Zags on the ropes

[dukephysics]

Some of you guys are talking like Gonzaga hasn't done anything this year. They lost at UNC (a potential 1 seed), lost neutral court to Tennessee (another potential 1 seed), beat Duke neutral court at FULL STRENGTH (another potential 1 seed), beat Washington (the Pac12 champ), beat P5 teams Arizona, Texas A&M, and Illinois, won @Creighton (bubble team).
Prior to the loss last night, you'd have to really dislike them to say they didn't deserve a 1 and potentially the top spot. Their win over us and our win at UVA are probably the top to wins on any resume out there. And their two losses were comparable to UVAs 2 losses.

 

[Mac9192]

Some of you guys are talking like Gonzaga hasn't done anything this year. They lost at UNC (a potential 1 seed), lost neutral court to Tennessee (another potential 1 seed), beat Duke neutral court at FULL STRENGTH (another potential 1 seed), beat Washington (the Pac12 champ), beat P5 teams Arizona, Texas A&M, and Illinois, won @Creighton (bubble team).
Prior to the loss last night, you'd have to really dislike them to say they didn't deserve a 1 and potentially the top spot. Their win over us and our win at UVA are probably the top to wins on any resume out there. And their two losses were comparable to UVAs 2 losses.

Exactly. Their non conference schedule is stout. Few isn’t afraid to play anyone. The only thing they can do is leave that conference. Not their fault the other teams are weak.
Few is the real deal.

 

[FearTheBeard_rivals208808]

Exactly. Their non conference schedule is stout. Few isn’t afraid to play anyone. The only thing they can do is leave that conference. Not their fault the other teams are weak.
Few is the real deal.

What conference are they going to join though? Pac12? Not much of a step up these days.

 

[dukephysics]

Exactly. Their non conference schedule is stout. Few isn’t afraid to play anyone. The only thing they can do is leave that conference. Not their fault the other teams are weak.
Few is the real deal.

On top of that, they have essentially zero chance of getting into a P5 because they don't play football. The Pac12 is not going to take them. And neither is the Big10. Neither conference needs more teams. And they don't solve the numbers problem for the Big12 because, again, football. I don't know what more they are supposed to do than what they have done this year.

 

[jcdevilfan]

I wouldn't write the Zags off just yet. They had a very bad game in which they couldn't buy a basket, in the paint or long range. I watched part of the game and it was the worst game I have seen them play. St.Marys controlled the tempo and seemed to make every possession count.
Nobody wants to lose, especially in a Tourney Championship, but this loss might help them in the NCAAT.
I would be really surprised if they are not the #1 seed in the West Regional, and in my opinion they deserve it.
Go Duke!
OFC

 

[pisgah101]

Fwiw I like Gonzaga

 

[Quest4Seven]

they have one good win all year and that was by 2 against you guys on a neutral good in week 3...they do not deserve a 1 seed, especially after getting blown out in a conference tournament game in that cupcake league they play in

 

[Mac9192]

What conference are they going to join though? Pac12? Not much of a step up these days.

ACC? They are stuck I guess. What Mark Few has done there in such a remote location (by basketball standards) is to me, close to what K has done here at Duke.

They went from a nobody 20 seasons ago to a year in year out contender.

 

[dukiejay]

I still think Gonzaga should be the #1 seed out west.

 

[pisgah101]

ACC? They are stuck I guess. What Mark Few has done there in such a remote location (by basketball standards) is to me, close to what K has done here at Duke.

They went from a nobody 20 seasons ago to a year in year out contender.

I’d trade BC and ND for them all day

 

[HuffyJB]

I still think Gonzaga should be the #1 seed out west.

I would be really, really surprised if they weren't.

 

[Testkid]

ACC? They are stuck I guess. What Mark Few has done there in such a remote location (by basketball standards) is to me, close to what K has done here at Duke.

They went from a nobody 20 seasons ago to a year in year out contender.

Not really the same. Duke went to final fours and won conference titles before k. Coach k just took us to another level

 

[dukiejay]

I’d trade BC and ND for them all day

Unless Gonzaga is willing to relocate their school from Spokane to at minimum the Midwest, then it's not happening. That would be a lot of five- six-hour (seven, in some cases) flights for road games.

 

[pisgah101]

Unless Gonzaga is willing to relocate their school from Spokane to at minimum the Midwest, then it's not happening. That would be a lot of five- six-hour (seven, in some cases) flights for road games.

Oh I know lol but still the way conferences have shifted who knows

 

[denverexpat]

ESPN - color guy says their win against us shows they are a #1....then i guess our 118-84 against UK should give us a #1?...add in the 2 wins against UVA and we look even better....but Lunardi still has us as a 2.

 

[DukeRulesBasketball]

ESPN - color guy says their win against us shows they are a #1....then i guess our 118-84 against UK should give us a #1?...add in the 2 wins against UVA and we look even better....but Lunardi still has us as a 2.

Also beat Texas Tech, who won a share of the big 12 regular season title. Some say Texas Tech is a final four sleeper. Beating Auburn and winning at Syracuse is not bad either.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

Some of you guys are talking like Gonzaga hasn't done anything this year. They lost at UNC (a potential 1 seed), lost neutral court to Tennessee (another potential 1 seed), beat Duke neutral court at FULL STRENGTH (another potential 1 seed), beat Washington (the Pac12 champ), beat P5 teams Arizona, Texas A&M, and Illinois, won @Creighton (bubble team).
Prior to the loss last night, you'd have to really dislike them to say they didn't deserve a 1 and potentially the top spot. Their win over us and our win at UVA are probably the top to wins on any resume out there. And their two losses were comparable to UVAs 2 losses.

Arizona 17-14, A&M 13-17, Illinois 11-20
C’mon now..... lol

WSH 24-7, Creighton 18-13
Pac12 is practically mid-major this year. The only other team with a pulse not randomly winning and losing is ASU who beat them. They played 2 ranked opponents this year. Blasted. Zaga got ‘em by 2. I honestly don’t know anything about Creighton except last week I saw they won @Marq. But given their record in a 2 team BigEast, I’m not sure I count that as a noteable win.

UNC, TN, Duke
All high quality. Regardless of W/L against those 3 schools, all 3 games were highly competitive and that alone proves that they can compete in the top tier. However — This was 4 months ago. All 3 of those teams have substantially grown....

But have the Zags grown?
Gonzaga has talent. They are well coached. Their W/L column looks elite. While the rest of the nation was busy going to war against tough opponents, they’re chillin’ on the west coast destroying teams by 20-30 points miles below their talent. That is exactly why l don’t buy into the Zaga annual hype. I have no clue if they’ve grown and I question their ability to adapt right back into high-level competition. It’s not Mark Few’s fault (excellent coach) and I don’t discredit them... Heck, they can’t help that they’re forced to play in the WCC. But that’s my issue with them. Multiple seasons they have boasted beautiful records with elite players and perform miserably when it finally counts.

 

[chov1125]

Also beat Texas Tech, who won a share of the big 12 regular season title. Some say Texas Tech is a final four sleeper. Beating Auburn and winning at Syracuse is not bad either.

I wouldnt call them a sleeper, they are likely going to be a 2 seed.

 

[BeerPoisoning]

Also beat Texas Tech, who won a share of the big 12 regular season title. Some say Texas Tech is a final four sleeper. Beating Auburn and winning at Syracuse is not bad either.

TxTech might be the hottest team in hoops right now. They have dismantled everyone in their path the past month solid. They’ve won like their last 10 games and 4-5 of them have been won by 20-30 points. Top half of the B12 is pretty decent this year. I know Kansas isn’t in preseason form but they’re still respectable and a 30pt blowout of them is highly noteworthy.