Gonzaga now 9th in Coaches Poll, 13th in AP
After a big home win over Saint Mary's, Gonzaga has risen in both polls. They moved up three spots in the AP Poll and two in the Coaches. With five games left where they will be heavy favorites, Gonzaga has the chance to finish the year as a top 10 team in both polls.
5 months ago
Zach Bell
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Overrated?
I’m thinking we belong right around 12th in both polls…and that’s only if we’re playing our best basketball.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
If we’re playing our basketball – tough on the boards, Gray and Bouldin driving, defending and hitting treys, Meech pushing it, Elias dunking it and Rob making hooks and ghe bench holding it’s own – then the Zags are a top 10 team. But what usually happens is a few of those pieces are missing, in which case the Zags are more like a top 15-20 team. Still solid, but this group can be elite when clicking on all cylinders.
by FuManShoes on Feb 15, 2010 2:32 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Not Overrated
I was watching Kansas play Iowa State and frankly I didn’t see anything Kansas did that the Zags don’t do game after game. As a matter of fact, if Gonzaga played Kansas’ schedule, the Zags could be 24-1, too.
Kentucky impressed me whenever Cousins or Wall contributed because they are freshmen playing like seniors, but the rest of the team is no better than Gonzaga.
Duke is brilliant through some minutes and situations, probably better than Kansas who doesn’t impress me as number one team.
Bilas and the other pundits are saying that there are no great teams this year, just a lot of good teams. I agree. And Gonzaga is one of them.
Tom117
The thing is...
Wall and Cousins are better than any player Gonzaga has. (I agree with you about the rest of their lineup, though.) What wins games for teams in the tourney is either a ridiculous team effort or one or two ridiculous players. To that end, GU has as much chance as anyone if they can play their game.
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Disagree with the latter statement.
It takes a TEAM to win a national championship. The only one and done player to win a national championship? Carmelo. The last one and done to get to the game? Derrick Rose and he lost to a TEAM. Kansas, MSU, Gonzaga, Purdue, Nova: TEAMS like this can win games. Not one of two ridiculous players.
Better example: UNC last year. Great TEAM. Hansbrough, Lawson, Green… all great players, but as a team, they dominated everyone, including us.
There isn’t a clear cut number one this year. Teams like Pitt could jump out and win it all. It’s interesting to watch… but to say that one or two ridiculous players win games is a false statement.
by zag4life on Feb 15, 2010 7:27 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I didn't say "win a title"
I said “win games…in the tourney.”
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I have to disagree
Gonzaga would not be 24-1 if they played Kansas’ schedule. Kansas is simply a stronger and much better team. The Zags are good, but the Jayhawks would beat us nine times out of ten. If we draw Kansas, Kentucky or Syracuse in the Sweet 16, it’s over. We have a shot against everyone else….
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
I disagree with your disagreement
Kansas has played a good schedule, but so has Gonzaga. While i don’t think GU could go with only one loss against KU’s schedule, I do think KU is overrated. Look at their wins – beat California, Temple, Baylor, Kansas State, Memphis, Cornell (disagree this is good), Texas Tech (disagree this is good), Missouri, Texas (during free-fall), and then their only loss is to Tennessee.
With the wins that GU has had against Illinois, Wisconsin, Memphis, St Mary’s (2), Cincinnatti, Oklahoma; and the close losses to Wake Forest (Harris ejection caused it) and Michigan State; I would argue this team is a league let down (San Francisco) and blow out loss against Duke away from being better than Kansas. The reason for this is only four of their top wins (Temple, Kansas State, Texas, Memphis) were away from home, and technically only two of those were traveling or true road games (Kansas State one was in the same state, lots of fan support, Memphis was neutral site). Gonzaga’s quality wins have MOSTLY been away from home with the exception of one St. Mary’s win and the Oklahoma win.
The gap is not as big as you would think. Kansas is better due to their experience, but they are similar to most top 15 schools on the court. On any given night, they can be beaten if they aren’t on their top game.
Again, I’m not saying GU is something amazing this year (though they can be really good); I’m just saying the gap is A LOT smaller than in years past and the top teams aren’t as scary this year. Any good, hot team can make a run very easily this year – especially one with home court the first couple games (hopefully GU!!)
by trufflshuffl on Feb 15, 2010 11:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Like Gonzaga,
Kansas always gets the best from every team they play. And while Gonzaga tripped up against San Francisco, Kansas has yet to trip up to anyone that is not a Sweet-16 contender at the least. Consistently being able to beat teams like K. St., Texas, and the rest of their conference puts them in a league that Gonzaga can compete with, but not on a night-by-night basis. I also think Kansas is overrated and beatable, but their consistent level of play is superior to that of Gonzaga. I’ve been in attendance at every home game this year and have watched every away game on TV. I know Gonzaga has all the pieces to make a deep tournament run, but unless everything is clicking, they will not beat Kansas when the Jayhawks are in their typical form. I think we agree in principal on most points here…the gap can be surmounted if we get them on the right night.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
by Zagnificent on Feb 15, 2010 11:59 PM PST up reply actions
It's definitely different this year
GU’s A game can beat Kansas’ B game, whereas I don’t think I could say the same for this team if they played the 1 seeds from last year. That’s where the difference is. Just a much smaller gap between them. Kansas is definitely better though as they took care of business in their league and they didn’t get embarrassed by anyone.
by trufflshuffl on Feb 16, 2010 12:07 AM PST up reply actions
Would Kansas' B game...
Lose to USF?
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Maybe, if they gave SF a 20 point handicap and didn't count one of their baskets
like what happened to us.
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???
I’m pretty sure that wasn’t our A game against USF, so I have no idea why you’re making that comparison. It was more like our F- game. Any of these teams this year are capable of getting stung on the road by terrible teams if that team plays crazy and the favorite plays like crap.
All of the 1 seeds right now have weaknesses that the 1 seeds last year just didn’t have. That levels the playing field. Especially for teams that rebound well and play good defense. That’s why Gonzaga is a little more legitimate this year even though they are so young. They have the ability to play that way and also score a little bit.
by trufflshuffl on Feb 16, 2010 9:39 PM PST up reply actions
Ok, then...
Would Kansas’ F game lose to USF?
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That was overly terse...
What I should have said was that the USF loss was unacceptable, and no elite team would let themselves lose such a game. F games should not happen. C games, maybe, but F games against teams in this conference? Never.
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This isn't rare
Big Time programs lose to bad programs all the time (Syracuse’s exhibition loss, Pitt’s loss to Indiana, Duke’s loss to NC State, Wisconsin’s loss to Wisconsin Green Bay, New Mexico’s loss to Oral Roberts, Ohio State’s loss to Michigan…I can keep going). It just happens when you play a certain team enough times. There is a reason teams don’t roll through their conferences every year undefeated, I don’t care what team you are or what league you play in. If you execute your game plan, even when you’re playing poorly, and make Dior launch 7 threes, AND HE HITS 5 OF THEM, then that’s just how the game is going to be.
by trufflshuffl on Feb 17, 2010 7:53 PM PST up reply actions
That's questionable
Aldrich is better than Sacre, Harris is better than both Morris’, and they only have one guard that is as good as Bouldin and Gray, and that would be Collins (although I’d argue he is better than each). Kansas has more experience in their depth and a little more size. That’s it. I’m not impressed with their other guards. I’m also not overwhelmed with their schedule as they got most of those at home. Lay off the Jayhawk Java!
by trufflshuffl on Feb 16, 2010 9:42 PM PST up reply actions
Did you watch Kansas v. Texas A&M?
Boring. Gonzaga could have beaten both those teams. Gonzaga could play Kansas’ good wins just as hard. Saint Mary’s could have beaten Texas A&M.
Speaking of Saint Mary’s, Samhan is a better offensive center than Cole Aldrich, from what I’ve seen. Samhan needs to work on defense, but other than that, i’d put Samhan over Aldrich.
Here’s Kansas’ pre-conference schedule:
Hofstra, Memphis, Central Arkansas,Oakland, Tennessee Tech,Alcorn State, UCLA,Radford, LaSalle,Michigan, California,Belmont, Temple,Cornell, & Tennessee.
Radford? Alcorn State? They might as well have played Augustana a few times. Kansas does not have as tough of a non-conference schedule as Gonzaga.
Tom117
I wonder who will be drafted higher?
You and how many NBA scouts, Analysts and College Coaches think Samhan is better than Aldrich on offense or? You back up that statement with? Or was it JUO? I sure don’t see it that way but could be wrong, JMO.
Tom?
Samhan is legit, but Cole Aldrich is way better than him. Not even close.
Kansas’ non-conference is weak because they don’t need a tough slate outside of the BIG 12. If you already have Texas, Mizzou, Baylor, and K-State among others in conference why in the world would you go hard outside of conference? That’s actually pretty tough for a top 10 team that’s in a real conference.
BCS conference teams have back-heavy schedules whereas ours is frontloaded. They need bad teams as tune-ups because their conference opponents are actually real threats unlike ours. We need the non-conference games to boost our RPI, Kansas doesn’t
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Ooooo!
I just now read Joe Lunardi’s opinion of Saint Mary’s. He’s is reviewing the conferences and some possible bracket busters:
West Coast
Here we go again with Saint Mary’s. The Gaels (55 percent) can’t get past Gonzaga (95 percent) in the conference standings and have a good, but not great, nonconference profile. In a normal season, the Gaels’ loss at Portland already would have dropped them below the cut line. If they lose once more, we’ll be looking at another one-bid season for this league.
Minimum: one bid. Maximum: two. Over/Under: one-and-a-half. Joe’s bet: One and the under. This is not the year to bet against Gonzaga or think Saint Mary’s Selection Sunday fortunes will be any different than they were in 2009.
Saint Mary’s loss at Portland was huge.
Tom117
Great Probable/Potential News
Few on his radio show seemed convinced or at least relay/advise to Elias will be back for next year.
Few considers those who form mock NBA drafts are whacko-s or at least look/appear to be whacko-s, putting those who project Elias as a top 20 pick…etc…it was pretty funny.
Elias father is a military veteran, he will protect Elias and advise him soundly.
Gonzaga Bulldogs focus on your studies, papers, and prepare for Peeperdine & LMU.
The big tournament will get here soon enough. Just focus on school, the next game ahead, and if you forgot to get your girlfriend or wife (if any of you are married) its not too late to get her flowers, well okay too late to get her flowers so buy her some jewelry, if youcan afford it, no Gonzaga Bulldog discounts or rebates, don’t want any NCAA infractions.
by rnpljnsn on Feb 15, 2010 9:48 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
10th-13th seed
Gonzaga belongs there, of course every time this season when the Bulldogs were ranked in the top ten, Gonzaga got upset, once by USF and once by Wake Forest if I remember correctly.
So that is another reason for you players to be motivated to play the consistent hard defense and solid offense that you have displayed the last two weeks.
To prove you are a top ten team!
Um, I think you mean they ought to be RANKED 12-13, not seeded ther in the Dance. Thankfully the days of playing patsy for a 3 seed are over.
by FuManShoes on Feb 16, 2010 7:40 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I Wouldn't
Call Wake an upset anymore. They are looking great now and are coming up toward the top of the ACC.
Yes, USF was an upset… but honestly, (And I’m sure EDZ and Zach B would agree), St. Mary’s and Portland are the only two teams in the WCC looking to make the tourney other than GU. The other 5 teams are looking to beat GU at least once. Beating us has been a goal for the WCC teams for years now and when they do it, yes, it surprises us… but it also makes us better.
Running the table in the WCC is cool and all, but GU has a rep of being very, very cocky about their ranking… (think of Nevada a few years ago)… a loss usually helps us.
Don't want to...
think of that Nevada loss… ever, again. That is some of the primary ammunition for the people out there saying the Zags are often 1 or 2 and out…
by GU.AmericasTeam on Feb 16, 2010 1:31 PM PST up reply actions
Thank You
rank 10-13,
seed 3, but if it means palyinfg in Spokane at the arena 4 seed is best as the difference in competition between a 12th & 13th seed is incremental, in fact I would rather gonzaga play a tougher opponent as history has shown they tend to play to the level of their competeition.
They play better against stronger opponents.
I'd Rather
Have a 3 seed and not play in Spokane. I’m fairly confident that this team can make it through the first two games one the road. I just don’t want to play a #1 seed until absolutely necessary…The longer we can avoid Kentucky/Kansas/Syracuse, the better.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
Women & Men
Gonzaga Bulldogs are one of only ten schools where both the mens & womens teams are listed in the top 25 (and in both polls each even).
others are (if anyone cares): Tenn. Ohio St Duke W Virg Tex Georgetown Tex AM Kent. Baylor
Way to go Gonzaga!
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