Gonzaga Game Thread
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The defense can be better and I trust Bill to figure it out. It might involve playing Dave less but this squad has a lot to learn about playing defense as a team.
Obviously it was horrible today.
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Zags, after playing Baylor dec 5, looks to have basically an easy schedule. Their division is as always bad. When the hell has KU had an easy schedule? Zags could indeed go undefeated. They look great.
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@BShark said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@BeddieKU23 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
This is unfortunately going to be a team that struggles to stay ranked
Idk about this yet, this is against the far and away #1 team in the country. Let’s see what happens tomorrow and against Kentucky. It could be the case, but I am not sure yet.
I don’t really think or am worried about us staying ranked. - -Hard to judge against a team like this -pretty dam good. – & being the 1st game is kind of hard to Judge a year we shore up the defense some - -I was more worried about if we were going to put points up - - 90 points against the # 1 team i the Nation isn’t bad - -we are going to be all right
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@approxinfinity said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
This season is going to be one we can split into two phases. First, getting beaten up by ranked teams in the non-con and then second, the lights will come on and the season will be cancelled.
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@BShark I’m already thinking we need to go 5 guards and sit Dave completely.
Dave was 3/9 from the field. He’s not even an offensive presence
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@BeddieKU23 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@BShark said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@benshawks08 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@BeddieKU23 We will lose more than three games this year. Still think we have a chance to win the last one, though.
Yeah, this team will end up winning a lot of games. I had to close twitter, too many overreactions.
The good news is Bryce and Jalen look really good. Ochai was GREAT, 4th foul hurt a lot… Garrett was also great. CB needs to be better.
There’s just a lack of talent on this squad. It’s been noted by several on Twitter who are not KU Homers. I’ll hope they can improve on turnovers and defense. I like parts of this team and will hope the weaknesses get serviceable. Happy turkey day!
I disagree with Goodman. Not sure who KU lands in the last two classes w/o the cloud but I am not sure much changes.
Looking at the roster that played real minutes today
Garrett - proven at this level was good today
Bryce - 5*, looked good
Ochai - same as Garrett, and looks better than last year
Dave - an issue obviously, but was a 4* #36 in his class
Jalen - 4* top 50, looked good
CB - good role player, could obviously improve in some areas, but pretty athletic and talented
Mitch -
I’ll admit, not really a KU level guyTristan - 4*, needs work though
Tyon - looks to be playing hurt? High JUCO ranking, obviously athletic but has mental lapses
I’m not seeing a huge talent void overall. I am seeing a lot of new players and guys moving into bigger roles, which has taken time for Self teams in the past.
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@BShark said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
The defense can be better and I trust Bill to figure it out. It might involve playing Dave less but this squad has a lot to learn about playing defense as a team.
Obviously it was horrible today.
I could agree about not playing Dave as much possibly - -but then we are REALLY REALLY vunerable even more - - who is going to rebound - afraid it would just for sure be more of a repeat of today - -
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@Kcmatt7 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@BShark I’m already thinking we need to go 5 guards and sit Dave completely.
Dave was 3/9 from the field. He’s not even an offensive presence
I mean, he has to play SOME. He has a good attitude, and we need him to get better. That said, and I was harping on it during the game (not sure how much here but def in my twitter group chat) that Jalen was boxing out better than Dave, which is ridiculous.
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@BShark I agree I think talent is fine. Especially if you were anticipating Silvio being in this team during recruiting season.
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We had a great no 1 team … then COVID robbed them of a chance to go and win it. Now the zags get to roll thru the season into the final 4. Love to play them again in the tourney… when we are tougher and better and more disciplined. who knows …
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@BShark does he?
He was legitimately terrible today. 4 TO, 3/9 from the field with zero blocks.
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@Kcmatt7 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@BShark does he?
He was legitimately terrible today. 4 TO, 3/9 from the field with zero blocks.
I think we need him to improve for this team to reach their potential. You can’t play him 0 minutes.
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@BShark I mean I realize that he is going to play some. But I just don’t know he’s capable of being better.
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The defense will get better the more these guys play together and get their chemistry working together.
We know Dave isn’t Doke, but he’s also not going to shoot 3-9 every game either. This is where losing Silvio is going to hurt the most because what’s going to hurt Dave the most is not having another legit big to practice against everyday. Silvio was going to be that guy, but now it’s an undersized Mitch or a too skinny Gethro guarding Dave in practice.
Not having Silvio also means that Mitch can’t play the 4 next to Dave and help on defense which is Mitch’s biggest strength on defense.
With the length KU has, I’d like to see Self develop a zone defense to take advantage of KU’s perimeter length. Not something to run all the time, but it can be weaponized to great effect to disrupt the other team.
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@DanR said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
I think we’re going to see more Mitch
I think he ought to maybe get some more minutes - - I think he might be a little more valuable on the offensive stretch the floor a little more - only thing that would be a liability he just doesn’t have the body frame/bulk to play exclusive.
I think you look at this team a ways down the line - -gonna be different for sure
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Dave looked like what I expected from him for aboutt 4 minutes to start the second half. He got a couple key rebounds, stayed with his man, took strong shots down low and finished through traffic. Outside of those 4 minutes he was a complete dumpster fire. I don’t think it’s an athleticism problem. He just looked shockingly lost.
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@Kcmatt7 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@BShark I mean I realize that he is going to play some. But I just don’t know he’s capable of being better.
This was the best front court in the nation and you’re judging Dave’s season based on what he did against the absolute best front court he will face all season.
Name a better front court Dave will go against this season? Baylor is the only one in the same neighborhood, but Baylor’s front court is in the back of that neighborhood where the lesser homes are.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 Agree - - just really don’t think you will see better then these two. Actually i mean I knew they were good but kind of under estimated them myself - really good. might of been a little with our lack of defense but still really good
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@Texas-Hawk-10 I’m judging Dave off of 2 previous seasons. He was shit last season too which is why we went 4 guard
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@Texas-Hawk-10 From a junior starting 5 I expect better, regardless of opponent. It’s OK to get beaten it’s not OK to not be in position most of the game and to jack up bad long 2s.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
The defense will get better the more these guys play together and get their chemistry working together.
We know Dave isn’t Doke, but he’s also not going to shoot 3-9 every game either. This is where losing Silvio is going to hurt the most because what’s going to hurt Dave the most is not having another legit big to practice against everyday. Silvio was going to be that guy, but now it’s an undersized Mitch or a too skinny Gethro guarding Dave in practice.
Not having Silvio also means that Mitch can’t play the 4 next to Dave and help on defense which is Mitch’s biggest strength on defense.
With the length KU has, I’d like to see Self develop a zone defense to take advantage of KU’s perimeter length. Not something to run all the time, but it can be weaponized to great effect to disrupt the other team.
that might be a good idea. Doubt it’s going to happen but it would be worth a shot i think
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@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
The defense will get better the more these guys play together and get their chemistry working together.
We know Dave isn’t Doke, but he’s also not going to shoot 3-9 every game either. This is where losing Silvio is going to hurt the most because what’s going to hurt Dave the most is not having another legit big to practice against everyday. Silvio was going to be that guy, but now it’s an undersized Mitch or a too skinny Gethro guarding Dave in practice.
Not having Silvio also means that Mitch can’t play the 4 next to Dave and help on defense which is Mitch’s biggest strength on defense.
With the length KU has, I’d like to see Self develop a zone defense to take advantage of KU’s perimeter length. Not something to run all the time, but it can be weaponized to great effect to disrupt the other team.
Well said all around.
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@Kcmatt7 Jalen at the 5 is intriguing though, for sure.
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Maybe teams should have played their top conference rival in the first couple weeks this season, in case the season by conference time gets canceled. It would be nice to see us vs. Baylor.
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All time tweet here from Dougie. This is why you try not to have too hot of takes early.
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Texas, West Virginia. The list goes on
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@Kcmatt7 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
@Texas-Hawk-10 I’m judging Dave off of 2 previous seasons. He was shit last season too which is why we went 4 guard
Dave was played out of position last year which is why he looked like shit until he played the 5 backing up Doke.
Please tell me what front court Dave will see the rest of the season that’s as good as what Gonzaga has?
This is the third time I’ve asked this question in general now and nobody has yet answered it because there isn’t better front court than Gonzaga this season.
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@BeddieKU23 said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
Texas, West Virginia. The list goes on
Those are good front courts, but still nowhere near what Gonzaga has in both quality and depth.
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@approxinfinity said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
Dave looked like what I expected from him for aboutt 4 minutes to start the second half. He got a couple key rebounds, stayed with his man, took strong shots down low and finished through traffic. Outside of those 4 minutes he was a complete dumpster fire. I don’t think it’s an athleticism problem. He just looked shockingly lost.
Several plays in the first half he showed zero want to on the defensive side of the ball.
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It’s the first game going against a team that will be in the top 5 all season. It’s impossible to judge our season’s success now. With that said I have no doubts that West Virginia and Baylor will beat us easily in both games.
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Zags posts are good, defensively they aren’t anything special. It’s a stupid argument
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@rockchalkwyo said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
With that said I have no doubts that West Virginia and Baylor will beat us easily in both games.
Hmm, Self usually manages to put Drew in a box. The 2nd game last year Self destroyed Drew. I will never count Self out against Baylor for that reason.
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Huggins pulling down his mask to yell. Ughins.
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We’ve seen plenty from Dave and today looked like what we saw last year.
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@rockchalkwyo said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
It’s the first game going against a team that will be in the top 5 all season. It’s impossible to judge our season’s success now. With that said I have no doubts that West Virginia and Baylor will beat us easily in both games.
Same shit people said after the 30 turnovers against Duke last year. KU will be fine. This is what happens when not the best team in the country plays the best team in the country.
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@Kcmatt7 yeah. I’m not buying the excuses. Dave is going to have a pretty low floor this year.
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Most improved player is Wilson
Bryce will be a star
Abaji, please shooting the trey
I think Wilson and Abaji have a higher ceiling than Braun, and they should be in the starting lineup at least by conference play
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Agbaji and Wilson both started today. I think it’s possible Bryce works into the starting line-up over Braun. He fits a bit better with Garrett I think.
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Correct, I concur that Bryce should take over Braun after a few games. One can tell as to why he was a 5 start player.
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@BShark said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
Agbaji and Wilson both started today. I think it’s possible Bryce works into the starting line-up over Braun. He fits a bit better with Garrett I think.
Good take there.
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Dave M needs to slow down, he seemed too rushed today. He did show several good post moves which is very encouraging.
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Maybe Wilson becomes the defacto 5. We cannot start Dave
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@AsadZ said in Gonzaga Game Thread:
Dave M needs to slow down, he seemed too rushed today. He did show several good post moves which is very encouraging.
We’ve been saying slow down for 3 yrs now…
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I thought one of Jalen/Tristan might transfer after this year. If today is any indication it will be Tristan. I’d like to keep him but it seems like he isn’t a great fit with Self.
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He can be a force, just needs to slow down his game. He should watch tape of Thomas R and Morrii
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Can we have Danny join the staff immediately? Call it some bogus title. LOL
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We should realize that he is now considered as the main Big, a new role. I am optimistic that he will be a force, double double kind of a player.
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Dave is basically Bragg. Slow footed big with limited athleticism and an okay jumper
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I don’t see Self going away from McCormack so I hope he can figure out some effort things that have plagued him for 3 yrs now. He clearly has some offensive skill but everything else just looked below average
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PG is the huge need going forward. We’ve addressed the bigs in recruiting (Zach is really good, trust me on this) but you give this core a salty grad transfer SR guard next year WATCH OUT.
