Why the Huskies Will Not Play Gonzaga
by Thurston24 on Nov 18, 2011 7:14 PM PST
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PrintA couple of nights ago, I was watching my Gonzaga Bulldogs put a finish to the Washington State University Cougars at the Kennel in Spokane, WA. While its always enjoyable to watch my Zags prove that they are the best team on the east side of Washington State, I can't help but share my frustration with the University of Washington basketball team. The reason being that I believe they are afraid to play the Zags in a fair manner.
2006 was the last year that the two teams played one another, with Gonzaga beating Washington in convincing fashion with a score 97-77. The Huskies though defeated, probably were not surprised to lose that game, it was pretty much the norm for the team when competing against Gonzaga. From 1996 to 2006, the Huskies and the Zags played each other ten times, with Gonzaga wining eight of those contests. This probably was not well received by the Huskies, who were vying to become one of the better programs in the Pac10 and yet, they couldn't manage to prove that they were even the best basketball team in the state.
At some point near 2006,University of Washington decided to not continue their yearly contest with Gonzaga. There are rumors that the reason UW walked away because Gonzaga reported that the UW violated some recruiting requirements, while trying to sign Josh Heytfelt to a letter of intent. That is hardly surprising, considering Barbara Hedges was the athletic director and lets just say that she was willing to overlook certain violations (Rick Neuheisal). Another rumored reason for UW backing out of the annual game is because Gonzaga played too well against Husky coach Lorenzo Romar. After the 2004-2005 annual game between the two schools, Romar intimated that he felt the Zags had done something unethical by discussing how they had been a little too well prepared. He then quit allowing open practices after that loss.
When you combine the fact that Gonzaga routinely beat the Huskies during their annual contest, and that the Bulldogs were able to out recruit the UW for local talent (Josh Heytfelt and Robert Sacre), its no wonder that the Huskies decided to pull out. If you are the lesser of two teams, demonstrating that annually, why would you play a better team every year? All it does is undermine your ability to recruit in the area as a result.
So what is Washington's plan as of now? Well, they have offered to play Gonzaga yearly at Key Arena or a two games at the UW for one game at Gonzaga. Either of these proposals are laughable as Gonzaga has been the better basketball school that last several years and why would they forfeit home court advantage just to play the Huskies? So instead, the Huskies have taken the easier road as proven by their pre-season schedule: in 2008 Portland, Florida International, Lehigh, Morgan State, Pacific, Cleveland State, etc. In 2009 Wright State, Cal State Northridge, San Jose State, San Francisco, etc. In 2010 McNeese State, Virginia, Long Beach State, Portland, ect. In 2011 Georgia State, Florida Atlantic, Houston Baptist, South Dakota State, etc. Each year they do actually play approximately two national programs in pre-season, but the rest of the games sound like the Sisters of the Poor and the School for the Deaf.
Meanwhile, Gonzaga is famous for playing the hardest or second hardest pre-season schedule every year. Too bad they cannot add Washington to that schedule. Mark Few has adopted an any time any place attitude for Gonzaga, while Lorenzo Romar would rather play inferior teams. The two programs couldn't be any more dissimilar. For my money, I will take Gonzaga any time; they aren't afraid of a fight.
Note: This post was originally created and posted on my blog: Average-Casey
This post does not reflect the views of the blog authors or SB Nation.
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Very interesting
As much as I am wary of rumors, the ones you mentioned wouldn’t shock me. I still lean towards Romar pouting about not winning enough.
by CLT_ZagsFan on Nov 19, 2011 12:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
No doubt in my mind
This is exactly why UDub does not want to play GU on anything that resembles a ‘fair’ or ‘neutral’ basis.
Don’t forget the UW assistant coach that got burned over the Heytfelt recruiting scandal — Romar blames Few and company for reporting them to the NCAA.
mjc
UW loves to play a weak non-conference schedule (especially at home)
I was shocked to see Duke on this year’s schedule. (My Cougs usually schedule pretty weak too) I just don’t think Coach Romar has any interest in playing Gonzaga at this point. Which is to bad, because I loved watching that game every year.
Sometimes I act irrationally.
I seem to remember when purple puppy dawgs decided to stop playing us
was because Romar said he was looking for a ‘more nationally recognized schedule.’ You can tell from his non-conference scheduling, this was not the case. It seems to be baffling to both fan bases as all the Husky fans I talk to would love to renew the rivalry.
If I had to guess, I would say it has to do with two main factors; first, the Heytvelt recruitment. That whole debacle seemed to hit a nerve with both schools when talked about. Secondly, with Gonzaga and the purple puppies going after so many of the same recruits, it was easier for the purple puppies to end the rivalry and end a risk factor for losing certain recruits.
But until they are willing to play a home and home, I love the fact that they ended the rivalry, just one more thing to give them a hard time for.
That was Romar's answer when they decided to keep playing.
Sometimes I act irrationally.
quit (not keep)
Sometimes I act irrationally.
Heytvelt
What exactly happened? I gather UW had some kind of violation but I’m not familiar with the story.
by CLT_ZagsFan on Nov 20, 2011 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
There were too many phone calls made to him by Cameron Dollar
who at the time was an assistant coach for Romar. Read about it here
Average-Casey.blogspot.com
The fact that
GU can get teams like Michigan State, Xavier, Oklahoma, Baylor, and Arizona to do home and home series or neutral court games that are really home and home attests to the national recognition of the program. Why should the Huskies get preferential treatment when we can get Tom Izzo to bring his boys to the Kennel?
Step your game up Romar!
What's Wrong With Key Arena?
I actually flew cross country to see the Zags play Tennessee in the Battle of Seattle a couple of years ago. If both schools get the same opportunities to get tickets, it could be a 50-50 crowd. Also people that can’t get tickets at GU can drive and see them play in Seattle. Good for recruiting out west- all the kids on the coast can go to the game. We should give in on this one. It will even be more impressive when we dominate them on a pseudo-neutral court. I’d tell Romar that we’d play him anywhere he wants- in his auxillary gym, on the court in his driveway.
Or we can squabble back and forth forever and not play.
The last time Maryland played a scheduled game vs Georgetown was in 1993. (Old Spice Classic in 2008). They played it at the Capital Center. Even though Maryland wore home jerseys, they claim to this day that they are owed a home game. In 1971, John Thompson, as a high school coach at St Anthony’s in DC, supposedly encouraged Donald Washington to go to UNC instead of UMd. In 1979, John Thompson, Jr cursed at Left Driesell on the court. There’s a little history of that “not-rivalry”. Sound familiar? Reread your posts.
Give in on this one guys!! When Romar leaves we can extend the series to a home and home with the new coach. It’s good for the game, the school, the fans, and the kids.
I live in Seattle
And if Romar gets to make it all about Romar, I get to make it all about me.
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 19, 2011 8:30 PM PST up reply actions
I just think it effectively gives UW a home court advantage.
Spokane is roughly 250 miles away and trying to get to Seattle in the Winter can be tricky because of snow on the passes. If they did a Key Arena, Spokane arena, that would be more fair. At least that is my opinion.
Average-Casey.blogspot.com
If the series doesn't come to Spokane every other year
it’s not worth it.
Welcome to the Sound Pound...
by SoundPound on Nov 20, 2011 12:16 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Some great theory, always fun speculation and good old Zag braggadocio!
I wouldn’t put the part in about GU out recruiting Washington for the Washington State talent. You really lose the credibility gap there but the rest of the rumblings could be in the mix.
Fun post!
The article I linked that was from the Seattle PI mentioned
that UW was going after Sacre and Heytfelt. Who are both Zags (though Heytfelt graduated).
Average-Casey.blogspot.com
I am a notorious Zag homer,, that said
we might not want UW very bad THIS year… as improved as we might be, Wroten, Ross and Abdul Gaddy are skilled, big, and will play in the league.. our backcourt is good this year, but theirs might be top 5 in nation good.
i guess i dont see the upside
Sure when we win we get to rub it in the huskies faces and claim Washington state superiority (but we claim that anyway)
I hate the huskies as much as the next guy and i was at gonzaga when they said, “we need to find tougher competition” or some crap like that, and it pissed me off too, but now i feel like people just want to play them because the huskies wont play us, and thats dumb. (as is my use of run on sentences)
Right now we schedule the toughest competition who are excited to play us and will play us in home and home series, we get to the tourney every year, we battle to conference championships, and still land great recruits (granted sometimes UW pulls some away from us, but i dont want those kids anyway). Right now i am content to watch UW continue to be mediocre as we kick ass.
by DanielwMathews on Nov 20, 2011 8:58 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
For my preference, it has to do with nostalgia
I remember growing up and seeing Gonzaga and UW play every year. To see it end because it appears that UW got their feelings hurts just irritates the heck out of me. We could have quality games every year between the schools and we don’t because of UW pride. When two of the better schools in the country don’t play every year, the fans lose out.
Average-Casey.blogspot.com
i just think we already play tougher competition
by DanielwMathews on Nov 21, 2011 1:58 AM PST up reply actions
It's not about level of competition
It was a great in-state rivalry that was budding into a nationally relevant game. When UW people say “we don’t need Gonzaga on the schedule” they are just showing their childish fearful ignorance.
When did they ever need Gonzaga to boost their schedule? They only needed it when it was a sure win. Neither of us need the game, but all the fans want it. They ran from us just like they would run from Portland or USF if those schools OWNED and DOMINATED UW the way we do.
All we can do is let more people know that they ran. Everyone I explain it to seems to lose their respect for UW basketball, which is good because Romar deserves no respect. He gets horrible results for the talent he gets and ran away from an in state mid major like a scared little child when we showed them who really deserved to be in the PAC 10.
Welcome to the Sound Pound...
It is called "an in-state rivalry".
If “why do we really want to play them” has to be explained, then maybe I am in the wrong place. Good luck to you all. Go Zags!
let the huskies be laughed at for their Seattle Rivalry while we take on real opponents
by DanielwMathews on Nov 21, 2011 2:35 AM PST up reply actions
And for losing to Saint Louis
I met a possum.
by s0merand0mdude on Nov 21, 2011 7:04 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
The Bilikins were SPANKING
the Huskies 50-25 at half-time! LOL!
Can you imagine Romar at the half, in the locker room?….hahaha
Final 4 or Bust!!~
He had to say something like:
“Well, guys, I was going to concede your demands to play a home and home with Gonzaga so we don’t look like pussies running from an in state mid major, but if we can’t even look competitive in this game we’re just going to have to stick to playing mid majors at home until PAC 12 play. I mean, we don’t NEED these games anyway.”
#ZagsOwnHuskies
#RomarBowedDown
Welcome to the Sound Pound...
by SoundPound on Nov 24, 2011 10:14 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Exactly Pound!
Wash is bigger than us. Mainly because of their league, they don’t need to play the Zags. They have the benefit of 2 games with UCLA, Zona, Zona St, Stanford, and the others. That’s 8-10 big games automatically because of their league. We have 2 with St Marys and BYU. We have to play the big boys early in the year to up our RPI and impress the committee. IMO there are many reasons why we have to play Wash on their terms. You said the most important one: they have more to lose than the Zags do. Please concede that and root for a yearly matchup wherever they want to play.
One more point: All your hating seems to be clouding your judgment. The Billikens beat Nova today to go to 5-0, with 2 big wins already. Reminds me of our hating of St Marys. Remember the better they are, the better we are.
MD ZAG
Before Romar was born UW wouldn’t play Seattle U when Johnny O’Brien and his brother Eddie were tearing things up. Then of course when Elgin came to Seattle U (you do remember Elgin—you young guys???) UW still wouldn’t play SU.
UDub is being petty not to play Zags but we can hold our heads high and offer to play even in key arena we’d probably win 2/3s of the time. GU doesn’t need UW but we need to recruit on the west side for gosh sakes. What are you going to say when Seattle U wants to play GU? Another Jebby school? Now why do we play Eastern? Because it is good for basketball in Washington. You guys don’t even know EWU’s nickname 50 years ago, before political correctness made them change it from the Savages.
On the criticism of the Zags and/or the coaches it is your right but do you think Few listens? Do you think Calhoun, Calipari or Coach K are sacred? Some of you wannabe coaches could win games with their talent. Admittedly I become disappointed in the performance of the team sometimes but whose fault is that? Coaches or players? Pangos is making Few look like a wizard. Let’s hope Bell and Harris do also.
When I see posts like “him and Carter are my favorite player” I wonder whether English grammar 101 is still taught at GU. When I walked the hallowed halls of the Ad Building we had to take 18 hours of scholastic philosophy and pass oral exams to graduate. Guess that is all passe now. Have fun with the blog and kicking around the ideas but listen to Zach> “After all it’s only basketball, not life or death.” Burgess is head and shoulders above any Zag since.
Norman L. Gillette
Thanks for the history!
I’m old enough to have seen Elgin play for the Lakers, but not in HS or college. He’s from DC- Spingarn High I think. (same school as Dave Bing) I do think the games with EWU and also Wash St are important. I do give some credit to the Bennetts for making the WSU game come off so smoothly. We should play Wash annually just like we play EWU and WSU. I never said UDub was not being petty or that they are on the right side of the negotiations. I just said we should give in to their demands. They are bigger, from a bigger conference and therefore they have more to lose by playing us. I agree that Seattle U from the late 50s, early 60s would be an analogous situation, as both Seattle and GU were/are consistent top 25 teams for close to 2 decades. IMO just as GU needs to give in to UDub, the same attitude should have been held by Seattle U in the 50s. (I admit to not knowing what happened) Seattle U was the smaller school from a weaker conference. When GU gets as big as Duke or Purdue and can compete in a major conference, we can demand home and home arrangements from the big boys.
We do demand home and home games
and we get them from the likes of Michigan State, Xavier, OK State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Butler, Memphis, WSU, and many more. More than half these teams are better programs and from better conferences than the Pac-12. I just don’t understand why we should cave to UW when Tom Izzo will come play in the Kennel.
You said it, it's because it's Tom Izzo!
Izzo and Few are boys. All the Few criticism aside, he is well liked and respected in the coaching fraternity, which serves us very well when we schedule pre-league games. Obviously Romar is a different story. I’m not sure all those schools you mentioned are big boys from big conferences. I’m also not saying that nobody wants to play Gonzaga. Playing GU has lots of benefits: almost guaranteed to be nationally televised, classy, well-liked opponent, huge out of conference opponent strengthening RPIs. Most of the big boys you mentioned are not at the top of their leagues, except Mich St. The other big boys, like Okla St and Okla need all the big wins they can get. (Illinois is another example) I actually consider Butler, Xavier, and Memp to be more in the same situation as us. Now- Wash is at the top of the Pac10, with Romar as coach. See my blogs for my points about why we should play Wash on their terms.
Sorry
I was not clear. When referencing the other teams as ‘big boys,’ I wasn’t just referring to this year. Both the Oklahoma schools for example may not be top teams this year but have been very successful in recent years when we played them.
While I am not an expert on Butler, Memphis, and Xavier’s scheduling, I would assume that, like us, they have earned the right over the years for home and home series after years of playing “anyone, anywhere”
As for the GU/UW game, maybe they should play it in Ellensburg and call it neutral ;)
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