The Slipper Still Fits - 2014 NCAA Tournament: Arizona bounces Gonzaga in third roundA Gonzaga Basketball Blog - The #1 Source for Bulldogs Discussion and Opinionhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52664/tssf_fav.png2014-03-25T10:00:04-07:00http://www.slipperstillfits.com/rss/stream/52787752014-03-25T10:00:04-07:002014-03-25T10:00:04-07:00Animated: Arizona proved Karnowski will be good
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<p>While much of the rest of the team struggled, Przemek Karnowski's growth in his sophomore campaign was fully on display against Arizona.</p> <p>There weren't a lot of bright spots in Gonzaga's loss to Arizona in the third round of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> on Sunday. Arizona's victory was so dominant that the NCAA crew penciled the Wildcats into the graphic to advance to play San Diego State with plenty of time left in the second half.</p>
<p>For Gonzaga, there was <span>Przemek Karnowski</span> and then there was everyone else. While much of the team went out with a pretty authoritative whimper, Karnowski displayed every bit of skill that really shows how much of a force he can be in a game.</p>
<p>Our loveable Polish big man finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. He also did this while essentially being double-teamed every time he touched the ball down low by an Arizona defense that rotates like its no one's business. It really was a sight of beauty, because early in the season, Karnowski was truly struggling.</p>
<p>Early in the season, Karnowski showcased flashes of greatness that were often muted by the dumbest of dumb fouls. A prime example came against Dayton, where Karnowski went ahead and committed his third foul with less than five seconds left in the first half.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4184887/karnodumbfoul.gif"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4184887/karnodumbfoul_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Karnodumbfoul_medium"></a> <br id="1395722726240"></p>
<p>Situations like that early one seemed to come way more often than they didn't. As the season progressed, Karnowski reined in his fouling tendencies, and with it Zag nation began to see what makes him so drool worthy. Karnowski's final line isn't that exciting -- 10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. But it is the idea that that line will go up that is what will make next season special.</p>
<p>The microcosm that is the Arizona game a few days ago is the best takeaway for Karnowski's growth over the season. Not only did he finally establish himself as the best Gonzaga player on the floor, he did so against one of the top team's in the country. He also showcased every bit of his improved game. It is hard to find good things in the tournament loss, but Karnowski's overall game shines the brightest.</p>
<h4>Offense</h4>
<p>There is still plenty of room for improvement for Karnowski on the offensive front. Shooting 50 percent from the free throw line isn't going to cut it (but probably is what it will be). He needs to remember to go up stronger some times so the gimme two points don't roll off the rim. But overall, his progress on things like his fundamentals and his footwork have come across very nicely. Karnowski is locked in when he is down low, hitting 59 percent of his shots. Pretty much, when Karnowski has the position needed, his soft touch can hit the shot.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4186179/i7udhVW928Pkt.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="I7udhvw928pkt_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4186179/i7udhVW928Pkt_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4186251/karnowskifade.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Karnowskifade_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4186251/karnowskifade_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>In both instances, Karnowski identifies the defensive set. He isn't being double teamed and he has the height advantage. In each instance, he is only a few feet away from the hoop, and doesn't waste much time getting the ball up in the air. He takes one dribble each time, sets his feet and lets fly.</p>
<p>Karnowski still had his fair share of turnovers this year, and part of that comes because he is so large he commands a double team down low, especially against the smaller teams in the WCC. Against Arizona, it was sometimes impossible to put the ball on the floor with how quickly those rotations came. The thing with double teams, obviously, is that in a man-to-man scheme, a double team means someone else is slightly open. Having a good pass for a big man is only half the battle. You also need to identify when the double team is coming and when to dump the ball. For the most part, he is doing a bit better with that.</p>
<p>(my example GIF isn't loading on the site, so check it out <a target="_blank" href="http://i.minus.com/iDrvEiRWIlROR.gif">here</a>)</p>
<p>In this situation, Karnowski isn't in much of a position to do anything. Arizona knows that and is on that double team immediately. Karnowski sees <span>Aaron Gordon</span> comes over and immediately dumps the ball to Gordon's original assignment. It was a quick pass, and Dower fumbles a bit. At the end of it all, Dower scores on a post-up move.</p>
<p>It has been a bit of an issue hammering it home to Karnowski that he is more often than not the largest human being on the court (and probably the whole arena). So it is nice to see him follow through on his face up attempts to the hoop by using his wide body and just plowing the basketball through for second-chance points.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/4186235/karnowskifollow.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Karnowskifollow_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4186235/karnowskifollow_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1395762501373"></p>
<p>The final example might be my favorite play of the whole game. For realistic purposes, I wouldn't necessarily consider this a high percentage shot. But in a game where no one else was doing much of anything, I'll give props on Karnowski taking over and putting up this guard-like runner late in the game.</p>
<p>(again - example isn't loading, so click on it <a target="_blank" href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4186641/il1z58HE6g4hc.gif">here</a>)</p>
<h4>Defense</h4>
<p>This is the side of the coin that Karnowski made the biggest improvement on. Early on in the season, we weren't able to see much of Karnowski because of his wild, flailing fouls he constantly committed. Pretty much no matter what, you come in hacking and swinging on a shot attempt and you will be called for the foul. It took some time, but finally Karnowski started to pay defense the only way a big man can in college -- hands straight in the air and taking up a whole crapton of space.</p>
<p>The result was a transformation of sorts. Karnowski is our little redwood tree in the post, and just having his presence there completely alters any shot attempt or drive to the basket. His block numbers per 40 minutes doubled from his freshman to his sophomore year and his 95.0 defensive rating led the WCC. Gonzaga had a good defense this year (for the most part), and Karnowski was largely the anchor that held it all together.</p>
<p>The first example (which again isn't loading - check it out <a target="_blank" href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4186763/karnodefense2.gif">here</a>) is the best example. Here, he is holding off a fellow 7 footer the best way to play defense -- hands up and not budging an inch. Karnowski has weight a lot of other players don't, and <span>Kaleb Tarczewski</span> ended up with nowhere to go. On the play, he was called for traveling.</p>
<p>The hands up defensive attitude is the reason for the transition. This year, with the rule changes going into effect to clamp down on hand checks, a player of Karnowski's size needs to keep them up at all times. He also needs to keep them close, so no errant elbows hit above the shoulders of a smaller opponent.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4186211/karnowskidefense.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Karnowskidefense_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/4186211/karnowskidefense_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p><span>T.J. McConnell</span> thinks he has an opening here, and Karnowski just shoves him out of the way. It only took a couple of steps, but it was all lateral movement with his arms up that kept McConnell from any sort of clean look at the basket. Karnowski is surprisingly quick on his feet for a man of his size, and since he was able to narrow in on the wild hacks at shooting players, when people drive at him, he makes them pay.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/4186835/karnoblock.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Karnoblock_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/4186835/karnoblock_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>At the end of the day, this improvement is a bit of a moot point after such a big loss. With Sam Dower graduating next year, even with the addition of Kyle Wiljters, as it stands, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slipperstillfits.com/">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> frontcourt is a tad bit then. This means that Mark Few will need Karnowski manning the paint for as much of the game as possible. The game against Arizona makes it seem like a pretty good sign that Karnowski is up to the challenge.</p>
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https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2014/3/25/5544998/gonzaga-arizona-ncaa-tournament-przemek-karnowskiPeter Woodburn2014-03-23T21:04:39-07:002014-03-23T21:04:39-07:00Arizona Rolls As Turnovers Doom Gonzaga
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<p>The Wildcats simply outclassed the Zags tonight on their way to the Sweet 16...</p> <p>It didn't take long to realize what the final outcome of tonight's game would be as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slipperstillfits.com/">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> took on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a>. After making the games opening basket, the Zags committed 4 turnovers in the first 5 minutes which led to Arizona getting out to a 13-6 lead at the first TV timeout. From that point on, it was a pretty simple storyline. Let's take a look at some of the things that stood out in this one as the Wildcats cruised to a 84-61 win:</p>
<p>- Turnovers were the defining factor of this game. While Gonzaga was sloppy throughout, I can't help but admit how blown away I was by Arizona. For all the chatter about how tough and defensive-minded Virginia and Michigan State are, I have to say tonight's effort by the Wildcats was the most complete I have seen. In total, Gonzaga turned the ball over a whopping 21 times. Virtually everyone contributed to the turnover statline tonight, which was led by <span>David Stockton</span>. The senior guard had 6 turnovers while <span>Kevin Pangos</span> and <span>Sam Dower</span> had 4 turnovers, apiece. It got to the point where even the simplest pass looked like it was going to be taken the other way.</p>
<p>- Super hard to pick out single players from tonight's game but it was disappointing to see <span>Gary Bell</span> finish the season in this fashion. Bell was the catalyst in the Bulldogs win over Oklahoma State, scoring 17 points, but he was held scoreless tonight and only attempted four shots. We had really looked forward to the Gary Bell v. <span>Nick Johnson</span> matchup and while Bell did an admirable job defending Johnson, he was never comfortable out there tonight.</p>
<p>- Sam Dower ends his Gonzaga career with a very disappointing 2014 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>. Basically absent against Oklahoma State, Dower was outmatched by <span>Aaron Gordon</span> and the rest of the Wildcats. He finished 3-12 from the floor with just 7 points. He pulled in 8 rebounds but, when the Bulldogs needed some offensive production, Dower could not find his shot.</p>
<p>- If you want to look for positives, which I'm sure most don't, I think the NCAA Tournament could be a jumping off point for <span>Przemek Karnowski</span>. The big fella scored 14 points and pulled in 10 rebounds in tonight's loss and was the one Bulldog to look somewhat comfortable out there tonight.</p>
<p>We'll have much more on this one and our broader perspective on the season but I will admit that this team really impressed me over the past month. Following a couple losses in late February, it would have been easy for this team to roll over and accept an <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nit-tournament">NIT</a> berth but they continued to battle, won the conference regular season and tournament, and won a game in the NCAA Tournament. While there will of course be comments about how the Zags once again failed to advance to the second weekend, it would be hard for me to label this postseason as a failure considering how things looked at various points this season.</p>
<p>Lastly, I want to throw out a very heartfelt thank you to all the readers for another fantastic season on the site. We really hope you enjoyed our coverage this year and the good news is that it is recruiting time...and time for us to get anxious for the next crop of Zags. As always, the future is bright, and we are excited for what is to come.</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2014/3/23/5541156/arizona-wildcats-gonzaga-bulldogs-recap-ncaa-tournamentZach Bell2014-03-23T18:10:02-07:002014-03-23T18:10:02-07:00GAME THREAD: Gonzaga vs. Arizona
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<p>Join us to discuss Gonzaga vs. Arizona from the Viejas Arena from San Diego. Tip is at 6:40pm</p> <table width="100%" class="sbn-data-table" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; width: 694px; border: 6px solid #ccd1d5; text-align: center; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 13px; color: #292929;"><tbody style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><tr class="ui-state-even" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">
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<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61;">NCAA Tournament</a> - Round Of 32</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">March 23rd, 2014<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></b></span><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">6:40 p.m. PT<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></b></span><span><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Who: <a href="https://www.slipperstillfits.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> vs. <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a></b></span></span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Where:</strong> Viejas Arena - San Diego, CA<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">TV:</b> TBS<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Radio:</b> 1510 KGA</p>
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<p id="paragraph0" class="pgh-paragraph" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Welcome to The Slipper Still Fits game thread for Gonzaga vs. Arizona!</b></p>
<p id="paragraph1" class="pgh-paragraph" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;">If you aren't familiar with our site, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2012/3/15/2875804/ncaa-tournament-game-thread-west-virginia-vs-gonzaga" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61; font-weight: bold;">click this link to see how a typical game thread looks.</a>Throw all your comments about the game below and let's get this thing rolling. If you don't have an account, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=187" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61; font-weight: bold;">sign up here</a> for free and enjoy all that our site has to offer.</p>
<p id="paragraph2" class="pgh-paragraph" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;">For more in-game commentary, <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/slipperstillfit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61; font-weight: bold;">be sure to follow us on Twitter!</a></p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/gonzaga-bulldogs-game-threads/2014/3/23/5539122/2014-ncaa-tournament-game-thread-gonzaga-bulldogs-vs-arizona-wildcatsZach Bell2014-03-23T06:00:02-07:002014-03-23T06:00:02-07:00Time to avenge 2003
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<p>The Arizona Wildcats are a very good team and are tough to beat. That isn't an impossible task, however.</p> <p>The No. 8 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slipperstillfits.com/">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> take on the top seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/">Arizona Wildcats</a> in the third round of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> on Sunday. The two teams have met since then, but the easiest memory of both is in 2003 when Gonzaga lost to the once-again top seeded Arizona Wildcats in a double-overtime classic.</p>
<p>That game, for me, is one of the most entertaining games Gonzaga has ever played in the post-season. It is also a positive reminder that games against the No. 1 seeds aren't decided before they start, despite the attitude some people show.</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iiw635EIuSc?rel=0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>The Bulldogs already displayed that on Friday, pushing past the No. 9 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com/">Oklahoma State Cowboys</a> in a foul-plagued grinder of a basketball game. Everyone and their dead grandmother was picking Oklahoma State in the contest, but the Zags tuned down <span>Marcus Smart</span> and had a rather comfortable victory.</p>
<p><span>Kevin Pangos</span> busted out in a big way, leading all scorers with 26 points and taking care of business on the free throw line down the stretch. <span>Przemek Karnowski</span> was a monster down low, keeping out of foul trouble and finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The Zags won simply because they shot better, shooting 50 percent from the floor as a team.</p>
<p>Arizona ended up with a comfortable win, but it wasn't as big of a win as you expect from a No. 1 vs. No. 16 seed matchup. <span>Aaron Gordon</span> had 16 points and <span>Nick Johnson</span> added 18, but the Arizona offense went silent multiple times down the stretch. Weber State, despite being down by 20 at one point in the game, was able to go on a couple of runs to make it slightly interesting in the end.</p>
<h4>Meet the opponent</h4>
<p><i>Arizona Wildcats, KenPom #3, RPI #2</i></p>
<p>Those are some gaudy rankings up there, but it is true, Arizona is easily one of the best teams in the nation. The merely opened up the season on a 21-game winning streak and lost their four games by a combined 14 points. The win streak was predicated by the team's defense, which according to KenPom is the tops in the nation. Arizona holds opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 42.1 percent (the D-I average is 49.5 percent). The Wildcats collapse on the perimeter and make it very hard to find an open shot.</p>
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<span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span> More from our team sites <span class="blog-links-star"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3608771/star.png"></span>
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<div class="blog-links-compact-link-container"><a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=bloglinks&utm_campaign=blogs">Arizona Wildcats blog Arizona Desert Swarm</a></div>
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<p>Arizona is also a slightly different team without starting forward Brandon Ashley. As <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2014/3/18/5524300/brandon-ashley-injury-arizona-basketball-ncaa-tournament">AZ Desert Swarm wrote</a>, Ashley was one of the few players on Arizona's offense that could create his own shot. Since he went down with an injury on Feb. 1, the Wildcats lost four games. Without him, the offense is junior guard Nick Johnson and freshman phenom forward Aaron Gordon. There isn't much offense beyond that, in general. The Wildcats score just 72.9 points per game, but they score those points at an efficient clip -- hitting 47 percent of their field goals.</p>
<p>Back to that defense for a second, however. 7' center <span>Kaleb Tarczewski</span> holds it down on the defensive end and Gordon helps clog that paint. This is going to be a big battle down low between those two and the Gonzaga bigs. Junior guard <span>T.J. McConnell</span> is one of the best defending guards in the nation and will most likely be slotted to harass Pangos the entire night.</p>
<h4>What to watch out for</h4>
<p>This game will be an uphill battle for Gonzaga. Arizona is the top seed in the west region for a very good reason, and the Wildcats will be the best team that Gonzaga has faced all year long by quite the margin. Still, this is a game that Gonzaga can win, especially considering how well they played against Oklahoma State.</p>
<p>Pangos stepped up in a big way, and having McConnell on him will be troublesome. That still leaves <span>Gary Bell</span> to do his thing, and against Oklahoma State, he started out exactly how Gonzaga needed to. If the Bulldogs are able to jump to an early lead, no matter how slight, they have the advantage because the Wildcats are a team that isn't exactly built to catch up.</p>
<p>Inevitably, Arizona will catch up. The Wildcats take high percentage shots and then make stops on the defensive end. There won't be a lot of fastbreak opportunities in this game for Gonzaga, so Mark Few and company will need to make sure that the half court offense is set. This means a lot of extra passes to make sure that the shots we take are the shots we want.</p>
<p>This will also be a game that it is never too late to give up hope in. If Gonzaga is trailing by 10 with three minutes left, expect the end of the game to be a very long affair. Arizona is one of the worst free throw shooting teams out there, hitting just 65 percent as a team. Gordon makes Karnowski look like Derek Raivio, hitting just 43 percent of his attempts. Johnson can hit his shots and Tarczewski can hit his. The rest of the team can't and this can definitely be worked to Gonzaga's advantage.</p>
<p>The big question mark is if Gonzaga can adjust to the pace of the game. Arizona doesn't push the ball as much and the slower games this year have been some of Gonzaga's worst games. If Gonzaga falls down by 10 early, it'll be incredibly tough to climb back in against this Arizona defense. If Gonzaga is able to keep this a two possession game in crunch time, there is a good chance the Bulldogs can pull the upset and head to the Sweet 16.</p>
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https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2014/3/23/5533758/gonzaga-vs-arizona-2014-game-preview-ncaa-tournament-schedulePeter Woodburn2014-03-22T08:45:01-07:002014-03-22T08:45:01-07:00NCAA Tournament Round Of 32: Saturday Open Thread
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<p>Discuss all the action here!</p> <h3>Saturday's Game Schedule (All Times Pacific)</h3>
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<th>REGION</th> <th>GAME</th> <th>VENUE</th> <th>TIME</th> <th>TV</th> <th>ANNOUNCERS</th>
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<td>South</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cardiachill.com/">Pittsburgh Panthers</a> (9) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.alligatorarmy.com/">Florida Gators</a> (1)</td>
<td>Amway Center (Orlando, FL)</td>
<td>9:15a</td>
<td>CBS</td>
<td>
<span>Brian Anderson</span>/Dan Bonner//Kristine Leahy</td>
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<td>MidWest</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/saint-louis-billikens">Saint Louis Billikens</a> (5) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cardchronicle.com/">Louisville Cardinals</a> (4)</td>
<td>Amway Center (Orlando, FL)</td>
<td>11:45a</td>
<td>CBS</td>
<td>Anderson/Bonner//Leahy)</td>
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<td>MidWest</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.barkingcarnival.com/">Texas Longhorns</a> (7) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.maizenbrew.com/">Michigan Wolverines</a> (2)</td>
<td>BMO Harris Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI)</td>
<td>2:15p</td>
<td>CBS</td>
<td>Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel//Lewis Johnson</td>
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<td>West</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/north-dakota-st-bison">North Dakota State Bison</a> (12) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs">San Diego State Aztecs</a> (4)</td>
<td>Spokane Memorial Arena (Spokane, WA)</td>
<td>3:10p</td>
<td>TNT</td>
<td>Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Jaime Maggio</td>
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<td>South</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/dayton-flyers">Dayton Flyers</a> (11) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.nunesmagician.com/">Syracuse Orange</a> (3)</td>
<td>First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)</td>
<td>4:10p</td>
<td>TBS</td>
<td>Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery//Allie LaForce</td>
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<td>West</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.addictedtoquack.com/">Oregon Ducks</a> (7) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Wisconsin Badgers</a> (2)</td>
<td>BMO Harris Bradley Center (Milwaukee, WI)</td>
<td>4:45p</td>
<td>CBS</td>
<td>Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel//Lewis Johnson</td>
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<td>East</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/teams/harvard-crimson">Harvard Crimson</a> (12) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.theonlycolors.com/">Michigan State Spartans</a> (4)</td>
<td>Spokane Memorial Arena (Spokane, WA)</td>
<td>5:40p</td>
<td>TNT</td>
<td>Spero Dedes/Doug Gottlieb//Jaime Maggio</td>
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<td>East</td>
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<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/">Connecticut Huskies</a> (7) vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vuhoops.com/">Villanova Wildcats</a> (2)</td>
<td>First Niagara Center (Buffalo, NY)</td>
<td>6:40p</td>
<td>TBS</td>
<td>Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery//Allie LaForce</td>
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</tbody></table>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2014/3/22/5533252/ncaa-tournament-2014-round-of-32-saturday-open-threadZach Bell2014-03-21T16:33:02-07:002014-03-21T16:33:02-07:00Gonzaga Survives Oklahoma State
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<p>Victory!</p> <p>In truly one of the most odd games I have ever witnessed, Gonzaga took down Oklahoma State 85-77. It was largely a game dominated by the officials but, through all that mess, Gonzaga's <span>Gary Bell</span> and <span>Przemek Karnowski</span> were able to lead the way for the Bulldogs as they got the win and advance to take on Arizona.</p>
<p>The first half was an odd but beautiful mixed bag for the Bulldogs. Gary Bell, who seemed downright pissed off he had to watch the Zags lose last year, came out absolutely on fire and had double digits before Oklahoma State could even realize what was happening. Continuing on with the great results from the first half was Przemek Karnowski who was able to get favorable position against the Pokes several times and cash in. Karnowski and Bell finished the first half a near perfect 8-9 from the floor with 22 points.</p>
<p>While Karnowski and Bell were sizzling, <span>Sam Dower</span> and <span>Kevin Pangos</span> were large non-factors. Dower was absent throughout the first half while Pangos got going late, drilling a big three as the half wound down. He missed a couple free throws, as well, which is always head scratching. <span>Kyle Dranginis</span> provided a big spark in the first half as he added five points and chased down two offensive rebounds. While his contributions are always relatively small on the stat page, his timing has often times been so crucial for this team.</p>
<p>The Pokes were largely on their heels during the first half but always found a way to squash the Bulldogs' big runs and keep the game close. <span>Marcus Smart</span>, surprise surprise, is damn good at basketball. For all his flopping and complaining to the officials, he has game that can't be questioned. Le'Bryan Nash and <span>Kamari Murphy</span> were saddled with fouls for a good chunk of the first half as the officials called it close. At the end of the first half, the Cowboys had amassed 12 fouls to Gonzaga's 10.</p>
<p>The second half is simply indescribable. It was very back and forth early on as the Zags hit a quick three but that was followed by a torrid Oklahoma State run that saw the Bulldogs lead shrink to 3 multiple times. About five minutes into the second half, however, the officials really started to impose their will. Oklahoma State was in the double bonus by the twelve minute mark or so and a number of them were very questionable. Meanwhile, Gonzaga could simply not get anything going offensively. They had several stretches with no field goals and there was just a plethora of absolutely bizarre activity throughout. Everytime the Cowboys cut it down, however, the Zags found a way to extend the lead.</p>
<p>All in all, it was just a crazy game but it is a big win for this program. No one, and like honestly no one was giving the Zags a chance and they were clearly the superior team throughout this one and got the win.</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/gonzaga-bulldogs-game-recap/2014/3/21/5534734/2014-ncaa-tournament-recap-gonzaga-escapes-oklahoma-stateZach Bell2014-03-21T13:01:01-07:002014-03-21T13:01:01-07:00GAME THREAD: Oklahoma State vs. Gonzaga
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<p>Join us to discuss Oklahoma State vs. Gonzaga from the Viejas Arena from San Diego. Tip is at 1:40pm</p> <table style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: 'Gotham Narrow SSm A', 'Gotham Narrow SSm B', Arial, sans-serif; width: 694px; border: 6px solid #ccd1d5; text-align: center; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 13px; color: #292929;" width="100%" class="sbn-data-table"><tbody style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><tr style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;" class="ui-state-even">
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<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> - Round Of 64</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">March 21th, 2014<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></b></span><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">1:40 p.m. PT<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></b></span><span><span><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Who: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com/">Oklahoma State Cowboys</a> vs. <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61;" href="https://www.slipperstillfits.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a></b></span></span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Where:</strong> Viejas Arena - San Diego, CA<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">TV:</b> TNT<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Radio:</b> 1510 KGA</p>
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<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" id="paragraph0" class="pgh-paragraph"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Welcome to The Slipper Still Fits game thread for Oklahoma State and Gonzaga!</b></p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" id="paragraph1" class="pgh-paragraph">If you aren't familiar with our site, <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2012/3/15/2875804/ncaa-tournament-game-thread-west-virginia-vs-gonzaga">click this link to see how a typical game thread looks.</a>Throw all your comments about the game below and let's get this thing rolling. If you don't have an account, <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=187">sign up here</a> for free and enjoy all that our site has to offer.</p>
<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;" id="paragraph2" class="pgh-paragraph">For more in-game commentary, <a style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222d61; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/slipperstillfit">be sure to follow us on Twitter!</a></p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/gonzaga-bulldogs-game-threads/2014/3/21/5531850/ncaa-tournament-2014-gonzaga-bulldogs-oklahoma-state-cowboysZach Bell2014-03-21T06:00:04-07:002014-03-21T06:00:04-07:00Preview of the Cowboys
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<p>Gonzaga is back in this and is going to do this.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.slipperstillfits.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> open up their 16th-straight <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a> appearance with a battle against the No. 9 <a href="https://www.cowboysrideforfree.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma State Cowboys</a>, with the winner most likely playing the No. 1 <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a> in the third round.</p>
<p>With all of the debate about how good Gonzaga was, or how bad from some people's point of view, none of that matters as a loss sends you home at this point of the year. Losses have sent the Zags home earlier than expected more often than not lately. Gonzaga hasn't lost in the third round three-straight years, and considering the draw and seeding finds itself in one of the harder spots to advance.</p>
<p>This is Oklahoma State's second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, much of that because of star guard <span>Marcus Smart</span>. A lot more was expected of the Cowboys this year, but a long, seven-game losing streak sent Oklahoma State into the depths of the seeding. Still, with Smart on the team, the Cowboys are a threat to upset anyone, starting with Gonzaga.</p>
<p>It'll be the sixth meeting between the teams, and it is a matchup that Gonzaga has owned. The Bulldogs are 5-0 against the Cowboys, with the latest win coming last season on the road. <span>Kevin Pangos</span> scored 23 and <span>Kelly Olynyk</span> added 21 in a 69-68 win.</p>
<h4>Meet the opponent</h4>
<p><i>Oklahoma State Cowboys, KenPom #22, RPI #45</i></p>
<p>Half the time people wax about the Cowboys as if the team is merely Marcus Smart and company. Unfortunately, for the Zags there is a lot more offense to this squad. Oklahoma State averages 80.3 points per game, good for 18th in the nation. Smart leads the team with 17.8 points per game, but is quickly followed by a flurry of teammates. Senior guard <span>Markel Brown</span> averages 17.1 points, junior forward Le'Bryan Nash averages 14.2 points and sophomore guard <span>Phil Forte</span> averages 13.3 points. The takeaway when looking at the Cowboys is that they have almost more weapons than they know what to do with.</p>
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<p>Oklahoma State comes by these points in a variety of fashion. Forte was one of the top outside shooters in the Big 12, converting 44 percent of his three pointers, which are the vast majority of his shots. Brown isn't half bad from beyond the arc as well. He is less prolific in his attempts but still converts 38 percent of his threes. Smart hasn't been shy to a shoot a three, but he also isn't the biggest threat, hitting just 30 percent from three point range. The Cowboys attempt a lot of threes, which is to be expected for a team starting so many guards. The main offensive focus for Oklahoma State is on getting to the line, which few teams can do better. The Cowboys shot 927 free throw attempts this season, 12th most in the nation. By comparison, Gonzaga attempted just 739 free throws.</p>
<p>The Cowboys still play aggressive and solid defense. They are ranked No. 29 in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency statistic. Much of the defensive intensity also comes from Smart. Smart averaged 2.8 steals per game, and was sixth in the nation with 83 total. Smart is probably the best all-around player in the NCAA right now. Gonzaga will have to figure out how to keep him human.</p>
<h4>What to watch out for</h4>
<p>A lot of people are writing off Gonzaga before the game even starts because of all this offense. The thing is, that doesn't take into account Gonzaga's defense whatsoever. That is a fair overlook, however, because Gonzaga isn't exactly known for playing tough defense. This year, our defense has actually been a brighter spot than our offense. We are the 15th best defense according to KenPom, with a lot of that change owing to Przemek Karnowski's evolution in the paint. Opponents shoot 39 percent from the floor against Gonzaga, good for 18th best in the nation. Much of that stems from Gonzaga's ability to disrupt passing lanes and force broken plays. For whatever reason this year, the Bulldogs have figured out how to play on the defensive end, and opposing teams often resort to a one-on-five matchup instead of halfcourt offense.</p>
<p>Out of any team that can win a one-on-five matchup it is Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have a host of players who can score, and for the most part, they will score. Gonzaga doesn't necessarily have to figure out how to shut down Smart, because there are three very capable scorers waiting in the wings to take over. It really seems pretty hard to shut down all four as well, so the key will be to just stay in front of the ball and really knuckle down on defense. Smart and company will drive to the hoop and score some wonky shots, but if Gonzaga is forcing the tough shot on each possession, they'll have a good chance to pull out ahead.</p>
<p>As noted with the free throws, Karnowski is going to be a very important role player in this game. No player changes the offensive approach like Karnowski does, but I'd be surprised if he ends up seeing that many minutes. Oklahoma State drives the ball and picks up fouls, a lot. Karnowski is generally susceptible to bad fouls like that, which means the rotations on the defensive ends need to be tight so Przemek isn't left high and dry underneath the hoop so often.</p>
<p>At the same time, Karnowski and Dower's low post presence is going to be a game changer. Oklahoma State is a lot of things, tall is definitely not one of them. The Cowboys two most common players at center are 6'8 <span>Kamari Murphy</span> and the 6'7 Nash. Travis Ford has 6'8 Mike Cobbins on the bench for cleanup duty, but this is a team that is severely undersized up front. Expect the Cowboys to collapse any time Karnowski or Dower gets the ball down low, and if the outside shot is falling for Gonzaga, expect a lot of open three pointers.</p>
<p>Guard play is going to be the key for Gonzaga in this game. The guards need to be able to apply the pressure to Oklahoma State, and at the same time need to withstand the pressure from Oklahoma State. The Cowboys lack size down low, but across the board in the backcourt they are bigger, stronger and faster. How smaller guards like <span>David Stockton</span> respond to this pressure will be interesting. Will Kevin Pangos reclaim any of that magic he had earlier in the season? Despite the ‘breakout' against Pacific, Pangos averaged just 9.3 shots during the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/wcc-basketball-tournament" class="sbn-auto-link">WCC Tournament</a>. Much of that stemmed from the fact he took a total of 15 shots, nine of those in the first game against Santa Clara. Gonzaga needs more of Pangos, no matter what.</p>
<p>This is going to be a close game, and luckily for the Zags the seeding puts it in an arena that should lean a bit more friendly for the Bulldogs. I'm not making bets on this game though, outside of the fact that it will be a very entertaining game.</p>
<p><b>Time: 1:40 p.m. PT</b></p>
<p><b>TV: TNT</b></p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2014/3/21/5529722/gonzaga-vs-oklahoma-state-2014-game-preview-ncaa-tournamentPeter Woodburn