Gonzaga over-rated?
spacehayduke
Posts: 5,715 ✭✭✭✭✭
From an ESPN article discussing Gonzaga moving to a Power 5 in BB:
"Throughout its run as a men's college basketball standout over the past 20 years, Gonzaga has been slighted by Power 5 coaches who have openly questioned whether the program could duplicate that success in a major conference. Beginning with the 1999-2000 season, coach Mark Few has failed to win the West Coast Conference regular-season title -- or at least a share of it -- only twice (2000, '12), but the program has not won a national championship."
Yup, as I have said here on these boards, they play in a weak league where they can easily run the table, and don't have enough competition each year to consistently keep a high level game going even with a few non-con games against better opponents. Hurts them every time in the playoffs, and I would counter that maybe if they go to a Power 5, it might raise their game to getting that C. But Power 5 coaches consider that Gonzaga thing dubious as noted in the article and shows they would not be as good as advertized in a Power 5. Who am I to question the best coaches so I will go with their opinion.
Comments
Nobody thinks Gonzaga could do exactly what they've done in a Power 5 conference. That's a strawman argument. Of course, they'd lose more games and not win conference every year.
They haven't won a title? Neither have hundreds of other schools over last 20. Maybe with halfway decent officiating and a dry floor in 2017, things would be different. Regardless, it's just dumb to say, "Hurts them every time in the playoffs" - what's the excuse for everybody else? Michigan, Indiana, the entire freaking Pac-12, and dozens of other power 5 teams would LOVE to have Gonzaga's tournament record over the last two decades. So clearly, playing in a Power 5 doesn't guarantee anything either.
At the end of day, the sniping comes from coaches whose programs are less successful. Gonzaga has had a wonderful run and should be celebrated for that instead of the constant false complaints that "they play no one" or being held up to a standard (titles) that other "top programs" like Michigan, Indiana, UCLA, Georgetown, and others aren't.
And now I see the article OP is referring to. The only named coach is Bob Huggins.
Huggins is 0-4 against Gonzaga as head coach of West Virginia. West Virginia has produced one 1st round pick in the last 50+ years. Gonzaga has produced 11 under Few.
But, sure, his take was totally objective.
I'm going to say this years team on paper looks to be real good. However I did the Pay per view game vs Tennessee and the Zags have a ton of work to do. Usually Mark Few has his guys going early and show little improvement through out the season. I know it was a scrimmage, but this team is in trouble. They will lack rebounding I see no way around that. They need a point guard that wants to run the offence not be the offence, that can change. They look like a bunch of guys not on the same page. I hope they want to be a team but I have serious concerns about that also. Loosing Ballo to AZ last year is going to turn out to be a big loss for this years zags.
If I did the Jimmy the Greek thing I would take a hard look at the Michigan State team in the game on the aircraft carrier.
Zags have DUDES but the chemistry and mussel is not there.
Take the points Signed Jim Fiest
Martin
"Hurts them every time in the playoffs," what???
They played in the national title game in 2021 and 2017. Before 2016 that argument might have made a little sense but they've won 19 games in the NCAA tournament since 2016 and been in the Final Four twice.
Robb
Not a big fan of the zags, but they seem to play the better teams in Non-Con.
3. Gonzaga
Notable games
vs. Michigan State, Nov. 11 in Armed Forces Classic
at No. 12 Texas, Nov. 16
vs. No. 4 Kentucky, Nov. 20
vs. either Purdue or West Virginia, Nov. 25 in Phil Knight Invitational
vs. No. 5 Baylor, Dec. 2 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
vs. No. 20 Alabama, Dec. 17 in Birmingham, Alabama
What usually happens during conference ply, they run the schedule while teams in the P5 are beating up on each other and that is when the zags keep rising up the rankings (which is just a beauty contest).
They led at the half and gave their transfers extra minutes while sitting Drew Timme the last 15 minutes. You're reading way too much into this non-result.
I hope so.
I just don't see where the rebounding and interior defense comes from. Team chemistry can develop through the season.
And yes it was only a exhibition game. but the Zags did not come to play even the first half looked off for a zag team. No 10 -0 runs or even anything that looked very organized.
Ill be watching tonight as they whoop up on a patsy.
GO ZAGS
Martin