OT: Gonzaga article on ESPN.com

kingnebwsu · 03-03-2004, 11:49 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?id=1748453

This is a great article about the best mid-major program of my lifetime. They are what every mid-major school (including my alma mater of the Horizon League, Wright State) aspires to be. I think it'd be really great if Gonzaga could make it to the Final Four this year. This year is one of their best chances ever, with not too many dominant teams in the field. Fellow mid-major fans, let's cheer the 'Zags to their first ever Final Four appearance. GO ZAGS!!!

The_herd · 03-04-2004, 12:04 AM

This is by far the deepest and most talented of the Gonzaga teams. The only thing that could hurt them is the fact that they really struggle against teams with athletic guards, they just don't have many players that can guard them. Errol Knight is the only athletic perimeter defender on the team. Derek Raivio and Adam Morrison are already 2 of my favorite college players, and the great thing is there is no doubt we'll get to see them play 4 years. They are the most entertaining team to watch, and Morrison has that Larry Bird awkwardness to him that any true basketball fan has to love.

Glengoyne · 03-04-2004, 12:13 AM

Ya gotta love the Bulldogs. Now lets hope the committee doesn't hand them an 8 seed. At number 4 in the land you'd think they'd have a shot at a 1 seed, but I can't see the committee doing that. They are easilly among the elite programs in the land, but always get short shrift when it comes time to hand out seeds.

mgadfly · 03-04-2004, 12:47 AM

I worry about smaller, quicker guards (I attend GU), but the Zags do have Skinner and Knight who both match up well against bigger athletic guards. Stepp isn't bad either. It's just those pesky little ones that are the problem.

Marmel · 03-04-2004, 01:00 AM

They are a good team, but their RPI is a 7 and their SOS is a 68. that SOS is what will knock them down a couple of seeds to a 3 or 4. I imagine their RPI will fall a bit when they play the other teamsin their conference tournament. They also don't have any wins against the RPI top 25, although they do have 3 wins against #26-50. No bad losses either. So I think a 2-4 seed would be fair if the season ended right now.

MrBug708 · 03-04-2004, 02:57 AM

What helped Gonzaga a lot is the fact that they are better then the two major state schools in this sport and were able to take recruits from a fairly decent HS Hoops state.

HeavyReign · 03-04-2004, 04:02 AM

I think their ability to outrecruit the other state schools is more of a recent thing. They've been able to pull several talented players out of the Spokane area in the last couple years. You'll see it the most looking at the freshmen. Sean Mallon was rated one of the top forwards on the west coast by Rivals I think. I believe Adam Morrison was rated highly as well. I don't think either of them really looked too hard at other schools. Another name to watch for out of this area is Josh Heytvelt. Washington wanted him bad and one of their assistants got in trouble for contacting him during one of the quiet periods.

Looking at the rest of the roster, the main ones that stick out are Blake Stepp and Errol Knight. I remember hearing that Stepp had interest from teams in the Pac 10 but Gonzaga was able to get him to commit. Erroll Knight started out at Washington for a year but then decided to transfer. It was rumored that there were too many distractions for him going to school close to home. I could be wrong on some of the others but I'd say that most of them were great finds. Ronny Turiaf was their second choice as a big man from Europe after their first choice had eligibility issues.

panerd · 03-04-2004, 07:05 AM

They do well as underdogs and terrible as favorites in the NCAA tournament. I predict a top 3 seed and no farthur than the round of 32.

tucker342 · 03-04-2004, 02:39 PM

I LOVE watching Gonzaga play Basketball. They are so fluid when they run their offense, it's a thing of beauty...

I don't think they should get anything less than a 3 seed. their only losses were to the two undefeated teams, and those losses were only by 7 points each...

kingnebwsu · 03-04-2004, 02:50 PM

Knowing the jerkfaces on the committee, they'll probably get a 4/5 seed. I'll put my $$$ on a #4 seed, which is ridiculous. They should be at least a #3 seed and probably a #2 seed.

03-04-2004, 01:00 AM	#5
Marmel Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Manchester, CT	They are a good team, but their RPI is a 7 and their SOS is a 68. that SOS is what will knock them down a couple of seeds to a 3 or 4. I imagine their RPI will fall a bit when they play the other teamsin their conference tournament. They also don't have any wins against the RPI top 25, although they do have 3 wins against #26-50. No bad losses either. So I think a 2-4 seed would be fair if the season ended right now. __________________ 81-78 Cincinnati basketball writer P. Daugherty, "Connor Barwin playing several minutes against Syracuse is like kids with slingshots taking down Caesar's legions."

03-04-2004, 12:04 AM	#2
The_herd College Starter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fort Lackland, Texas (San Antonio)	This is by far the deepest and most talented of the Gonzaga teams. The only thing that could hurt them is the fact that they really struggle against teams with athletic guards, they just don't have many players that can guard them. Errol Knight is the only athletic perimeter defender on the team. Derek Raivio and Adam Morrison are already 2 of my favorite college players, and the great thing is there is no doubt we'll get to see them play 4 years. They are the most entertaining team to watch, and Morrison has that Larry Bird awkwardness to him that any true basketball fan has to love. __________________ Oakland Raiders: HFL's 1970 AC West Champs

03-04-2004, 12:13 AM	#3
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	Ya gotta love the Bulldogs. Now lets hope the committee doesn't hand them an 8 seed. At number 4 in the land you'd think they'd have a shot at a 1 seed, but I can't see the committee doing that. They are easilly among the elite programs in the land, but always get short shrift when it comes time to hand out seeds. Last edited by Glengoyne : 03-04-2004 at 12:13 AM.

03-04-2004, 12:47 AM	#4
mgadfly High School Varsity Join Date: Dec 2003	I worry about smaller, quicker guards (I attend GU), but the Zags do have Skinner and Knight who both match up well against bigger athletic guards. Stepp isn't bad either. It's just those pesky little ones that are the problem.

03-04-2004, 02:57 AM	#6
MrBug708 Head Coach Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Whittier	What helped Gonzaga a lot is the fact that they are better then the two major state schools in this sport and were able to take recruits from a fairly decent HS Hoops state.

03-04-2004, 04:02 AM	#7
HeavyReign Fast Break Basketball Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Spokane, WA	I think their ability to outrecruit the other state schools is more of a recent thing. They've been able to pull several talented players out of the Spokane area in the last couple years. You'll see it the most looking at the freshmen. Sean Mallon was rated one of the top forwards on the west coast by Rivals I think. I believe Adam Morrison was rated highly as well. I don't think either of them really looked too hard at other schools. Another name to watch for out of this area is Josh Heytvelt. Washington wanted him bad and one of their assistants got in trouble for contacting him during one of the quiet periods. Looking at the rest of the roster, the main ones that stick out are Blake Stepp and Errol Knight. I remember hearing that Stepp had interest from teams in the Pac 10 but Gonzaga was able to get him to commit. Erroll Knight started out at Washington for a year but then decided to transfer. It was rumored that there were too many distractions for him going to school close to home. I could be wrong on some of the others but I'd say that most of them were great finds. Ronny Turiaf was their second choice as a big man from Europe after their first choice had eligibility issues.

03-04-2004, 07:05 AM	#8
panerd Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: St. Louis	They do well as underdogs and terrible as favorites in the NCAA tournament. I predict a top 3 seed and no farthur than the round of 32.

03-04-2004, 02:39 PM	#9
tucker342 Pro Starter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Iowa City, IA	I LOVE watching Gonzaga play Basketball. They are so fluid when they run their offense, it's a thing of beauty... I don't think they should get anything less than a 3 seed. their only losses were to the two undefeated teams, and those losses were only by 7 points each...

03-04-2004, 02:50 PM	#10
kingnebwsu College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ohio	Knowing the jerkfaces on the committee, they'll probably get a 4/5 seed. I'll put my $$$ on a #4 seed, which is ridiculous. They should be at least a #3 seed and probably a #2 seed.

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