St. John's: What to expect on Thursday
by Max Mandel on Mar 13, 2011 8:02 PM PDT
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PrintAfter the longest possible wait on Selection Sunday, it was finally revealed that the Zags will face St. John's on Thursday night in Denver (Editor's Note: This game will tip at 6:45 PST on CBS). While there were numerous potential spots in the bracket where I would have loved to see Gonzaga placed, this particular game is stunningly enticing. In St. John's, you have a team with a ton of history and a program that is seemingly on the rise under first-year head coach Steve Lavin. This is a team that has numerous signature victories throughout the season, including wins over Duke, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, Notre Dame and Villanova. It's also a team that has reinvigorated basketball in the NYC area, with Madison Square Garden presenting a true home court advantage for the Red Storm. While this is an overview of what St. John's has achieved this season, here is a more in-depth look at this team.
continue reading after the jump...
Dwight Hardy is elite: Gonzaga has faced many elite individual talents, but Dwight Hardy might be the toughest matchup so far this season. Hardy is an outstanding guard, who has the strength and toughness to attack the rim off the dribble. Hardy averages an impressive 18 ppg and has scored in double-figures in 15 consecutive games. He is also at his best on the big stage, as he scored 33 points against UConn and 34 points against Villanova this season. While Hardy has the ability to get to the rim, he isn't an outstanding shooter from the perimeter, so that could bode well for the Zags on the defensive end. With that said, Hardy brings a level of toughness that will make him a difficult and physical matchup for guys like Steven Gray and Meech Goodson.
Steve Lavin mixes defenses: One of the huge advantages of having three days to prepare for a first round opponent is the fact that the coaching staff will have time to gameplan for all the different defensive rotations and looks St. John's will bring to the table. The primary defensive look will be a matchup zone defense. This works great with the talent St. John's has, as this particular team is incredibly athletic and comprised of seniors. Equally important will be the play of the Gonzaga guards, as this defense will trap as soon as the ball crosses halfcourt and will do everything possible to pressure the guards into bad decisions.
D.J. Kennedy is a key loss: In a story that will surely grab lots of attention heading into the game, St. John's lost senior guard D.J. Kennedy to a torn ACL in the Big East Tournament. Although his numbers had dipped a little this season, Kennedy still was averaging 10.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg. He also provided lots of versatility for this team on both ends of the court and it will be tough to replace his production and athleticism. While this is a deep team, with nine guys averaging over 10 minutes per game, it is very difficult to try and predict how certain guys will respond to increases in their role.
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Odds
Looks like Zags opened at 1.5 pt favorites over St. Johns. We’ll see how that number changes by Thursday… 5/12 and 6/11 games are good for upsets :-).
+2
Actual sportsbooks are having Johnnies as 2 point favorites. Not exactly sure where Oddssharks gets their opening line from… ?
It's Jimmer Time.
but oddsmakers
they just try to put it somewhere close, and then move it depending on the action they’re getting on each side
Will be at game
Will also be rooting for Wofford. I have lived in Utah twice in my career and learned that besides the Zags my next favorite team is whoever is playing BYU. Go Zags and go Wofford.
by denverzagdad on Mar 13, 2011 8:35 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
denverzagdad...A Big AMEN to you...
You are after my own heart. Go Wofford beat BYU!
You have your reasons, I have mine and I would’nt be surprised how simular they might be.
Go Zags
Thursday can't get here soon enough.
Managed to nab some tickets as well. This will be an interesting match up as we have struggled against more athletic teams this year. That being said, we have the advantage down low, and if we exploit that and make enough 3’s to nullify the perimeter differences then we have a good chance of winning. Go Zags!
Have an awesome time, you lucky dog you.
The Next Generation of the KC
by s0merand0mdude on Mar 13, 2011 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
St. John's
It’s easy to drool over our draw but let’s stay focused on the game Thursday!
I like our matchup because even if Hardy is able to penetrate, our bigs are good at stepping up and stopping the drive. What we aren’t good at is rotating out to guard guys at the 3pt line. While this is usually a problem for us, St. John’s does not shoot that many threes and does not possess a lights-out shooter – their best remaining 3pt shooter is Hardy.
St. John’s is athletic inside so our bigs definitely need to box out to prevent second chances. GONZ 74 SJU 62
OFF Topic...couldn't resist adding this snippet from AP story...
“After his team’s snub, St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett might have become the first in history to believe that college football, with its widely derided Bowl Championship Series, has a better postseason formula than college basketball.
‘’As a coach, as players, all you want to know is that you’re given a fair deal,‘’ Bennett said. ’’You need to go by the numbers, exactly like they do in the BCS.’’
Hahaha…Awww quit yer whinin. Play someone next year and then do some talking! Those RPI, SOS, et al numbers do not tell the whole story.
*Pretty happy with our region selection…not as happy with our first round draw, but we have to beat some good teams to get anywhere anyways, so let’s get it on!~
GO ZAGS!!~
Its gonna be gLoRiOUS!!~
Whoa...
I was a little shocked they didn’t get in either, but…..seriously. Wishing for a BCS-like system in his situation is like pointing a shotgun at your foot, changing your mind, switching to a rocket launcher, and pulling the trigger. He has nobody to blame but himself for poor scheduling, and a BCS system would be GUARANTEED to be less forgiving on mid-majors than the current one.
That being said, I was surprised they didn’t get a bid. More surprised that Colorado didn’t get one, but surprised nonetheless.
2 Big Wins
Gonzaga and St. John’s (way early in the season).
ESPN said in the WCC tourney final that if GU won, SMC probably wouldn’t make it. Makes sense with only two key wins and a L to San Diego.
"Gonzaga knows how to party...Jesu-WHAT!"
by Greg Talbott on Mar 13, 2011 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions
SMC'c loss to San Diego
was huge!
I also think the WCC tourney hurts the top seed that loses in the finals.
I think if the Gaels had one more game to play and win before losing to Gonzaga, their record for their last ten games would not have looked so bad.
Does anybody know where to watch regular season games online?
Sick and tired of paying directv an arm and a leg just to watch the Zags.
Love the tourney draw! Anytime we get a chance to make New Yorkers shut up is golden.
by DaveValleDrinkNight on Mar 13, 2011 10:36 PM PDT reply actions
All games are on regular TV this year.
Either CBS, TNT, TBS, or TruTV. Don’t know which channel ours will be on, but it will be on.
http://twitter.com/larevblog
http://larevblog.wordpress.com/
I didn't like the SDState match up and I don't like how we match up with this team!
I also think St Johns is the best team in our half of the bracket. That being said, if we beat them I like our chances to the elite 8. My tummy says 1 and done……………but I can always eat a tums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My thoughts...Exactly.
I also think St Johns is the best team in our half of the bracket. That being said, if we beat them I like our chances to the elite 8. My tummy says 1 and done……………but I can always eat a tums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't like my fire then don't come around...
Wha??
Ima tell the grump to make yous do snow angels in the dirt!
C’mon MIke…pull it together, yer losing it.
This is gonna be cake!
Of course playing St. Johns, it does remind me a little of last year when Syracuse lost one of their most important players and we were supposedly primed to whip them…forgot how that turned out. heheh
Its gonna be gLoRiOUS!!~
This is a Steve Lavin team . . .
It isn’t like this is going to be the first time around the block where Few and Lavin are concerned. Remember this one?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/1999/12/11/gonzaga_ucla_ap/
Few said. "And I know what kind of coach Steve is. I know [assistant coach Mike] Dunlap’s zones and pressure. We know each so well it’s going to make it that much tougher. There aren’t going to be any secrets."
I expect both teams will be well prepared. If St. Johns can burn us from outside it might be a long night. Otherwise, (assuming we can get the ball down the floor) I like our chances.
mjc
Zone
From watching St. John’s 2 or 3 times this year I seem to remember them switching defenses constantly but almost exclusively using zone: 2-3, 3-2, matchup, etc. We need to limit the amount of looks they can give us by breaking up the 2-3 which we usually do well. Then if they go 3-2 we put Dower Power in…when he catches in the post, the ball is up towards the rim before the guards up top can collapse down.
Is it Thursday yet?
I'm liking the setup
although Byu can be dangerous if they catch fire from 3. St John’s doesn’t appear to be a team that is going to kill us from three from what I’ve seen. They seem to be a slow physical methodical demonstrative team. We just need to limit penetration and keep Hardy from going off and I think we’ll be fine.
just got back on twitter. twitter.com/TheRealJeffF
Q: are they Memphis/SDSU athletic?
those teams do give the Zags trouble, but I think it is more from a confidence stand point.
I think we are more fundamentally sound, and I think this is a game where all 3 PGs for Gonzaga could dominate, Carter from the arc, Stockton with the pick and roll [it will be there all game], and Goodson’s defense [and should he get some penetration baskets and get to the line early] it will be all over for St. Johns.
well
we could have beaten both of those teams. I think St John’s is athletic, but they don’t rebound near as well as San Diego St. especially with their leading rebounder out.
to whomever called it
[repeat post from one of the early threads today]
one of you called it, the committe setting up a potential pre-WCC match between Gonzaga v BYU
good call you deserve a Dick’s “Whammy” Burger & orange drink!
by rnpljnsn on Mar 13, 2011 11:54 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
do you guys even watch television?
do you guys even watch television?
I’m a St. John’s fan, but I’ll keep this polite. Do you guys even watch television? St. John’s eats up man to man defenses — nobody on your team can stop Hardy and Brownlee’s a beast in the open court. If you play man against St. John’s you shouldn’t even bother getting off the plane.
Seems to me you’re placing a lot of faith in St. Mary’s win over the Johnnies in the FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON. Brand new coaching staff getting used to a team with 10 seniors (yeah, like you said, "a young team in transition." As for the loss to UCLA, they shot 42 free throws to St. John’s 7 thanks to 3 Pac10 officials. Unless you’re also bringing your own refs, you’re in a world of hurt. I’ve seen good Gonzaga teams, and this is not one of them.
(You’re all paying way too much attention to BYU — the only way you’re seeing them play is if you’re buying a ticket to watch them have their asses kicked by St. John’s.) Good luck, Zags, you’re gonna need it!
Haha, so much for keeping it polite.
With Kennedy I would be tempted to agree with you, without him I have to agree with Vegas in that this game is a 50-50 split and could easily go either way. Gonzaga is meshing well right now and St. John’s has some work to do to overcome a big loss and nobody really knows how it will turn out in a gametime situation. Hope for a great game but the Zags will “make the vict’ry greater” for our old GU.
Sigh . . .
While you may be right about the fact that this years team may not be as good as some in the past, you are wrong in assuming that this team cannot produce results that will carry them a long way.
We have seen some pretty good players this year and playing against Hardy will be a nice warm up for playing against Fredette. I do hope Hardy brings his ‘A’ game.
You make a good point in saying, “what happened early in the year is not relevant”. That knife cuts both ways. You guys would have undoubtedly fared better against GU had you played us in the first few weeks of the season.
Did you guys really lose to St. Mary’s? Those guys have no foot speed at all! Oh well.
mjc
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