AP Photo/Al Behrman

By Paul Casey Gotham

Setting: NCAA tournament contenders collide when Chris Mack brings his Xavier Musketeers (7-2)  to Spokane, Washington for a battle with Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (6-5).

Plot: Atlantic 10 meets the West Coast Conference with tournament resumes on the line.

Sub-plot: The game is the second of four in thirteen days for the Muskies. Xavier knocked off Wake Forest over the weekend. Xavier hosts Albany on Tuesday and Florida, New Year’s Eve. Gonzaga trimmed Baylor on Saturday. The Zags take on Oklahoma State on the 31st.

Background: The match-up is part of the Jesuit Spotlight project using basketball to promote Jesuit education across the United States. Xavier and Gonzaga are two of 28 Jesuit universities in the country.

Flashback: The schools have split a pair of meetings in the past. Gonzaga defeated Xavier in the first round of the 2006 NCAA tournament 79-75. The schools first met in 1960 with Xavier laying claim to an 87-82 triumph.

Coach Few has led Gonzaga to 11 of its 13 NCAA tournament appearances including Sweet Sixteen showings in ’00, ’01, ’06, and ’09.   Seven different coaches have led the Musketeers to 21 NCAA tournament appearances including Eight Eight showings in ’04 and ’08.

Foreshadowing: Eight Bulldogs have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association including current players Austin Daye and Ronny Turiaf. Seventeen Musketeers have suited up in the National Basketball Association with Derrick Brown, Jordan Crawford, James Posey and David West holding down current roster spots.

Conflict: Gonzaga scores nearly 79 points per game while giving up 70. Xavier fills it up at a rate of 70 per contest but keeps opponents to 68. The Bulldogs finish 48.7 percent from the field and allow a rate of 42.2 percent. The Muskies hit 43.5 percent and give up 40 percent.

Gonzaga’s schedule is ranked 21st in the country. Xavier weighs in at 26th.

What gives?

On the surface, Gonzaga earned a big win over a ranked opponent in Baylor. But the Bears have not played much of a schedule and lacked an edge. Baylor came out and used a two-three zone to defend the Zags. Gonzaga took advantage of the comfortable space afforded on the perimeter for the win.

Gonzaga’s Steven Gray left Saturday’s game with back spasms. The 6’5″ shooting guard averages 15 points per game.  He leads the Zags in three point attempts (70) and makes (29). Gray will be hard pressed to continue his 41 percent rate from behind the arc with Xavier’s Tu Holloway up in his grill. Holloway will not allow Gray any comfort on the perimeter. Gray will be forced to go off the dribble, and Holloway is the quicker of the two. On the other end, Gray will have his hands full trying to limit Holloway. With Duke’s Kyrie Irving out because of injury, Holloway is the best point guard in the country. His performance Saturday might have been a turning point as the junior from Hempstead, New York accumulated more assists than points. He became a point guard’s point guard distributing to his teammates. Holloway scored five of twelve points late in the game as the Wake Forest defense was forced to extend on his teammates.

Elias Harris was hampered by early injury early in  the late. Harris scored 19 in Gonzaga’s loss to Notre Dame. He followed with anther 19-point output against Lewis-Clark State. His best asset is the ability to put the ball on the deck and take his man to the rim.  At 6’7″ he creates mis-matches for opposing forwards that have to defend him on the perimeter. Xavier’s Jamel McLean is more than athletic enough to neutralize Harris on the offensive end.

Baylor let Robert Sacre catch the ball in the post all day. The 7′ center is adept and catching and scoring. He has the tendency to put the ball to floor and cause turnovers. Kenny Frease poses a formidable adversary. For the first time this season, Sacre will find an opponent just as big as he. The difference is the Frease can finish around the rim. Sacre spent most of Saturday’s game in foul trouble. Frease scored a career high 22 points against Wake Forest. The emergence of Frease as a scorer could be the missing link for the X-Men. Frease will need to deny Sacre the ball as much as possible and play straight up when the Gonzaga center gets the ball.

Xavier’s Dante Jackson will match-up with Matthis Monninghoff. Monninghoff has a size advantage but that is it. Jackson is accustomed to playing in the post. Mack will go to his bench when needed, and 6’9″ Jeff Robinson will tilt the advantage back to the Muskies.

Mark Lyons will have the responsibility of defending Gonzaga’s point guard, Demetri Goodson. This might be Xavier’s biggest advantage. Lyons is capable is putting immense pressure on the ball. If he forces Gonzaga to start their offense further from the basket, he will neutralize any advantage Sacre might have in the paint.

Both coaches aren’t afraid to go to their benches. Kelly Olynyk, Sam Dower, and Mangisto Arop give the Zags a boost. Robinson, Andrew Taylor, and Jay Canty provide the Muskies will valuable minutes.

Resolution: Xavier’s having to travel cross-country would usually cause problems, but classes are not in session. The Muskies should be able to adjust to the different time zone. With that, Xavier’s defense will make Gonzaga play at an uncomfortable pace. The Muskies have shown the ability to change speeds easily. They can get out and run full court. At the same time, with the ball in Holloway’s hands, he is making decisions as to when Xavier needs to run half-court. Gonzaga’s injury woes will continue to plague them, and Xavier will get an important victory.

Photo by Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

By Paul Gotham

Who says the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee doesn’t have a sense of humor. Judging by the pairings in the West Region, Dan Guerrero and his gang shared a few laughs while putting together the bracket.

Consider this – how many at-large teams have 12 losses AND made it to the tournament in front of the team they most recently fell to?

The answer is two: Florida and Louisville.

Here’s the difference. Louisville fell in the Big East tournament to Cincinnati. The Bearcats finished the season 18-15. Can anyone make a case for Cincy in The Dance? Not to mention the Cardinals handed Syracuse half (2) of their losses.

The Gators on the other hand? Billy Donovan’s squad lost to Mississippi State. All the Bulldogs did was advance to the SEC tournament final where after 39 minutes and 55 seconds they had a three-point lead on the Kentucky Wildcats.

What happened next was nothing short of the planets aligning.

Down three, Eric Bledsoe hits the front end of a one and one. The freshman then gently puts his next shot off (who said the Wildcats didn’t want to win the SEC) the back of the iron. The ball bounces high and then (and all of this happened in 4.9 seconds) DeMarcus Cousins tipped the ball. John Wall grabbed the ball. John Wall dribbled. John Wall shot…an air ball. Cousins alertly noticed it was short. He grabbed the ball and scored – all before the horn. Kentucky went on to win in overtime. For their parting gift, Mississippi State got the NIT.

Florida got BYU. The Gators haven’t been IN the tournament since they last WON the tournament in 2007. It’s as if the committee said: okay, we’ll let you back in, but there is a price to pay. We are going to give you BYU in the first round. The Cougars haven’t won a tournament game since 1993. That looks good on the surface. The problem is BYU thrives on what Florida isn’t exactly very good at.

Statistically, Florida has two strengths: ball control and defense. That is if you want to call them strengths. Florida commits just 12 turnovers per game which ranks them somewhere around 50th in the nation. Other than personal fouls per game, that is the Gators best statistical area. To go with the low turnovers, they are in the top 100 of assists. Combining the two areas, Florida ranks 49th in the assist to turnover ratio.

Those are not exactly stellar numbers, but they are what the Gators have to hang their hats on.

Florida has one more statistical category in the top 100 – scoring defense. Specifically, the Gators are 76th in the nation for three-point percentage defense. Keep one thing in mind. Florida plays in the SEC. The SEC does NOT have one team in the top 60 in three-point percentage.

Along comes BYU. The Cougars are number three in the nation in which category? You guessed it: three-point field-goal percentage.

It is as if the committee showed the Gators some mercy by inviting them to the party only to make them responsible for serving the hors d’ouevres.

At least all of the joke is not on Donovan’s crew. The Cougars are number one in the nation from the charity stripe (78.6). The Gators only commit 14.5 fouls per contest. BYU’s strength at the line might not get a chance.

The humor in the West does not stop there.

Gonzaga played the final of the West Coast Conference tournament as if they were in a trance, losing 81-62 to St. Mary’s. The game was not even that close. How is it possible that the Bulldogs could look mildly complacent? Their reward is a date with the Florida State Seminoles – the number one defensive team in the country.

Gonzaga’s offense is ranked 26th in the country. They score over 77 points a game. They hit almost 50 percent of their shots (6th in the country). The Bulldogs will get a chance to see how good their offense actually is. The Seminoles limit their opponents to 37 percent from the field and 68 points per game.

The committee did not do Butler any favors. The Bulldogs, winners of their last 20, drew UTEP. The Miners front line is Butler’s antithesis. Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, Willie Veasley are finesse. UTEP’s forwards play with brute force.  Derrick Caracter, Arnett Moultrie, and Jeremy Williams will try to dictate a physical match.

Those twists are fine. For Syracuse, their first round match-up is no laughing matter.

A sixteen seed versus a one seed. It is supposed to be a reward for the one seed. The only problem is the opponent. Five years ago, the Orange were a four seed when they lost in the first round. The thirteen seed Syracuse played? None other than the Vermont Catamounts. It doesn’t matter though. All the faces have changed. Sixteen beating a one seed? It can’t happen. Can it?

Match-ups to die for: Pittsburgh and Xavier each need a win for a rematch of last year’s Regional semi-final. The Panthers trying to put the clamps on Jordan Crawford could make for great theater.

Syracuse and Gonzaga could meet in the second round. Anyone want to post an over-under for that game? Gonzaga’s three-point barrage going up against SU’s zone. Not to mention the fun ‘n’ gun possibility in transition for both squads.

Syracuse versus Florida State could be rather bruising. Syracuse won’t get much in transition. Solomon Alibi will need to stay out of foul trouble against the Syracuse front line.

The chance of Syracuse tangling with Kansas State is tantalizing. Jamar Samuels, Curtis Kelly, and Dominique inside against Rick Jackson, Arinze Onuaku (if healthy), and Kris Joseph would be a battle to remember.

Players to watch: Remember the name Marqus Blakely. The list of Vermont Catamounts in the NBA is short. In fact, there is not a list. Blakely might start a list. Syracuse and Vermont play Friday night at 9:40. Tune in. It will probably be the only chance you get to see this kid.

UTEP’s Randy Culpepper is a gamer. He knows no fear. The mistakes he makes, are born out of aggression.

Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga) – he is pure basketball at its best.

Minnesota has a kid named Iverson. No relation.

Jimmer Fredette (BYU) averages almost 22 a game. He is from Glens Falls, New York.

Solomon Alabi (FSU) might be the best defensive big man in the country.

Jordan Crawford (XU) – what can I say that I haven’t already?

Jacob Pullen (KSU) – we might see a few beards in the crowd.

Almost forgot Rautins and Johnson. Oh wait, SU fans think there is a Johnson conspiracy or something.

What to look for: Onuaku’s health will play a role. He is not supposed to be back this weekend. The Orange could get through the first two without their center. After that, things could get dicey.

Frank Martin’s Wildcats do not beat themselves, but these guys have very little experience winning tournament games.

It would be nice to say this is Butler’s breakthrough year. Not in this region. Thankfully, Howard, Hayward, and Mack could return next year.

Sure, Pittsburgh is a threat. But if Jamie Dixon could not get to the Final Four with Levance Fields, DeJuan Blair, and Sam Young, how can he with this roster?

Have I mentioned Xavier?

What is everyone looking forward to from the West?

By Paul Gotham

The first in a new series here on Pickin’ Splinters. This feature is designed to help readers get familiar with teams around the country. After considering all the facts, make your guess as to the team being described. Please try and not look up the answer.

With a strength of schedule currently ranked 15th in the country, this team’s raw statistics have taken a hit. Still, entering play in the West Coast Conference with a 14-3 overall record, the squad ranks 16th in the country with a field goal percentage of 49.3. Three-point percentage is down from year’s past at 36.5 percent. Last year, this team knocked down 39 percent from long range and two years ago hit 37.5 percent.  Those numbers contribute to 79.3 points per game. Currently, this school has a rebound margin of 5.9

Other stats:

Scoring margin: 9.7

Free throw percentage: 66.3

Assists: 13.4

Blocked shots: 3.3

Steals: 7.1

Turnover margin: -.8

Name that team.

Bouldin

By Paul Gotham

Setting: Ring in the New Year with a Big 12 – West Coast Conference clash. It’s the Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic at Spokane Arena. Jeff Capel brings his Oklahoma Sooners (8-4) west for an inter-conference showdown with Mark Few’s No.22 Gonzaga Bulldogs (9-3).

Plot: For both it’s one of the last two tune ups before conference play begins after the New Year. Oklahoma lost in the Elite Eight last year. The Sooners are in the process of re-defining themselves after the Blake Griffin era. Gonzaga is looking for another season at the top of the West Coast Conference.

Sub-plots: Oklahoma has not played since an 89-74 loss to UTEP on December 21st. Gonzaga thumped Eastern Washington, 94-52, on December 28th. The Bulldogs are 1-2 in the RMHCC which began in 2007. Twice they have lost to Memphis. Gonzaga defeated Georgia, 75-67 in 2008.

Flashback: Oklahoma and Gonzaga have tangled just once in their histories – December 20, 2007. Blake Griffin grabbed 14 boards and led three Sooners in double figures as Oklahoma overcame a 28-point, six-assist performance by Jeremy Pargo. The Sooners won at home, 72-68.

Foreshadowing: 19 former Sooners have played in the NBA including current players, Taylor Griffin, Blake Griffin, and Eduardo Najera. Gonzaga has graduated seven to the league. Former Bulldogs Austin Daye, Adam Morrison, and Ronny Turiaf get paychecks from NBA teams.

Conflict: The battle will be won on the perimeter. The war will be won in the post.

After limping to a 3-3 start, the Sooners went to a four-guard lineup. Oklahoma promptly won their next six.

Traditionally, the Bulldogs shoot at least 40 per cent from the three point arc. Recent struggles have brought that number down. Three of Gonzaga’s losses were the result of foul trouble for their big guys. Gonzaga’s loss to Duke will prove itself as anomaly. Cross-continental travel after finals week with leading scorer, Matt Bouldin, recovering from a concussion, led to a 35-point embarrassment.

UTEP shot 58 per cent from the field and 62 per cent from behind the arc in their recent victory over the Sooners.

Oklahoma averages 78 points while Gonzaga scores 77.5 per game. The Sooners hold opponents to 71.8 while the Bulldogs keep their adversaries to 66.8.

Oklahoma shoots 47 per cent from the field and 41 per cent from behind the arc when it wins. Gonzaga is 48 per cent from the field and a disappointing 37 from long range.

The Sooners hold opponents to 44 per cent from the field (37 per cent from the arc). The Zags keep rivals at 39 per cent from the field (32 per cent from the three point arc).

Willie Warren leads four Sooners averaging double digits per game. The sophomore guard knows how to get to the charity stripe. He leads the Sooners with 77 attempts and 83 per cent from the line.

Tony Crocker has four double-doubles in Oklahoma’s last six games. Tommy Mason-Griffin leads Jeff Capel’s group with 55 assists. 6’9″ Tiny Gallon grabs 8.9 boards and scores 11.8 per game.

Gonzaga’s offense runs through Bouldin. The senior guard hits 40 per cent of his trifecta attempts while averaging 15 points and three and a half assists per outing.

Steven Gray averages 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Elias Harris chips in 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. 7′ Robert Sacre grabs 5.3 boards and scores 11.8 per game.

Resolution: Gonzaga will neutralize Oklahoma’s ability to penetrate off the dribble. The Bulldogs’ bigs will stay out of foul trouble long enough to outlast the Sooners. Watch for Matt Bouldin to have a big game – not just scoring but feeding the post.

Mood: Hunker down hoops fans! ESPN has a marathon event for us. Starting with a Big ten match up at noon, ESPN has seven games for us today.

Got any comments about ANY of the games? Leave them here. Hoop it up!!!!!

Hayward

By Paul Gotham

Down to the wire

Semester’s end brought a buffet of college hoops on Saturday.  Serendipity, a clock infarction, upsets, and upsets avoided provided another shake up of the polls. When the dust settled, six ranked teams had fallen.

One Atlantic 10 team lost at the buzzer, and another won.

Butler and Xavier gave everyone the weekly dose of controversy. In thirty-six seconds, or thereabouts, the Musketeers found themselves on the short end of the stick with four close calls.

First, Butler’s Gordon Hayward miraculously reached from directly behind Mark Lyons to create a jump ball. Possession went to the Bulldogs with :36 remaining. Next,  there was confusion about a possible back court violation. Replays were inconclusive, but the play happened directly in front of the clock operator. This led to the next controversy. When the Butler player retrieved the ball, the clock suddenly lost all blood flow and stopped. Why? Because the clock operator who was looking right at the play saw the Butler player last touch the ball before it went into the back court.

A furious possession ensued. At one point, Butler’s Shelvin Mack went to the floor for the ball. He stood up which could have been called traveling (replays showed Mack did not have complete possession of the ball). No whistle was blown. Hayward grabbed the loose ball and scored with 1.6 remaining. Somehow, officials determined that the clock only stopped for 1.6 seconds, and that Hayward scored just in time to beat the buzzer. Xavier did not get a chance to tie. Butler won, 69-68.

Controversy aside, this was a great game for these two teams. One week earlier, Butler beat Ohio State and Xavier downed Cincinnati. Anyone thinking these two teams would rest on those performances was mistaken. Butler grabbed a 15 point lead before the Musketeers quieted the Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd.

Things we learned: 1. Gordon Hayward is a really good player.  His 22 points and 14 rebounds were special – add to that 3 assists.  He went 4-5 from the three-point arc, and 6-7 from the free throw line.  He scored the winning bucket and finished another basket on a drive to the basket against the half court set. He sees the floor well and makes great cuts.

2. Jason Love has a sweet jump hook.  Love finished with fourteen points the hard way – 7-9 shooting. All of his buckets came in traffic. Opposing teams make Love priority one when it comes to rebounding responsibilities.  Jamel McLean only played four minutes the other day (not sure why). Love received more attention than usual, and he responded.

3. Jordan Crawford has never met a shot he didn’t like. Crawford took 17 of Xavier’s 53 shots. Some of those shots ranked high on the difficulty meter.

The luck, Xavier found so difficult finding,was lurking in the TD Banknorth Garden.  A10 rival, UMass took advantage.

UMass’s Terrell Vinson found himself in the right place at the right time as the Minutemen downed Memphis, 73-72.  A last second scrum under the Tiger basket sent the ball flying through the air and into the hands of Vinson for the fortunate basket.

Josh Pastner is doing a great job with Memphis. Don’t be surprised if the Tigers win a game or two in March.

It is pretty en vogue to laud Kentucky’s John Wall. Yes, his athleticism is intoxicating. And yes, he is an uncanny blend of Magic’s handle, Adrian Dantley’s frame, and Calvin Murphy’s speed. But don’t overlook Memphis’s Elliot Williams. He is special. Williams has just as much athletic ability, but he brings a greater basketball IQ to the floor. Williams can catch and shoot and finish. He can catch, up-fake, and drive the lane.  Williams has a complete package.

Richmond surprised No. 13 Florida, 56-53. The Gators led by eight at half. David Gonzalvez and Kevin Anderson led the Spiders with 16 and 14 points. Justin Harper grabbed nine boards and Dan Geriot grabbed five off the bench. Along with Florida, Richmond has also knocked off Missouri and Mississippi State.

West Virginia avoided an upset when De’Sean Butler finished a layup with :01. The Mountaineers downed Cleveland State, 80-78.

A 10 showing signs of life

With wins over Villanova and Seton Hall, Temple appeared in the polls this week. The Owls are No.21 in the AP. Three other schools – Dayton, Richmond, and Charlotte picked up votes in both polls.

Hangovers

Not all the games were pretty for all teams involved – take for example, the Tennessee Volunteers.

Bruce Pearl took his eighth-ranked Vols cross country for a tilt with the USC Trojans. Coming into the game, the Pac 10 was 0-10 against ranked opponents.  The Trojans were riding a modest two-game win streak. Of course, those victories came at the expense of Idaho State and Sacramento State.  Pearl’s Vols must have left their game on the beach because the Trojans delivered a 77-55 beatdown. Perhaps, Kevin O’Neill, the well-traveled head coach of the Trojans, had some motivation. O’Neill coached the Vols in the 90s and left in a huff. SC point guard, Mike Gerrity, is an interesting story.

Tennessee struggled going from the East to the West. Gonzaga did worse in their trip from the West to the East. A series of factors resulted in the Bulldogs losing to Duke 76-41. Whether it was the cross-continental trip, Matt Bouldin’s post-concussion recovery, or Duke’s perimeter defense, Gonzaga looked lifeless connecting on just one three pointer all afternoon. The Bulldogs averaged six trifectas per game before Saturday.  Bouldin suffered a concussion on December 9th. The senior guard is invaluable to Gonzaga.  Beyond the fact that he averages 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists, Bouldin is the guy who makes good out of bad. If the Gonzaga offense breaks down, it is Bouldin who can create something out of nothing.

Georgetown’s Hoyas also showed an inability to get their heads out of their books. Old Dominion jumped to an 11-point lead at half and never looked back.

How they did it

Wichita State went 11-11 from the line in the final minute of their game to trim No. 20 Texas Tech, 85-83.

Texas outrebounded North Carolina 56-36. Included in that total was a 26-9 advantage on the offensive boards. Yeah, the Longhorns won 103-90.

Michigan took 19 more shots than Kansas. The Wolverines launched 28 three pointers to 19 by Kansas. Michigan grabbed more offensive rebounds (11-7), made more steals (10-6), and committed fewer turnovers (10-14), yet the numbers just didn’t add up.

Kansas took 9 fewer trifectas but made one more than Michigan en route to a 75-64 victory. The Jayhawks growed patience against the Wolvering 1-3-1. Sherron Collins showed he can be a leader dissecting the trapping zone. Collins made good decisions late in the game choosing when to drive and when to keep the ball moving on the perimeter.

Got any college basketball splinters? Share them here.

by Paul Casey Gotham

Setting:  Beale Street will be bopppin’ tonight as the Sweet Sixteen comes to Memphis.  Mark Few brings his number 4 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (28-5) to town for a lip-smackin’ tilt with Roy Williams and the number 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (30-4).

Make my pre-game meal bar-b-que chicken.  Ooops!  Scratch that.  It’s Lent.  I’ll wait until midnight for the meat. 

Plot:  Gonzaga is making their 11th consecutive tournament appearance and 12th overall.  This is the fifth time the Bulldogs have barked their way to the Sweet Sixteen.  In getting here the Zags beat Akron (77-64) and Western Kentucky (83-81).

On the other hand UNC is making their 41st tournament appearance and a NCAA record 23rd trip to the Regional Semi-Finals.  The Tar Heels have won eight consecutive third round match ups.  Their last loss came to Ohio State in 1992.  UNC has advanced to the Elite Eight 23 times. Carolina opened the tournament with a 101-58 shellacking of Radford and then topped LSU, 84-70.

Flash back:  Tonight’s game marks the first meeting between the schools in the Dance and second overall.  Gonzaga beat UNC in the 2006 NIT Pre-Season tourney 82-74.  The Zags limited then-sophomore, Tyler Hansbrough,  to five shots from the perimeter and nine points with nine rebounds.  Hansbrough has only been held to single-figure point totals eight of his 138 career games.   Gonzaga shot 51% from the field that night.

Characters:  Gonzaga will start:

Jeremy Pargo 6-2(10.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals)                                                                                                                                                      Matt Bouldin 6-5(13.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.5 assists, 1.6 steals)                              Micah Downs 6-8 (9.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.1 assists)                                                              Josh Heytvelt 6-11 (14.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg)                                                                   Austin Daye 6-11 (12.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 assists)

North Carolina will counter with:

Ty Lawson 5-11 (16.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 6.5 assists, 2.0 steals)

Wayne Ellington 6-4 (15.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals)
Tyler Hansbrough, 6-9 (21.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 0.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks)
Danny Green, 6-6 (13.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks)
Deon Thompson 6-8 (10.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks)

On paper Gonzaga matches up with the Heels.  Outside their conference schedule, where they went undefeated, the Bulldogs played an ambitious ledger including the likes of UConn, Maryland, Tennessee, Arizona, and Oklahoma State.

Daye can hang Thompson as can Heytvelt with Hansbrough.  Bouldin should keep Ellington in check.  Can Downs hang with Green?

Gonzaga’s depth might surprise a few people.   Steven Gray, Demetri Goodson, and Ira Brown are capable of making significant contributions with limited minutes.

Then there’s Bobby Frasor.  Will the Heel senior have another night where he takes over a game for a couple of minutes?

Climax:  Pargo vs. Lawson. Pargo packs as much athleticism with basketball as does Lawson.  If anyone can slow down Lawson, it is Pargo…at his best.

Which Jeremy Pargo will show up?  The one that committed four turnovers and had zero assists in the first half at Knoxville.  Or the Jeremy Pargo that came out in the second half of that non-conference battle and had six assists, four rebounds, a steal, and six points to lead Gonzaga to a come-from-behind road win.

Pargo possesses the goods to get the job done.  Can he play within himself?

What will the Zags do?  They make just under 40% of their shots from behind the arc.  Usually that is a key ingredient to their success.  But will they get open on the arc? Carolina was susceptible early in the season on the perimeter.  Have they learned their lesson?

When UNC is at their best, there is no team in the country that can hang with them.  Gonzaga cannot hope to win a track meet against the Heels.  If they slow down the pace, will the Zags be able to get open looks late in the shot clock?

If Gonzaga can control the ball and make UNC play defense, how will the Heels be affected on offense?

by Paul Casey Gotham

Setting:  The McCarthey Athletic Center on the campus of Gonzaga University will be hopping tonight as the #22 Gaels of St. Mary’s (18-1 / 5-0)  pay a visit for a West Coast Conference battle of Catholic schools with the #20 Bulldogs of Gonzaga (14-4 / 5-0).

Plots:  If nothing else the Bulddogs are battle-tested with pre-conference games against Oklahoma St., Maryland, Arizona, UConn, and a pair of tilts against Tennessee.  While St. Mary’s can’t boast the same level of competition, the Gaels have taken down Providence, 81-75, Oregon, 78-73, and Kent State, 75-69.

Sub-Plots: For the first time in West Coast Conference history two ranked teams will do battle.  The conference began play during the 1952 – ’53 season.

Flashback:  Gonzaga leads the overall series 46-23 and have won the last 13 meetings in Spokane.  The Bulldogs and and Gaels were two of three West Coast Conference representatives in last year’s NCAA Tournament.  Both lost in the first round – Gonzaga to Davidson, 82-76 and St. Mary’s to Miami, 78-64.  San Diego was the third representative from the mid-major conference.  The Toreros knocked off UConn, 70-69 before falling to Courtney Lee and Western Kenucky, 72-63.

Conflict:  St. Mary’s hits 45% from the field including 33.2% from behind the arc and 71.5% from the line for 77 points per game.  Gonzaga scores 79.6 points per game by dropping 47.9% from the field, 70.1% from the charity stripe and 37% from long range.

St. Mary’s grabs 45.3 rebounds per game, makes 7.9 steals and 5.8 blocks per game.  Gonzaga gets after 43.3 boards per contests, gets 7.2 steals, and 5.9 blocks per game.

The Gaels limit opponents to 38.3% from the field and 29.6% from the arc for 62.6 points per game.  The Zags hold opponents to 61.8 points per game on 35.9% shooting from the field and 31.4% from the land of three pointers.

Both teams effectively create space.  The Gaels are a how-to video of screens on the ball.  They know how to read opposing defenses and always know when to slip a screen or step back for an open three.

Five Bulldogs have connected for double-digits from behind the arc: Josh Heytvelt (14), Austin Daye (21), Matt Bouldin (29), Steven Gray (31), and Micah Downs (26).

Patrick Mills with 18.7 ppg leads three Gaels averaging double figures.  Omar Samhan throws in 13.9 per game, and Diamon Simpson chips in 12.8 per game.  Mills has hit 45 from long range thus far.

Resolution:  For Gonzaga everything comes down to the play of Jeremy Pargo.  He is the engine that makes Gonzaga go.  If the Wooden Award candidate stays out of foul trouble and distributes the ball, Gonzaga is difficult to beat.

by Paul Casey Gotham

The last 28 days have been something of a penance for Mark Few and his Gonzaga Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs improved to 7-0 with a hard-fought 74-52 victory over Tony Bennett’s defensive-minded Washington St. Cougars on December 10th.

At that point the tiny Jesuit school in the Northwest found themselves amongst the nation’s elite – North Carolina, Connecticut, and Pittsburgh.

Wins over Maryland, Oklahoma St., Tennessee, and Indiana helped Gonzaga rise to number four in the nation.

Since then the Bulldogs have impersonated Wall Street and dropped into oblivion.

Four losses in five games have spelled the demise of the Zags.

Arizona brought Gonzaga back to reality with a 69-64 defeat.

Okay – Mark Few had no designs on an undefeated season for his team. They will recover.

Six days later the Zags had a three-point lead over UConn with :25 remaining only to gag away the lead and lose in overtime.

Searching for a Bloody Mary to cure their hangover, Gonzaga hoped Portland St. would be just the elixir. That is until the Vikings put a 77-70 hurting on them.

Eeeeeeek!

Gonzaga hoped to usher in the New Year with a victory. Utah spoiled any such celebration with 66-65 defeat.

Ugh!

Since then the Zags have heard their fair share of criticism: Overrated, too ambitious putting together a difficult schedule with far too much travel.

Mark Few has heard it all.

The first half of Wednesday night’s game in Knoxville, Tennessee seemed to only add to the misery.

Cameron Tatum helped the Vols build an early 15-point lead.

Symptomatic of Gonzaga’s problems was Jeremy Pargo’s first 20:00.

The senior point guard’s line at half: two points on one for six shooting, two rebounds, five turnovers, and zero assists.

Just a few months removed from dabbling with the NBA Draft, Pargo looked ready to play CYO ball.

Gonzaga’s once promising season seemed barely capable of a pulse. Coach Few needed an AED, and he found one.

Vol fans hoping to chant ‘Rocky Top’ throughout the second half instead witnessed a revival.

Pargo dished out six assists, dropped eight points, and Matt Bouldin added 14 as the Zags exploited Tennessee’s weakness in an 89-79 overtime victory.

When Gonzaga topped the Vols earlier this season, they shot 55% from behind the arc. That advantage seemed close to non-existent for much of the first half as the Zags did not connect from long range for first 13 minutes.

Four different Bulldogs – Ira Brown, Josh Heytvelt, Steven Gray, and Boulding connected in the final 7:00 of the first half.

That was just the beginning as Gonzaga poured in six more trifectas in the remaining 25:00.

Bouldin led all scorers with 26.

The Vols were 6 for 28 (21.4%) from three-point land.

Mark Few seems to have found the pulse of his team. Gonzaga is alive and well.

Mark Few (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

This week’s Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today’s top five are identical: UNC, UConn, Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, and Oklahoma.

Kinda rolls off the tongue doesn’t it?

The Bulldogs of Gonzaga with a record of six wins and zero losses seem right at home in the top five.

That hasn’t always been the case.

Once was a time when the Zags were the annual March feel good story that the media thrust into the limelight for all of us to enjoy, and the tiny school from the West Coast conference seemed content with merely being ‘the little engine that could’.

Something funny happened along the way. Gonzaga decided they belonged with the best.

Acting on that decision hasn’t come without some amount of struggle.

Last year Coach Mark Few and his Bulldogs found themselves on the other side of the Cinderella story. The seventh-seeded Zags were bounced from the NCAA tournament in the first round by the 2008 feel good story, Stephen Curry and the Davidson Wildcats.

Jeremy Pargo, Josh Heytvelt, Matt Bouldin, Micah Downs, and Ira Brown had to sit by and watch as the Wildcats came within one more Curry trifecta of booking their travel plans for San Antonio.

The first-round loss marked back-to-back early exits for the Catholic school from Spokane, Washington.

Few must have used the loss as an opportunity to teach.

Prior to ’07 the Zags regularly took their turn trying on the glass slipper.

In 1999, with Dan Monson at the helm, Gonzaga knocked off Minnesota, Stanford, and Florida before falling to the eventual champ, UConn, 67-62. Ironically, Monson left at season’s end to coach the Gophers of Minnesota.

Few took the reins and led the Zags to consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances.

In 2000, Gonzaga defeated Denny Crum in his 23^rd and final appearance in the tournament as head coach of Louisville. Two days later St. John’s was victimized. Purdue stopped the Zags in the Regional semis.

One year later the Bulldogs beat Virginia and Indiana State before losing to Michigan State.

After a first-round exit in ’02 Gonzaga advanced to the second round the next three years.

The Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet Sixteen again in ’06 beating Xavier and Indiana before losing to eventual finalist, UCLA.

Now here’s the little school fitting right in with the bigs. Gonzaga – with their modest list of alums in the NBA: Mike Champion, Dan Dickau, Richie Frahm, Adam Morrison, John Stockton, and Ronnie Turiaf – is ranked fourth in the AP and nobody seems surprised that this sapling is surviving in a forest of Redwoods.

It’s taken ten years but Gonzaga has proven they are more than a feel-good story.

Davidson

Don’t get me wrong. I love feel-good stories.I cheered lustily for Davidson last year and for George Mason a couple of years ago. Those were great stories.

I will cheer for Davidson again this year. I am hoping that Stephen Curry can bring his infectious love for the game to the NBA and continue the transformation of that league.

But George Mason hasn’t known much March basketball since their miracle run.

Davidson? I hope Bob McKillop can keep the Wildcats near the top after Curry graduates. I’m just not counting on it.

Gonzaga has proven that a team, when allowed, doesn’t need to be in a major conference to compete.

Too bad college football prohibits the possibility of a Gonzaga. There are 11 conferences in Division 1A football. Quick – without aid of a search engine – can you name all 11? I consider myself an above average sports fan. I can rattle off the Big Ten, Pac 10, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big East without much trouble. I could probably even name all the teams in those conferences.

The other five? Let’s see…there’s the WAC – home of Wally’s new favorite team. Then we have Conference USA, the MAC, Mountain West, and the Sun Belt. Besides Pete – how many of you knew these off the top of your head?

How many teams from those other five conferences have a chance to try on the glass slipper?

Gonzaga’s role is more important than NBA contracts, NCAA titles, glass slippers, and Sweet Sixteen appearances.

In a country where executives from the auto industry board private jets and travel to Capitol Hill to grovel for handouts, Gonzaga reminds us that we are part of a democracy – that we can still accomplish something by rolling up our sleeves and getting after it.

Gonzaga – the tiny school with the scant resume doing battle with majors.

Gotta love America – the land of opportunity.

65% is passing.

70% is rather mediocre, but it is a C.

80% earns a B.

90%? Well that is an A.

Somewhere we decided that 85% represents mastery. That point when a kid can take topic; turn it inside out and can explain to someone else how they went wrong.

College hoops?

50% might just take care of the job. That is 50% team shooting – making at least one of every two shots – could be the formula to success.

Last year Kansas shot 52.7% from the field as they knocked off Memphis in the national title game, 75-68.

In the Final Four – the Jayhawks hit 53.1% while holding UNC to 35.8% en route to an 84-66 victory.

Of the final seven games last year (Elite Eight, Final Four, and finals) only one team, Memphis, won while shooting less than 50%. Calipari’s (say it Wally – sounds like an entrée at an Italian restaurant) crew knocked down 42% of their shots in the semis. UCLA couldn’t take advantage – they fell short at 37%.

Only one team lost while shooting more than 50% – Louisville. The Cardinals scored at a rate of 52%, but the Heels maintained a 53% clip to advance to the Final Four.

So as we look at the first sampling of college hoops this year, a few teams have shown the ability to drop 50% in a big game.

Better tighten the bolts.

Gonzaga shot 51.9% including 55% behind the arc as they topped Tennessee 83-74. Steven Gray came off the bench and led five Bulldogs – curly-top Matt Bouldin, Josh Heytvelt, Micah Downs, and Jeremy Pargo in double figures. These Zags are not like Gonzaga teams of the past who seemed happy to be mentioned among the top teams in the country. These Zags can drop it from the outside, but they also can go to the rack with authority. Like Fran Fraschilla commented – “check the bolts on the backboards after this game.”

The Zags weren’t the only gang to score at a chan’ship rate.

UNC hit 55% from the field as the topped Notre Dame 102-87 in the Maui Classic title game. A noteworthy stat – Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson combined to shoot 14 for 14 from the charity stripe. Ol’ Roy has gotta like that one. The guys most likely to touch the ball late in the game are also his best finishers from the line. (Yeah, I know Wally – ‘If God is not a Tar Heel, then why is the sky Carolina Blue? C’mon kid, give us some background on that one).

Speaking of perfect from the line in the clutch – freshman Terrell Holloway went 10 for 10 as Xavier

Holloway taking it to the tin.

surprised Memphis 63-58 in the Puerto Rico Classic. Overall, the Muskies only shot 36%.
Others didn’t hit 50% but were good enough for the W.

Duke hit 48% in a 71-56 win over Michigan. 21.1% from behind the arc? Ouch! Coach K can’t like that.

Freshman, Willie Warren, led Oklahoma with 22 as the Sooners topped Purdue in OT, 87-82. Of course it’s gotta help Warren that opposing defenses have to worry about the Griffin brothers inside. OK hit 41%.

Five Demon Deacons scored in double figures as WF beat Baylor 87-74 in the Anaheim Classic. The Deacs made 40% of their shots. Remember the name Curtis Jerrells. The senior from Baylor can get after it.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Dayton. The Flyers figured out a way to win a non-conference game while shooting 0%. Well not exactly 0%. Of course a team has to score to win, but the Flyers went 0 for 24 from the arc, yet still trimmed the Auburn Tigers 60-59. Guess UD did a good job of cleaning the offensive glass. The Flyers grabbed 16 in the front court while out-bounding the Tigers 50-33. But 24 shots? One would think the Flyers would opt for an alternative.

Big Ten / ACC Challenge – Enjoy it!