Defining Stretch Set To Begin: Zags Host Notre Dame
by Max Mandel on Nov 30, 2011 7:01 AM PST
Email
Print
Between November 30 and December 31, Gonzaga fans will learn a whole lot about where this team ranks among some of the top squads in the country. While it isn't a murderers row of a schedule, the next 10 games will pit the Zags against a mix of teams that should test this team in a multitude of different ways. There are a guard heavy teams like Xavier and Arizona, as well as physical matchups like Michigan St. and Butler.
The opening game of this stretch is against Notre Dame, which lost its best player in Tim Abromaitis to an ACL injury in practice. With the Fighting Irish already a young and inexperienced group, losing their most productive returner will almost certainly be the death blow to any NCAA Tournament hopes they may have harbored. There is still a good young core on this team, led by sophomore guard Eric Atkins, who is averaging 15.4 ppg, but this game will not be as stern of a test as previously thought.
While Notre Dame was one of the more impressive offensive teams in the country last season, this year it has struggled to make baskets against tougher opponents. In its three games against teams that will challenge for postseason berths (Detroit, Georgia and Missouri), Notre Dame has averaged only 58 points, and has lost two of the three games. However, in its other four wins, the Fighting Irish have scored at least 74 points. If Gonzaga can use its size and depth to harass and defend Notre Dame for the full 40 minutes, it should be a struggle for the Fighting Irish to score.
On the offensive end, the Zags have a clear frontcourt advantage. Notre Dame really doesn't have anyone that is capable of slowing down Rob Sacre and Elias Harris. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Fighting Irish go small and try and harass the bigs with double-teams. If this is the case, the Gonzaga guards should have plenty of open looks from the perimeter, and guys like Kevin Pangos, Marquise Carter and Gary Bell will need to take advantage of the opportunities.
Knocking off a Big East opponent would be a great way for Gonzaga to begin this stretch of games. If the Zags can continue to play defense with the level of intensity we saw against Western Michigan and Hawaii, they have a great chance of earning a comfortable victory. With that said, if the Fighting Irish go small and can generate some confidence shooting from the perimeter, this just feels like a team that might linger around for 40 minutes. When it comes down to it, I expect to learn a lot about this Gonzaga team based on how they react to a wounded opponent. If this team has a little bit of the killer instinct it needs to develop, and I get the sense that it just might, then I expect to see a 77-58 win.
13 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I may eat crow, yet no way the Zags win by 20pts as many have suggested.
Notre Dame features the two best lead guards we’ve seen this season.
Yes, Notre Dame got blasted by Mizzou in Kansas City, yet so has every other team that have faced them, including Top-20 Cal who lost by 40 pts. Notre Dame had a semi-bad loss vs Georgia, yet the entire offense went thru Tim Abro who struggled mightily shooting 1-12. They still ONLY lost by 4pts. Notre Dame is 5 – 0 sans Abromaitis & looked like a better, more cohesive team on offense. Only b/c Abro missed the first 4 games due to suspension, thus they are used to playing w/o their Co-Captain.
Can Pangos & Stock defend lighting quick, Eric Atkins and tall, strong Jerian Grant? I think Gary Bell can guard anyone in the Country, yet we’ll see if he rec more than 20 mins this game.
Together, the Irish backcourt of Grant/Atkins avg 30ppg, 13apg & BOTH shoot over 50% from 3pt.
Notre Dame is far & away the best competition we’ve faced this season(3 Top-100 players) and besides Sacre, we haven’t looked all that great either. Very beatable until our young guards become a little more developed & a scoring option at the “3”. As good as Mike Hart has been, I assure you Notre Dame will sag off him and not take him seriously on offense. They will double-down on Sacre/Harris/Dower until he can make a shot or dribble around a defender. Same goes for Marquise Carter’s perimeter shot. Not keeping anyone honest. We got away with 3 vs 5 on offense against a Wester Michigan, yet Coach Brey is the Big East Coach of the Year for a reason. He always has a great game plan for opposing teams. He’s a master at drawing fouls and taking an opponents best player(s) outta of games.
I’m curious how they plan to foul-out Sacre or Harris this game. Will he force them to guard the perimeter with 5-guards in the 1st half to draw them away from the hoop and foul, while giving up a few points on defense? He’s been known to do crazy things, crazy lineups, and crazy strategy to neutralize a team. His risks sometimes back-fire, yet sometimes work brilliantly.
After Sacre/Harris took over the 1st Half in South bend last season, he forced them to foul in the 2nd half by switching up lineups and having guards off the bench drive straight at them. Seriously, he is the 1st Coach I’ve seen put “scrubs” into a game on offense to make opposing bigs foul them and taking chances like that…he’s a master at it. Will they work tonight?
Also, every one of ND’s post players can shoot it. They can hit the mid-range & 3pt shot. My guess is ND will have tremendous spacing on offense. I believe they will feature 4-guards and Scott Martin in the middle. Two things: they will attempt to “out-pace” or “out-scour” us with the smaller lineup and a post who can shoot the 3. Also, they will be relentless at the dribble-drive to draw fouls on our bigs and/or create an open 3 by breaking down our smallish guards of Pangos/Stocks/Carter.
It will be an interesting match-up and the 1st test we’ve had all season. I have an odd feeling about this game.
Zags – 72
Irish – 70
by Baldwinzag on Nov 30, 2011 8:37 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Also...
fwiw, ND shoots nearly 50% from the floor, and a very respectable 38% from 3pt (highest team % we’ve faced).
they shoot
44% from the floor. And that is taking into account Abromaitis shooting %
You have a lot of great points here.
If they were to go small then GU big men would need to push it up the floor at every opportunity so that the guards are forced to foul or let them score.
I agree that it was 3 on 5 with Hart and Carter out there. Def need to see more of GBJ this game. Hopefully a bit more Hoff as well.
If you don't like my fire then don't come around...
GBJ
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him guard Atkins for most of game and some Hart/Carter combination on Grant.
!
Very refreshing to hear someone who knows what they are talking about instead of the usual inflated wishwash of Gonzaga is the best team in the country. I like when we can be realistic on this site, it actually makes us understand our team better. You also did not rehash the same old points everyone seems to do.
Thank you
I respect your opinion... but Cal is not a top 20 team. Regardless of rankings. Please don't say that.
Steps baaaaack! OOOOH at the buzzer! Young! Zeke!
How's that crow tasting?
Thanks to the Zag defense, the Irish ended up shooting 38.5% from the floor and a lowly 14.3% from 3-pt range. And that Grant/Atkins backcourt? 22 points, 4 assists, and a combined 0-6 on 3s. Oh yeah — and 10 turnovers between the two of them!
Good test for Gonzaga's perimeter defense
I know the Zags have traditionally been horrific at defending the long shot, and that has usually been the factor that ends our season. Scheduling guard-heavy teams like Notre Dame will greatly condition the team’s defense for a more effective defense when it counts later in March. My hope is that our young guards and Carter will rise to the occasion tonight and show some excellent on-ball defense. If we can limit the Irish to below 35% shooting from beyond the arc, in my estimation, this game is over. I see this Irish team as a St. Mary’s clone. While this team may still have quality players, their only real shot at winning against the Zags is to bury a plethora of deep balls and stretch the Zags defense. I don’t have nearly as much respect for them as Baldwinzag. We almost beat these guys in South Bend last year (and probably should have), and they have only regressed since last season, especially considering their latest injury.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2010
This.
I went to Louisville for undergrad so I’ve watched Notre Dame play a lot. I’ve seen more mediocre Notre Dame teams take good UofL teams to the wire more times than I care to remember, usually because they can shoot the hell out of a three. They can always shoot from the outside but their big men are soft, especially for a Big East school. If we hold them on the perimeter, they really shouldn’t be too much of an issue, especially with Abromaitis out now.
I hope I'm wrong but . . .
I don’t think we beat ND by 20. We have looked good at times this season and very mediocre at other times. Harris has really done nothing, so I dont expect him to have a big game. It seems like teams have figured him out.
We need to DEFEND the 3 or we could be in trouble.
by SanJoseZag on Nov 30, 2011 10:55 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
You guys are giving ND too much respect
ND will be redefining their team concept beginning tonight. I agree they will attempt to go small.
That said, the usual suspects are selling our guys short.
ND may or may not represent a step up in competition over WSU but the scenario is essentially the same.
The better question is, “can they guard us?” Can our bigs knock down a bunch of free throws? Can one or more of the perimeter players light it up?
If we dominate the glass the play good transition D, we will be just fine.
Zags by 20.
Nice article Max.
mjc
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Slipper Still Fits
Related FanShots on The Slipper Still Fits
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
