Can Gonzaga Keep The Momentum Going? Zags Host LMU
by Max Mandel on Feb 11, 2012 8:00 AM PST
Email
PrintNeedless to say, Gonzaga enters this game against LMU with a ton of momentum following the impressive 73-59 victory over No. 13 St. Mary's. In the win, the Zags played with an intensity and level of attitude that I hadn't seen since the game against Xavier. In all honesty, I don't think Gonzaga played anywhere near its "A" game on Thursday. The defense and rebounding were spectacular, but the Zags struggled to shoot free-throws and only received eight points from the bench. David Stockton really struggled against the length and strength of the St. Mary's guards, while there doesn't seem to be a player that the coaching staff will settle on to back up Guy Landry-Edi.
Despite the flaws that Gonzaga showed, the way it played helped overcome some of the struggles. Elias Harris completely set the tone when he blocked Rob Jones on the opening possession of the game and he played with a fire that makes him tough to guard. Rob Sacre decided not to scream and flex, but instead played with efficiency and did an excellent job rebounding. However, the real stars of the game were Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr and Edi. GBJ and Edi were both absolutely outstanding defensively. GBJ hit numerous big shots down the stretch and only further reinforced my belief that if the game was on the line, he would be the one to take the shot. Edi did just enough offensively to keep the paint open and also was tremendous defensively on Matthew Dellavedova and Stephen Holt.
It must be kind of surprising to wait this long in the story to read anything in depth about Kevin Pangos, but don't worry, he wasn't forgotten. When he is shooting well from the perimeter, it makes this Gonzaga team so difficult to beat. It's totally unreasonable to expect Pangos to score 27 points every game, but there is no reason he can't score between 15-17 with the amount of attention that the rest of the starting lineup receives. This is another reason that having an offensive threat like Edi in the lineup is so important for this team.
While the victory over St. Mary's was great for the resume, the Zags will lose if they don't take LMU seriously. This Lions team has won four straight games and only sits one game behind Gonzaga in the WCC standings. In fact, LMU still gets to play both GU and St. Mary's and can still dream of winning a WCC title. Anthony Ireland and Drew Viney form an excellent scoring combination, with both averaging over 15 ppg. Ashley Hamilton is a very serviceable big man, while Jared DuBois gives LMU a nice spark off the bench.
Although LMU has a nice amount of fire power offensively, Gonzaga actually matches up very well. GBJ has the strength and athleticism to really limit Ireland, who scored only 11 points and committed seven turnovers in the first matchup. Edi and Keita play with enough physicality to push Viney out of his comfort zone. However, the key for Gonzaga coming out with a win will be finding someone to really push Hamilton. If the Zags bigs play with the same fire and commitment that was on display against the Gaels, they should be able to limit Hamilton and help find a way to win this key game.
How do you guys think Gonzaga will react to its biggest win of the season? Is the attitude and fire that was on display on Thursday something that the Zags can carry over for the next month?
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Can the Zags bring the heat?
Every game is crucial from here out, but I think this one is especially important. The Zags must build momentum and finish the regular season strong. Seeding in both the WCC and NCAA tourneys depend on it. They need to start that momentum tonight.
This will be a tough game too...
…maybe as difficult as SMC. Let’s hope we don’t let our guard down. The Kennel Club could really be the difference getting the team pumped up. We need to take care of business early on to set the tone and hopefully have better luck at the charity stripe.
GO ZAGS!
Good points, good post......two add ons!
I would suggest that GU did bring it’s A game! Reviewing the game I would be more incline to count the poor free throw shooting in the trade off column with their best intensity and defensive pressure of the year. As far as the bench’s scoring, the style and sets did not work to their advantage except for Sam. With KP on fire and GBJ cutting up his share DS had no reason to take additional shots. If you look at the minutes…..that’s it! Sam and DS!
A note about GLE. GU has the back ups to the position and your right, haven’t settled. THAT has been the coaching staffs problem since November. CLEARLY MH was not and should not have been the solution early before GLE was available. Wasting 18 games and 18- 20 precious minutes per game on his playing time with NO development of MM or MK is the major factor why this team is not 11-0 in league. There are other factors but none more glaring than that. The very fact that for 18 games you start a player like MH then bench him into cobwebs is a telling insight into the coaching staffs philosophy. Did MH play any different at the end of the 18 games than when he started in November? NO! He started because???? So, if you love the Zags, you live with it…….I do and I will but it idoesn’t make it right!
Good post Max, it’s always nice to read your perspective. Don’t stay away so long, I for one miss the intellect you bring to the board. Of course, I reserve the right to be an ornery old fart and disagree!! LOL
Go Zags! Big game tonight……
Not our A game, more like a B +
1. Harris had four turnovers, vanished again for a good chunk of the middle of the game. Mentally, he just seems unable to keep focused and hold on to a fire….he got so nonchalant with the ball at the top of the key when Jones was guarding him. He could take a page out of Jones’ book and realize that when the ball’s not coming to him he can still help the team by hustling, rebounding, and setting up his teammates.
2. We still had a lot of trouble with the pick and roll, though I think the coaches might be on to something with having Sacre stay out on the perimeter with Delle.
3. Imagine if Pangos could start finishing those layups in traffic?
I actually disagree on all your points
I thought E played great defense, took over the game in the post in the second half by his aggressivness, had a double/double and finished strong
You don’t shut down every play! They had very few P&R’s vs at Moraga and most of the time they were contested with touches and steals!
Not sure if that’s a knock or not on Pangos? I’m guessing sarcasm? If not, I’ll take the 27pts and his leadership on the floor against SMC vs lots of missed layups in heated transission or hard drives to the hoop!
not sarcasm, you said it was an A game....an A game means an all but perfect game...
and Pangos missed a lot of good looks in the paint. My point, is that an A game for him, would have been making a fair amount of those…..
which brings me to my previous statement, which is that if a 27 point game was just a B + because he missed a bunch of makeable shots in traffic, imagine his A game.
Your grading curve is to high
"Average is as Average does"
by NCWzagfan on Feb 11, 2012 10:12 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Too me it seems easy to be devil's advocate regarding MH
I believe it was you who predicted 3-5 losses for GU in the league. Maybe without MH as a glue guy early, your prediction would have come true. My memory of the early part of this season was that we were actually overachieving to some degree. I, for one and I felt it was pretty unanimous on this site, was pleasantly surprised with the start. The down part of the season for me has been the 5 games or so before SMC at home. Coincidence or not, those were games MH had little or no role. I heard your point about players like MM or MK not getting adequate chance to develop. I’ve been a player and coach, you’ve been a player and coach: probably 20% of playing college basketball is playing in the games. You are closer to the scene than I am: are these guys earning the minutes?
I see the MH situation as an unselfish role player handing off the baton to more talented teammates, who represent more of the answer to GU reaching its full potential. I also think his role early has actually been replaced by the improved freshmen guards not necessarily by another 3. Bell is the defensive stopper and Bell and Pangos do not need a body out there to keep the offense moving.
I think you're right!
With so much more talent here, we almost expect to use one of our starting positions or at least the 6th man to be a “dirty-work/glue guy”. As they say, there’s only one ball. More often than not it’s the 4 man though that has this role. Prototypically, the 2 and 3 are the scorers, the 1 runs the show, and we have talented centers that can do everything. I can give umpteen examples of this at the college and NBA levels, but you get the idea.
It’s impossible to say what would have happened if MM & MK got MH minutes. All I know is we’re 19-4, coming off a big win, and if we don’t lay a terd tonight, will be in great position come tournament time.
"Average is as Average does"
by NCWzagfan on Feb 11, 2012 10:06 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Good point! We'll never know.
Being so far away from the scene, I feel like I need to give the staff the benefit of the doubt. That’s what I meant about how the guys were performing in practice. I don’t have any reason to advocate more PT for these guys. They haven’t shown me much in the games, granted Few doesn’t have them on a long leash. Come to think of it, they haven’t even outplayed MH offensively. I have said all year that MH filled a void for us early on. Now others are stepping up to fill the void, so MH’s role has diminished.
I know what your trying to reference about practice but it was not always Gold standard thinking where I was taught coaching!
Lot’s of things to disagree about……..however, one point with lots of caveats…..never did get to add any points, rebounds steals, blocks floor burns, block outs and so on from any of my practices to the scores in the games. Not sure about how they do that back east, LOL! I would suspect the same, though! As I said, different strokes for different folks but I do understand your point!
Keep it rolling!
I really think the win vs St. Mary’s has a chance to set the tone for the rest of the season. They’ve got a look at all the teams and they know what they are in for. Should be a great rest of the season. I agree with Poulsbozagfan. They need to set the tone early tonight. Looking forward to a good win tonight! 72-60. GO ZAGS!!!!!!
ZOMBIE NATION
The Students and Alumnii need to rock Zombie nation and Thundersrtuck tonight.
Go zags
With 6 games left in the regular season
I hope they can keep up this kind of play. This is the time of the year when teams mentally get ready for March. Getting hot at the right time is key to a deep run in March. I would just love to see them play with the emotion they showed on Thursday. Kind of like the 08 team that got real hot at the end of the year and ripped through the WCC tourny and into the NCAA’s.
As far as tonights game I think they come out hot get up early and cruise to victory.
Zags 79
LMU 62
Go Zags!
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.
