After months of waiting, the GU men's basketball schedule has finally been released. As always, the schedule is challenging, as a majority of the toughest games will take place on the road.
Some Highlights from the schedule:
- The Zags will kick off the season by hosting Wayne State University. This is an exhibition game and it will take place on November 1, at 5:00 PM. After this, the team will travel to Colorado, where they will scrimmage the University of Texas.
- The Bulldogs will be participating in arguable the best preseason tournament, when they begin the Old Spice Classic on November 27. Oklahoma St. will be the opponent in the first round, and GU is joined by Tennessee, Georgetown, Siena, Wichita St., Maryland, and Michigan St. This should provide an excellent opportunity for the team to prove themselves in front of a national audience early in the season.
-Other highlights include a trip to Phoenix on December 6, when GU will take on the Arizona Wildcats. The Battle in Seattle will take place on December 20 and the opponent will be the UConn Huskies. The final game before conference play will see the team travel to Knoxville, in what could potentially be their second meeting with the Tennessee Volunteers. The Bulldogs will take a break from WCC play, when they host the Memphis Tigers on February 7.
Here are some quotes from Mark Few, and athletic director Mike Roth
"It's another challenging schedule that will get us NCAA-ready," Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. "And like I seem to say every year, this is probably our toughest schedule yet."
"We have another great television package," Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth said. "In addition to being on one of the ESPN family of stations 13 times and Fox and CBS national once each, we have 13 appearances as part of our partnership with KHQ-TV and FSN. This is the fifth straight season every one of our games will be televised. We continue to have one of - if not the best - television deal in the country."
TKR's Take: This is a tremendously challenging schedule, but it remains frustrating that many of the best games will be on the road. It is nice that we get the Memphis Tigers in Spokane, but the game will be played at the Spokane Arena and not on campus. If the team is as good as many people believe it to be, then this schedule should provide GU with the forum to be a top 2 seed come NCAA Tournament time.
Later today, TKR will begin a breakdown of every opponent on the GU schedule. Kicking off the series will be the Wayne State Warriors.
What is your take on the schedule? Do you think that GU should be able to attract some BCS schools to the MAC? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below.
Showing posts with label men's basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label men's basketball. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Zags Ranked 18th by The Hoops Report
Pre-season rankings are a tradition at the start of every college basketball season. Over the next couple of months, we will see 50 different publications rank the Zags throughout the top 25. The Hoops Report is currently breaking down its top 25, and they have GU ranked 18th. This is a very good breakdown of the team, and here is TKR's take on some of the key points.
"Pargo returns for his final season after averaging 12.1 points and 6.0 assists per game last year. Pargo is a perfect fit for Coach Mark Few's high-octane offensive system. He loves to push the ball and loves to hit Bouldin and Downs for corner jump shots on the break. Pargo has quick hands that lead to many steals and he's also improved his sideline-to-sideline defense."
It is key that Pargo and Few return to the high-octane offensive system that the writer mentions. In reality, the past couple of years have seen the Zags become much more of a half-court oriented offense. For this team to be successful and utilize the depth that it has, it must push the ball and make their opponent play out of its comfort level. Both Pargo and Meech are able to make terrific decisions with the ball when playing at high speeds, and can dictate the pace against any opponent. This would also allow for Micah, Steven, and Bouldin to get open shots in transition, as well as attack the rim on the fast break. This team has the depth and athleticism to be one of the finer offensive teams that Coach Few has had.
"Shooting guard Steven Gray should rise to stardom in his sophomore season. Gray averaged 8.1 points per game last year and shot 46 percent from 3-point land. Gray often deferred to the upperclassmen last year but don't be surprised if he becomes one of the team's top three scorers this year. Gray, much like Pargo, is an improving defensive player."
This season should really see Gray emerge as a superstar. The question is, has Gray developed a mid-range game to go with his deadly long-range shooting? If Gray can keep defenders honest by attacking the rim, his offensive game should thrive this season. Gray should be the top returning defender this season, and should make life miserable for the opposing teams top guard.
"The team's returning leading scorer is junior Matt Bouldin, a 6-foot-5 sniper with a gunner's mentality. Bouldin could play major minutes at small forward this year with Gray settling in at shooting guard. He could improve on his perimeter defense a little but his offense makes up for his on-and-off-again defensive struggles."
I disagree with the writer on this point. I would not refer to Bouldin as a sniper in anyway. In fact, Bouldin needs to stop settling for his perimeter shot, and attack the rim more. He can be nearly unstoppable in the post, as he typically has a height and strength advantage over the person guarding him. For Matt to be at his most successful this season, long range shooting must be the last option for him.
"Micah Downs, now a senior, could start for most teams in the country. He will be the team's primary back up at the shooting guard and small forward positions. But make no mistake, Downs will see plenty of court time and his versatility will come in handy once again for the Zags.
The player with the most potential on the roster is Daye. The sophomore averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last year. Daye has skills that mirror ex-Kansas great Danny Manning. Daye is an excellent ball-handler, can face the basket and take it to the hoop, and shoot the perimeter shot. Despite his thin frame, Daye did mix it up down low a few times and will be expected to continue that this year. It will be interesting to see how Daye plays early in the season after his injury scare over the summer."
Call it a hunch, but I think that we will see Micah Downs emerge as perhaps the teams top scorer this season. Micah dedicated himself this summer, and looked outstanding every time I saw him play. If Micah can play with aggressiveness throughout the season, then it will be tough to keep him off the court. What really excites me is a potential lineup that includes Gray, Downs, and Daye. The length and scoring ability of these three is exceptional, and would be a nightmare for any team to defend.
"Talented freshman Andy Poling enters the fray this year. The 6-foot-10 Portland, Ore. native is a skilled big man and will play right away. "
I'm not sure what this writer has been reading, but there is no chance that Poling sees minutes this year. Poling is certainly talented, but does not have the strength to contribute at any point this season. It is likely that Poling will redshirt, which should serve him well in the future.
"Gonzaga should field one of its more talented offensive teams in recent memory (could have a higher ceiling than the 2005-06 edition led by Adam Morrison) and if the Bulldogs play up to their potential, this edition could perhaps be the best team they've had this century."
Playing to their potential is the key for the Zags. There is no doubt that this is the deepest and most talented team that GU has ever had. However, this was also the case this past season, and that ended in a 1st round tournament loss. If the team can avoid the dreaded injury bug, and Coach Few can settle on a 8-9-man rotation, then this could be the team that finally gets to the Final 4.
"Pargo returns for his final season after averaging 12.1 points and 6.0 assists per game last year. Pargo is a perfect fit for Coach Mark Few's high-octane offensive system. He loves to push the ball and loves to hit Bouldin and Downs for corner jump shots on the break. Pargo has quick hands that lead to many steals and he's also improved his sideline-to-sideline defense."
It is key that Pargo and Few return to the high-octane offensive system that the writer mentions. In reality, the past couple of years have seen the Zags become much more of a half-court oriented offense. For this team to be successful and utilize the depth that it has, it must push the ball and make their opponent play out of its comfort level. Both Pargo and Meech are able to make terrific decisions with the ball when playing at high speeds, and can dictate the pace against any opponent. This would also allow for Micah, Steven, and Bouldin to get open shots in transition, as well as attack the rim on the fast break. This team has the depth and athleticism to be one of the finer offensive teams that Coach Few has had.
"Shooting guard Steven Gray should rise to stardom in his sophomore season. Gray averaged 8.1 points per game last year and shot 46 percent from 3-point land. Gray often deferred to the upperclassmen last year but don't be surprised if he becomes one of the team's top three scorers this year. Gray, much like Pargo, is an improving defensive player."
This season should really see Gray emerge as a superstar. The question is, has Gray developed a mid-range game to go with his deadly long-range shooting? If Gray can keep defenders honest by attacking the rim, his offensive game should thrive this season. Gray should be the top returning defender this season, and should make life miserable for the opposing teams top guard.
"The team's returning leading scorer is junior Matt Bouldin, a 6-foot-5 sniper with a gunner's mentality. Bouldin could play major minutes at small forward this year with Gray settling in at shooting guard. He could improve on his perimeter defense a little but his offense makes up for his on-and-off-again defensive struggles."
I disagree with the writer on this point. I would not refer to Bouldin as a sniper in anyway. In fact, Bouldin needs to stop settling for his perimeter shot, and attack the rim more. He can be nearly unstoppable in the post, as he typically has a height and strength advantage over the person guarding him. For Matt to be at his most successful this season, long range shooting must be the last option for him.
"Micah Downs, now a senior, could start for most teams in the country. He will be the team's primary back up at the shooting guard and small forward positions. But make no mistake, Downs will see plenty of court time and his versatility will come in handy once again for the Zags.
The player with the most potential on the roster is Daye. The sophomore averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last year. Daye has skills that mirror ex-Kansas great Danny Manning. Daye is an excellent ball-handler, can face the basket and take it to the hoop, and shoot the perimeter shot. Despite his thin frame, Daye did mix it up down low a few times and will be expected to continue that this year. It will be interesting to see how Daye plays early in the season after his injury scare over the summer."
Call it a hunch, but I think that we will see Micah Downs emerge as perhaps the teams top scorer this season. Micah dedicated himself this summer, and looked outstanding every time I saw him play. If Micah can play with aggressiveness throughout the season, then it will be tough to keep him off the court. What really excites me is a potential lineup that includes Gray, Downs, and Daye. The length and scoring ability of these three is exceptional, and would be a nightmare for any team to defend.
"Talented freshman Andy Poling enters the fray this year. The 6-foot-10 Portland, Ore. native is a skilled big man and will play right away. "
I'm not sure what this writer has been reading, but there is no chance that Poling sees minutes this year. Poling is certainly talented, but does not have the strength to contribute at any point this season. It is likely that Poling will redshirt, which should serve him well in the future.
"Gonzaga should field one of its more talented offensive teams in recent memory (could have a higher ceiling than the 2005-06 edition led by Adam Morrison) and if the Bulldogs play up to their potential, this edition could perhaps be the best team they've had this century."
Playing to their potential is the key for the Zags. There is no doubt that this is the deepest and most talented team that GU has ever had. However, this was also the case this past season, and that ended in a 1st round tournament loss. If the team can avoid the dreaded injury bug, and Coach Few can settle on a 8-9-man rotation, then this could be the team that finally gets to the Final 4.
Getting Excited for Basketball
While GU fans anxiously await the release of the men's basketball schedule (TKR has been assured that it will be sometime this week), there has been no shortage of college basketball articles being released recently.
- Luke Winn of CNNSI wrote an article that mentions Austin Daye as a potential breakout star. Winn uses as efficiency rating based on the number of minutes played and possessions used this past season. Some of the other players mentioned, all but one of which are sophomores, include Dar Tucker (Depaul), LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), Booker Woodfox (Creighton), and Corey Chandler (Rutgers).
Here is what Winn has to say about Austin Daye:
- Luke Winn of CNNSI wrote an article that mentions Austin Daye as a potential breakout star. Winn uses as efficiency rating based on the number of minutes played and possessions used this past season. Some of the other players mentioned, all but one of which are sophomores, include Dar Tucker (Depaul), LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), Booker Woodfox (Creighton), and Corey Chandler (Rutgers).
Here is what Winn has to say about Austin Daye:
Austin Daye
6-10 Small Forward
Gonzaga, Soph.
Pct. Minutes Played in '07-08: 45.6 Pct.
Possessions Used in '07-08: 27.3
Offensive Efficiency Rating: 108.7
The NBA knows that Daye, a stringbean of a small forward, has star potential. He's already projected as the No. 4 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by DraftExpress. Daye had limited opportunities to star as a freshman on a deep Zags roster, ranking seventh on the team in average minutes per game (18.5). Yet he was the team's highest-usage player while he was on the floor, and he will be their most-efficient returner in the frontcourt. If a sizable chunk of the minutes vacated by the departures of forwards David Pendergraft and Abdullahi Kuso go to Daye, and he's more forceful at drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line (where he's an 88.1 percent shooter), he could have a huge sophomore year.
I found it funny how after Chad Ford declared that Austin was no longer a surefire lottery pick, that Austin is considered the 4th overall pick of the 2010 draft by this website. It really shows how different opinions can be about a certain player.
- In other college basketball news, St. Mary's will represent the WCC during the opening day "Hoops Marathon" on ESPN. November 18 will see 23 consecutive hours of college basketball being played on the ESPN family of networks. The highlight of the day will be UNC vs. Kentucky, but it should be exciting to see St. Mary's host Fresno St. The game will be shown on ESPN, and will begin at 11:00 PM. While this is a strange start time for the game, it should hopefully give St.Mary's some well-deserved national exposure.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Kraziness in the Kennel to be Televised!
TKR has just learned the final details about Gonzaga's Kraziness in the Kennel.
The Gonzaga men's basketball team will be showing off their skills to the general public on Friday, October 17th at 7 p.m. Much like any other "midnight madness" type event, the guys will be getting the crowd fired up for the upcoming season. There will be a great deal of fa
n interaction activities as well as the usual scrimmage and dunk contest type things.
Even more exciting is that the Kraziness will be televised on ESPNU (thanks for the comment). Georgetown and Kansas will also be having their midnight madness televised on ESPNU.
As far as we know, the Kraziness in the Kennel will be free admission to those willing to wait.
In case you forgot about last season's Kraziness this should help you remember...
The Gonzaga men's basketball team will be showing off their skills to the general public on Friday, October 17th at 7 p.m. Much like any other "midnight madness" type event, the guys will be getting the crowd fired up for the upcoming season. There will be a great deal of fa
n interaction activities as well as the usual scrimmage and dunk contest type things.Even more exciting is that the Kraziness will be televised on ESPNU (thanks for the comment). Georgetown and Kansas will also be having their midnight madness televised on ESPNU.
As far as we know, the Kraziness in the Kennel will be free admission to those willing to wait.
In case you forgot about last season's Kraziness this should help you remember...
Learning More About Brandon Davies
With his visit on Friday fast approaching, TKR thought that it would be smart to learn more about Brandon Davies. While he is obviously held in high regard by the coaching staff, Davies remains somewhat of a mystery to GU fans. TKR was able to interview John Coon, who is a writer for the Desert News in Salt Lake City, Utah. John covered Provo High School and Brandon last season, and was able to share some of his knowledge regarding Brandon with us. We would like to thank John for taking the time to do this interview, and for providing very insightful answers.
TKR: Could you please describe Brandon's game for us. What are his greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses?
John Coon: Davies is athletic, good around the basket and has a nice short-range jumper. He has good hands and feet. He probably needs to extend his range a little bit and his lateral movement could be quicker. But, overall, he has the kind of skills to help any team.
TKR: This summer has seen Brandon's recruiting stock really take off. What do you think are the reasons behind his sudden emergence as an elite prospect?
John Coon: I think college scouts are really starting to see his athletic potential. Davies was a force inside during Provo High’s most recent playoff run. He held his own against big men like Ben Aird, who is now a freshman at Utah Valley. Davies is maturing physically and that, combined with his height and skills, is only making him all the more desirable to top teams out west.
TKR: Do you think Brandon is physically and mentally prepared to contribute at the collegiate level as a freshman?
John Coon: In all honesty, it may take him a year or so to develop into a starter. I could see him being someone that could give you 10-15 minutes off the bench as a freshman. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If he goes to a team like Gonzaga, for example, there’s no reason for him to be forced into playing major minutes right away with the depth on the team.
TKR: Where have you seen the greatest growth in Brandon's game since you began watching him?
John Coon: The biggest change in Davies has been confidence. He just knows he can go out there and hold his own against anyone at his position. It shows in his big-play ability and in his communication with teammates on the court.
TKR: How much pressure is there on Brandon from the community (i.e. friends, family, coaches) to remain in-state for college, especially to attend BYU since he is a member of the LDS church?
John Coon: If you look at it on paper, BYU would seem like a perfect fit for Davies given the fact that Provo is his hometown and he would probably flourish in Dave Rose’s offense. It also doesn’t hurt that it is an LDS-run university. I don’t think that the Cougars are his only in-state option though – especially if he is set on serving an LDS mission. Utah State coach Stew Morrill has recruited plenty of players in the past who have served LDS missions, including, most recently, Jaycee Carroll. If religion is a deciding factor, the Aggies are as much in the hunt as the Cougars.
TKR: Have you been able to gauge how strong Brandon's interest in Gonzaga is? How long has Gonzaga been recruiting him? Did coach Giacoletti show any interest in Brandon when he was coaching at Utah?
John Coon: Davies has serious enough interest that he is planning a visit to the Gonzaga campus this weekend. The Zags have been after him almost from the beginning. Since he really didn’t emerge as a star until the 2007-08 season, I doubt Giacoletti knew much about Davies. But I’m sure he was familiar with the quality program at Provo High – which has won two straight 4A state titles in Utah.
TKR: Brandon has narrowed his list to 5 schools, Gonzaga, Cal, BYU, Utah St., and Arizona. If you could, what odds would you give each school of landing Brandon and why?
John Coon: BYU definitely has the best odds of landing him. His family lives in Provo. The university correlates with his LDS beliefs – an important factor if he is set on serving a mission when he turns 19. The Cougars also have a former Provo High teammate on the roster in Chris Collinsworth.
Utah State is definitely in the mix for his services. Davies was impressed with the program and the coaching staff during his campus visit two weeks ago. With his size and athleticism, he would be a contributor right away – something that would be appealing to any incoming freshman.
California is on par with the Aggies. Davies said he likes both schools equally. And the Bears are definitely serious on landing him. Mike Montgomery has already made a personal visit to the Davies’ home.
Davies could cool on Gonzaga if he is worried about 6-foot-9 forward Sam Dower committing to the Zags. Coaches have assured him, from what I understand, that bringing Dower aboard won’t affect his inclusion in the team’s long-term plans. But whether or not Davies believes that remains to be seen.
Arizona is definitely a longshot at this point. The Wildcats have reportedly cooled toward Davies in recent weeks and I can't see him being a good fit under Lute Olsen.
TKR's Take: It seems that it will take some impressive work by Coach Few and the rest of the staff to get Davies out of Utah. His proximity to the BYU campus, and his religious beliefs, make it seem like staying in state is a natural fit for Brandon. There is no denying that Brandon is a highly athletic and talented player, but at this point I would be surprised to see him in a GU uniform next season.
What do you take from this interview? Where do you think Brandon ends up next season? TKR would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment, as we value everything our readers have to say
TKR: Could you please describe Brandon's game for us. What are his greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses?
John Coon: Davies is athletic, good around the basket and has a nice short-range jumper. He has good hands and feet. He probably needs to extend his range a little bit and his lateral movement could be quicker. But, overall, he has the kind of skills to help any team.
TKR: This summer has seen Brandon's recruiting stock really take off. What do you think are the reasons behind his sudden emergence as an elite prospect?
John Coon: I think college scouts are really starting to see his athletic potential. Davies was a force inside during Provo High’s most recent playoff run. He held his own against big men like Ben Aird, who is now a freshman at Utah Valley. Davies is maturing physically and that, combined with his height and skills, is only making him all the more desirable to top teams out west.
TKR: Do you think Brandon is physically and mentally prepared to contribute at the collegiate level as a freshman?
John Coon: In all honesty, it may take him a year or so to develop into a starter. I could see him being someone that could give you 10-15 minutes off the bench as a freshman. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If he goes to a team like Gonzaga, for example, there’s no reason for him to be forced into playing major minutes right away with the depth on the team.
TKR: Where have you seen the greatest growth in Brandon's game since you began watching him?
John Coon: The biggest change in Davies has been confidence. He just knows he can go out there and hold his own against anyone at his position. It shows in his big-play ability and in his communication with teammates on the court.
TKR: How much pressure is there on Brandon from the community (i.e. friends, family, coaches) to remain in-state for college, especially to attend BYU since he is a member of the LDS church?
John Coon: If you look at it on paper, BYU would seem like a perfect fit for Davies given the fact that Provo is his hometown and he would probably flourish in Dave Rose’s offense. It also doesn’t hurt that it is an LDS-run university. I don’t think that the Cougars are his only in-state option though – especially if he is set on serving an LDS mission. Utah State coach Stew Morrill has recruited plenty of players in the past who have served LDS missions, including, most recently, Jaycee Carroll. If religion is a deciding factor, the Aggies are as much in the hunt as the Cougars.
TKR: Have you been able to gauge how strong Brandon's interest in Gonzaga is? How long has Gonzaga been recruiting him? Did coach Giacoletti show any interest in Brandon when he was coaching at Utah?
John Coon: Davies has serious enough interest that he is planning a visit to the Gonzaga campus this weekend. The Zags have been after him almost from the beginning. Since he really didn’t emerge as a star until the 2007-08 season, I doubt Giacoletti knew much about Davies. But I’m sure he was familiar with the quality program at Provo High – which has won two straight 4A state titles in Utah.
TKR: Brandon has narrowed his list to 5 schools, Gonzaga, Cal, BYU, Utah St., and Arizona. If you could, what odds would you give each school of landing Brandon and why?
John Coon: BYU definitely has the best odds of landing him. His family lives in Provo. The university correlates with his LDS beliefs – an important factor if he is set on serving a mission when he turns 19. The Cougars also have a former Provo High teammate on the roster in Chris Collinsworth.
Utah State is definitely in the mix for his services. Davies was impressed with the program and the coaching staff during his campus visit two weeks ago. With his size and athleticism, he would be a contributor right away – something that would be appealing to any incoming freshman.
California is on par with the Aggies. Davies said he likes both schools equally. And the Bears are definitely serious on landing him. Mike Montgomery has already made a personal visit to the Davies’ home.
Davies could cool on Gonzaga if he is worried about 6-foot-9 forward Sam Dower committing to the Zags. Coaches have assured him, from what I understand, that bringing Dower aboard won’t affect his inclusion in the team’s long-term plans. But whether or not Davies believes that remains to be seen.
Arizona is definitely a longshot at this point. The Wildcats have reportedly cooled toward Davies in recent weeks and I can't see him being a good fit under Lute Olsen.
TKR's Take: It seems that it will take some impressive work by Coach Few and the rest of the staff to get Davies out of Utah. His proximity to the BYU campus, and his religious beliefs, make it seem like staying in state is a natural fit for Brandon. There is no denying that Brandon is a highly athletic and talented player, but at this point I would be surprised to see him in a GU uniform next season.
What do you take from this interview? Where do you think Brandon ends up next season? TKR would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment, as we value everything our readers have to say
Basketball Season Creeping Closer
The wait for basketball season is nearly over!! In the last couple of days, there have been some major announcements regarding both the men and women's basketball teams.
-- We have just found out that Kraziness in the Kennel will be taking place on October 17. This will be the first opportunity for the fans to see the Bulldogs this season, and it should be an incredible day. At this point, the exact time for the event has not been set, but TKR will keep everyone updated as we learn more.
Kraziness in the Kennel was a lot of fun last year, as fans were treated to a dunk contest and a classic rendition of the "Soulja Boy" dance by the team. This year should be even better, and I know that every GU fan looks forward to this event.
-- Last night, the women's basketball team released their schedule. It is an impressive slate of games, that will see the ladies take on 9 teams that competed in the postseason last year. The highlight of the schedule is the much-anticipated game against defending champion University of Tennessee. This game will take place at the MAC on December 30th, and will likely be the first sellout for a women's game. The Bulldogs are coming off a season that saw them dominate the WCC regular season with a 13-1 record. However, they fell in the tournament championship game, and were only awarded a trip to the WNIT.
Here are some quotes from head coach Kelly Graves regarding the schedule
--"We have put together a very challenging schedule," said Graves, in his ninth year as head coach of Gonzaga. "We like to play as tough a schedule as we can to ready us for conference play. We also like to play a schedule worthy of the team we have. We have a great team, so we want to play the best."
"The Tennessee game at the McCarthey Athletic Center will be a special game," said Graves. "Women's basketball will be brought to the forefront in our community. To host such a storied women's basketball program is very exciting."
-- We have just found out that Kraziness in the Kennel will be taking place on October 17. This will be the first opportunity for the fans to see the Bulldogs this season, and it should be an incredible day. At this point, the exact time for the event has not been set, but TKR will keep everyone updated as we learn more.
Kraziness in the Kennel was a lot of fun last year, as fans were treated to a dunk contest and a classic rendition of the "Soulja Boy" dance by the team. This year should be even better, and I know that every GU fan looks forward to this event.
-- Last night, the women's basketball team released their schedule. It is an impressive slate of games, that will see the ladies take on 9 teams that competed in the postseason last year. The highlight of the schedule is the much-anticipated game against defending champion University of Tennessee. This game will take place at the MAC on December 30th, and will likely be the first sellout for a women's game. The Bulldogs are coming off a season that saw them dominate the WCC regular season with a 13-1 record. However, they fell in the tournament championship game, and were only awarded a trip to the WNIT.
Here are some quotes from head coach Kelly Graves regarding the schedule
--"We have put together a very challenging schedule," said Graves, in his ninth year as head coach of Gonzaga. "We like to play as tough a schedule as we can to ready us for conference play. We also like to play a schedule worthy of the team we have. We have a great team, so we want to play the best."
"The Tennessee game at the McCarthey Athletic Center will be a special game," said Graves. "Women's basketball will be brought to the forefront in our community. To host such a storied women's basketball program is very exciting."
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday Tidbits...
We've officially hit the slowest of the slow periods here in Zag basketball land. But most of the time, in the offseason, no news is the best news. As far as we know, workouts are going well. Austin is taking it easy on his knee, and recruiting is as smooth as ever.
--ProFantasySports.com put out WCC player rankings yesterday, which I found particularly interesting. It's really interesting to see how they rank players differently because it is a fantasy website...and there were definitely some shockers on the list. Coming in at the top of the rankings was Jon Bryant, the big man out of Santa Clara. Obviously he can fill up a stat sheet, but I had to look twice when I saw that. The two Zags listed were Austin Daye at #9 and Jeremy Pargo at #4. Other than that there were the usual suspects in Brandon Johnson, Gyno Pomare, Patty Mills, and others. They also claim that Patty Mills is the "poster boy" for the WCC....
--Tony Nixon, a guard who was thought to be high on Gonzaga's list recently ended his recruitment and verballed to Northern Illinois. The outstanding shooter from Illinois decided on staying close to home. This isn't a huge surprise as the Zags were looking more for big men but, he was truly a favorite of ours here at TKR.
--The schedule should be coming out within the week. Once that hits, we will be breaking down each team as the season approaches. It has taken quite a long time for the schedule to come out and it really has us sitting on pins and needles.
See...we told you that Gonzaga news is sparse right now. With the back to back visits of Brandon Davies and Devonte Elliott, the life should come back to Gonzaga, not to mention the release of the schedule. Keep checking out our Gonzaga athletics calendar in the sidebar so you can make it out and support every Gonzaga team.
--ProFantasySports.com put out WCC player rankings yesterday, which I found particularly interesting. It's really interesting to see how they rank players differently because it is a fantasy website...and there were definitely some shockers on the list. Coming in at the top of the rankings was Jon Bryant, the big man out of Santa Clara. Obviously he can fill up a stat sheet, but I had to look twice when I saw that. The two Zags listed were Austin Daye at #9 and Jeremy Pargo at #4. Other than that there were the usual suspects in Brandon Johnson, Gyno Pomare, Patty Mills, and others. They also claim that Patty Mills is the "poster boy" for the WCC....
--Tony Nixon, a guard who was thought to be high on Gonzaga's list recently ended his recruitment and verballed to Northern Illinois. The outstanding shooter from Illinois decided on staying close to home. This isn't a huge surprise as the Zags were looking more for big men but, he was truly a favorite of ours here at TKR.
--The schedule should be coming out within the week. Once that hits, we will be breaking down each team as the season approaches. It has taken quite a long time for the schedule to come out and it really has us sitting on pins and needles.
See...we told you that Gonzaga news is sparse right now. With the back to back visits of Brandon Davies and Devonte Elliott, the life should come back to Gonzaga, not to mention the release of the schedule. Keep checking out our Gonzaga athletics calendar in the sidebar so you can make it out and support every Gonzaga team.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Learning more about the schedule
Although GU has yet to officially release the basketball schedule for next year, we have learned about a couple early season games that will be played at the MAC.
On November 15th, the GU men will play an exhibition game against Montana State Billings. The Jackets are led by former Idaho coach, George Pfeifer. The Zags will then host the University of Idaho on November 18th. This will be the regular season opener for the Zags, and will likely be one of two games that the Zags play before the Old Spice Classic.
TKR is expecting the official schedule to be released sometime in September, and when it is released, we will be doing a huge breakdown series on every opponent. However, it is exciting to see these dates being released, and knowing that we are only 3 months away from watching GU basketball.
On November 15th, the GU men will play an exhibition game against Montana State Billings. The Jackets are led by former Idaho coach, George Pfeifer. The Zags will then host the University of Idaho on November 18th. This will be the regular season opener for the Zags, and will likely be one of two games that the Zags play before the Old Spice Classic.
TKR is expecting the official schedule to be released sometime in September, and when it is released, we will be doing a huge breakdown series on every opponent. However, it is exciting to see these dates being released, and knowing that we are only 3 months away from watching GU basketball.
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