just about to get blown open by the time Michael Hall showed up with his Stephen Curry like performance. The last made basket for Gonzaga in the first half came at the 3:38 mark when Josh Heytvelt drained a jumper. After that, the Zags had four turnovers, a number of missed outside shots and some bad fouls. I was screaming to call a timeout at some point and get it figured out but Mark Few opted to let the barrage continue. It wasn't the best sequence of events for the Bulldogs but once Hall cooled down, Montana State-Billings was dead in the water.

All is well in Zag-land this morning after the solid performance and this team appears to be ready to live up to the high expectations that have been placed upon them. It's always nice to see the teams that get embarrassed (Kentucky and Washington) in their opening games at home and know that our guys take care of business. This team is so solid that I didn't even mention guys like Demetri Goodson and Micah Downs until right now, who by the way, were excellent.

Gonzaga has a few days off before taking on the Idaho Vandals on Tuesday, November 18th at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Zags Down the Yellowjackets 83-52

2008-11-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Gonzaga was led by the outstanding performances of Austin Daye and Josh Heytvelt. Montana State-Billings did not go down without a fight however. Yellowjacket's guard Michael Hall poured in 24 points including a barrage on the Bulldogs at the end of the first half. Gonzaga was able to smother Hall in the second half and he all but disappeared.

Gonzaga moves to 1-0 on the young season. We'll have a game analysis up tomorrow. You're player of the game: Austin Daye.

It's Gameday in Spokane!

2008-11-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Who: Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets
When: 4 PM PST
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center. Spokane, WA
TV: KHQ-Channel 6 in Spokane
Radio: KGA

Links:
Official MSUB Athletics Website
MSUB's last season statistics

Recruits Visiting this Weekend

2008-11-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

It appears that the opening game of the 2008/2009 season will have some important visitors for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

-TKR can confirm that Kelly Olynyk, a teammate of Manny Arop at NEDA, is on campus for his official visit. He is accompanied by his parents, and was being shown around campus by Coach Lloyd and Coach Few. The 6'10 forward has yet to receive and offer from Coach Few and the staff, but there is a good chance that this will occur while he is on the visit.

Olynyk is pencil thin, and it is unlikely that he will be able to contribute next year. However, with his great shooting ability, and a frame that can clearly carry more weight, Olynyk could be a key contributor for the Zags down the line. The beauty of the 09' class that the staff has recruited is that while Manny, Sam, and potentially Kelly are all highly skilled at this point, they also are nowhere near being finished products.

-Also expected in attendance for the game tomorrow night is Brett Kingma. Kingma is one of the top guards in the west for the class of 2011, and was on campus for Kraziness in the Kennel. The Mill Creek, Washington native appears to be a player in the mold of Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp. While it is obviously early in his recruitment, I would not be surprised if Kingma commits to Gonzaga fairly soon.

- One player who will not be on campus in the coming week is Cole Stefan. Stefan, a teammate of Sam Dower for Net Gain Sports was scheduled to visit for the Idaho game on Tuesday. However, TKR can confirm that due to some school conflicts and scheduling issues, Stefan has decided to reschedule his visit.

Stefan is regarded by many to be the top player in the state of Minnesota for the class of 2010. He is a dead-eye shooter, and has really improved the rest of his game over the past summer. Stefan is starting to receive lots of interest from the Big 10, but after securing Sam Dower, I consider the Zags to be a major player in the Stefan sweepstakes.

A Quick Primer for Montana State-Billings

2008-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

This Saturday should mark the beginning of an extremely promising season for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Montana State-Billings will be traveling to Spokane to take on the Zags tomorrow at 4 P.M. at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Montana State-Billings should improve on last season's record. The Yellowjackets have played on exhibition game and that resulted in a five point victory against the Dakota Athletic Conference powerhouse Dickinson State University. They were recently picked 8th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason poll to which head coach George Pfeifer said:

“Preseason polls are often a byproduct of returning players and the performance of last season’s team which was 1-28,” head coach George Pfeifer said. “If that formula is true anyone who is paying attention understands our current ranking. One of our immediate team goals has to be gaining more ‘respect’. I believe in the athletic arena it is not so much earned as it is taken. We have our work cut out to do that and change the perception.”

Travis Bunker, Derrick Wright, Mario Burns, Kirk Blaine, and Michael Hall have been starting for the Yellowjackets during their exhibition season. Senior guard Michael Hall looks to be the one to watch for MSU-B. You might remember Hall from last year when Gonzaga played Idaho. He transferred over to Montana State-Billings to play under George Pfeiefer again. The transformation appears to be going smoothly and he had 32 points in their most recent game against Dickinson St. Derrick Wright is the player to watch in the paint for George Pfeifer's team. Wright is a very effective scorer around the basket and is a key piece to the success for this team. He was 7-8 from the floor in the Yellowjackets most recent game. At 6'7'', 240 pounds, Wright has the size to be an impact player in the game against the Zags.

In the history of the two programs, the Yellowjackets and Zags have played nine times with Gonzaga winning eight of those games.

Their will be a special visitor to watch the action tomorrow. Kelly Olynyk will be visiting Spokane this weekend. Olynyk is a 6'10'' guard, yes guard from Canada. He is Mangisto Arop's teammate on the NEDA team. We're hoping Manny makes the trip down as well but that remains to be seen.

We'll have more for you on Montana State-Billings later today, including our keys to the game. Gameday is only a day away!