The Zags are currently proving that they are very much for real as on 12/19 they were not ranked but handily defeated #3 Georgia Tech 85-73 on a neutral court in Las Vegas and then tonight went on the road ranked #21 and defeated #3 Oklahoma State 78-75 on the Cowboys home court. They led almost the entire way and held double digit leads even with Turiaf in foul trouble and re-injuring his ankle. This team is very talented, deep enough, shoots excellently, rebounds well, plays good defense, is unselfish, well coached and very smart. The two teams they beat are senior based teams that were two of last year's Final Four with most players returning this year. If they stay healthy, watch for them to do some serious damage in the NCAA Tournament.
SSI:
Nice going my friend. Excellent play. Played them getting +10. After watching them destroy Georgia Tech, they got my attention. BTW, caught the Under 23 for the second half in the Iowa State/Miami game and have placed a play on Oregon State (Pk) for the second half. So, I'm joining you on the Beavers. Back after the game is concluded.
Nice going my friend. Excellent play. Played them getting +10. After watching them destroy Georgia Tech, they got my attention. BTW, caught the Under 23 for the second half in the Iowa State/Miami game and have placed a play on Oregon State (Pk) for the second half. So, I'm joining you on the Beavers. Back after the game is concluded.
They were a two last year in a bracket where number one lost in the second round. How much easier do they need it? I think they will be a 2 again this year.
They might lose one game in WCC play so chances are good they are in the top 10 for most of the year. Don't forget they also beat Washington. Not too many teams can say they beat three current top 25 schools at this point; in fact I think only Wake can make that claim as well and they faced far easier top 25 teams than the Zags have.
They might lose one game in WCC play so chances are good they are in the top 10 for most of the year. Don't forget they also beat Washington. Not too many teams can say they beat three current top 25 schools at this point; in fact I think only Wake can make that claim as well and they faced far easier top 25 teams than the Zags have.
I agree with the assesment of Gonzaga. This team is better then last years. I think the flaw of last years team was Stepp, big defensive liability. Most Point Guards could get any shot they wanted or distribute it wherever they wanted. Plus he had the ball to much and didn't get it around to other weapons. I see that Morrison has the ball alot, so offense is more balanced. Last year I had 100/1 on them, wish I had that this year
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - With his team's best player limited by an ankle injury, J.P. Batista came off the bench to lift No. 12 Gonzaga to another big upset.
Batista shot 8-of-9 from the floor for a career-high 18 points and Adam Morrison scored 19 to help the Bulldogs beat No. 3 Oklahoma State 78-75 Tuesday night in Gonzaga's second upset of a third-ranked team this season.
Batista, who had never before scored more than 10 points in a game, received more playing time because Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga's leading scorer, was hampered by an ankle injury and in foul trouble.
"I knew that Ronny was kind of doubtful for tonight and I had to prepare myself mentally to step up at the right times," Batista said.
Batista, a junior college transfer, hit his first eight shots as the Bulldogs (10-1) used a strong shooting performance to build a big lead before holding on for the win. Gonzaga led by as many as 16 points early in the second half, but needed a strong finish to hold off the charging Cowboys.
Oklahoma State (9-1) pushed its way back into the game with a 21-8 run that John Lucas III capped with a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 65-62 with 9{ minutes to play. After a 9-2 run by Gonzaga, the Cowboys drew to within a point on two occasions but could not take the lead.
"They're just so tough," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "That more than anything is what I'm most proud of - we matched their toughness tonight."
Oklahoma State head coach designate Sean Sutton questioned his team's defensive play after allowing the Bulldogs to make 57 percent of their shots.
"It was soft," Sutton said. "It was a pitiful display of how to play post defense."
Sutton said he also thought his team got away from its offensive style by shooting 31 3-pointers.
"Our big guys, they wouldn't demand the ball," Sutton said. "They didn't want the ball. ... They didn't demand the ball and when they got it, they didn't make plays."
Turiaf, who had averaged 20 points in Gonzaga's first 10 games, had 10 points in 18 minutes. Few said he thought Turiaf's ankle was about 50 percent and he was only using the senior to fill up minutes off the bench.
"I can't say enough about what Ronny did tonight," Few said.
Erroll Knight added 11 points for the Bulldogs, who are 2-1 against Top 5 teams this season. Gonzaga beat then-No. 3 Georgia Tech 85-73 on Dec. 18 and lost to No. 1 Illinois 89-72 on Nov. 27.
Reserve Stephen Graham scored 22 points to lead the Cowboys, and Lucas had 19.
Gonzaga raced out to a 26-15 lead before the Cowboys came to life with a 13-3 run. The Bulldogs pulled away again, and led by nine at halftime after shooting 65 percent in the first half.
The hot shooting continued into the second half as Gonzaga stretched its lead to 57-41 when Turiaf scored with 18 minutes to play.
After Oklahoma State rallied within three, the Bulldogs pushed back ahead with a 9-2 run that Morrison finished with a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 74-65.
The Cowboys made it 74-73 after Ivan McFarlin's basket inside, but Turiaf answered with a spinning right-hander on the other end.
Stephen Graham again pulled the Cowboys within a point with a jumper from the free-throw line, but the Cowboys would not score again.
Morrison hit a jumper in the lane to extend the lead and Lucas' 3-point try at the buzzer didn't hit the rim, dropping Oklahoma State to its first loss.
Few said he was impressed with the win against a "national-championship caliber" team in an environment that was hardly neutral. Most of the crowd was wearing bright Oklahoma State orange.
"In lieu of all the adversity we had tonight, it's up there with any regular-season win we've ever had," Few said.
Fox Sports
Batista shot 8-of-9 from the floor for a career-high 18 points and Adam Morrison scored 19 to help the Bulldogs beat No. 3 Oklahoma State 78-75 Tuesday night in Gonzaga's second upset of a third-ranked team this season.
Batista, who had never before scored more than 10 points in a game, received more playing time because Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga's leading scorer, was hampered by an ankle injury and in foul trouble.
"I knew that Ronny was kind of doubtful for tonight and I had to prepare myself mentally to step up at the right times," Batista said.
Batista, a junior college transfer, hit his first eight shots as the Bulldogs (10-1) used a strong shooting performance to build a big lead before holding on for the win. Gonzaga led by as many as 16 points early in the second half, but needed a strong finish to hold off the charging Cowboys.
Oklahoma State (9-1) pushed its way back into the game with a 21-8 run that John Lucas III capped with a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 65-62 with 9{ minutes to play. After a 9-2 run by Gonzaga, the Cowboys drew to within a point on two occasions but could not take the lead.
"They're just so tough," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "That more than anything is what I'm most proud of - we matched their toughness tonight."
Oklahoma State head coach designate Sean Sutton questioned his team's defensive play after allowing the Bulldogs to make 57 percent of their shots.
"It was soft," Sutton said. "It was a pitiful display of how to play post defense."
Sutton said he also thought his team got away from its offensive style by shooting 31 3-pointers.
"Our big guys, they wouldn't demand the ball," Sutton said. "They didn't want the ball. ... They didn't demand the ball and when they got it, they didn't make plays."
Turiaf, who had averaged 20 points in Gonzaga's first 10 games, had 10 points in 18 minutes. Few said he thought Turiaf's ankle was about 50 percent and he was only using the senior to fill up minutes off the bench.
"I can't say enough about what Ronny did tonight," Few said.
Erroll Knight added 11 points for the Bulldogs, who are 2-1 against Top 5 teams this season. Gonzaga beat then-No. 3 Georgia Tech 85-73 on Dec. 18 and lost to No. 1 Illinois 89-72 on Nov. 27.
Reserve Stephen Graham scored 22 points to lead the Cowboys, and Lucas had 19.
Gonzaga raced out to a 26-15 lead before the Cowboys came to life with a 13-3 run. The Bulldogs pulled away again, and led by nine at halftime after shooting 65 percent in the first half.
The hot shooting continued into the second half as Gonzaga stretched its lead to 57-41 when Turiaf scored with 18 minutes to play.
After Oklahoma State rallied within three, the Bulldogs pushed back ahead with a 9-2 run that Morrison finished with a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 74-65.
The Cowboys made it 74-73 after Ivan McFarlin's basket inside, but Turiaf answered with a spinning right-hander on the other end.
Stephen Graham again pulled the Cowboys within a point with a jumper from the free-throw line, but the Cowboys would not score again.
Morrison hit a jumper in the lane to extend the lead and Lucas' 3-point try at the buzzer didn't hit the rim, dropping Oklahoma State to its first loss.
Few said he was impressed with the win against a "national-championship caliber" team in an environment that was hardly neutral. Most of the crowd was wearing bright Oklahoma State orange.
"In lieu of all the adversity we had tonight, it's up there with any regular-season win we've ever had," Few said.
Fox Sports
Illini:
That's the game I'm looking at as well and if I make a play it will be on the Cowboys for the very reason you mentioned. Ohio State's offense will be significantly different with Zwick at quarterback. The Buckeyes struggled badly when he was at the helm. He is a pocket QB and the offense has been modified from what has been working for them the second half of the season. That being said, there is alot more to this game then just the change at QB. Need to look at the whole picture before making a decision. As an example, the special teams for both of these teams is excellent. Oklahoma State plays on the carpet and Morency is much quicker when they do so. Ohio State plays on grass. This game is on artificial turf and the Cowboys will have a huge following at the game. Believe a sell-out is expected. There's more match-ups to look at, particularly on the defensive side. I'll make my decision tomorrow.
That's the game I'm looking at as well and if I make a play it will be on the Cowboys for the very reason you mentioned. Ohio State's offense will be significantly different with Zwick at quarterback. The Buckeyes struggled badly when he was at the helm. He is a pocket QB and the offense has been modified from what has been working for them the second half of the season. That being said, there is alot more to this game then just the change at QB. Need to look at the whole picture before making a decision. As an example, the special teams for both of these teams is excellent. Oklahoma State plays on the carpet and Morency is much quicker when they do so. Ohio State plays on grass. This game is on artificial turf and the Cowboys will have a huge following at the game. Believe a sell-out is expected. There's more match-ups to look at, particularly on the defensive side. I'll make my decision tomorrow.
The state of Washington is going through some unprecedented times and the Zags and Huskies are benefitting from it. The Huskies could have a top 5 class if the top two guys don't jump to the NBA. Now there is something in my wildest dreams I never would have imagined saying about a Husky recruiting class. I heard the Zags class could be considered a top 25 group.
Just look at the charts though, Washington has never been a hotbed of basketball talent and the senior and junior classes are incredibly loaded. Hoping it can be a regular occurence, but I doubt it.
Just look at the charts though, Washington has never been a hotbed of basketball talent and the senior and junior classes are incredibly loaded. Hoping it can be a regular occurence, but I doubt it.
