Gonzaga

GameNight: Gonzaga vs Oklahoma State (Old Spice Classic)

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:07:31 -0500

Start: Nov 27 2008 - 9:00pm

Preview & Prediction: By Raphielle Johnson

The Old Spice Classic tips off in Orlando on Thursday, and the day’s best quarterfinal could be the showdown between undefeated Gonzaga (2-0) and Oklahoma State (4-0). Neither team has been seriously tested thus far, but the Cowboys did take on a North Texas team that is expected to contend in the Sun Belt. Travis Ford is in his first season in Stillwater, and the handcuffs have been removed on the offensive end of the floor as a result. Five players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by sophomore James Anderson at 19.5 ppg.

In addition to Anderson, keep an eye on guards Terrel Harris and Byron Eaton, forming a trio that by season’s end could be pegged as the Big 12’s best backcourt (if they aren’t already). Oklahoma State isn’t afraid to hit the glass either, with their top three rebounders (Obi Muonelo, Anderson and Harris) all standing between 6-5 and 6-6. Ibrahima Thomas is the main man on the inside, and he’s going to have his hands full with Josh Heytvelt in this one.

Gonzaga is also a dangerous offensive team, with a number of options from just about anywhere on the floor. Point guard Jeremy Pargo leads the attack with an average of nine assists per game. He wasn’t called on to score much in wins over Montana State-Billings and Idaho, but he can get the job done by way of either a jump shot or drive to the basket. Forwards Heytvelt and Austin Daye lead the team in scoring and rebounding, while Steven Gray, Micah Downs and the versatile Matt Bouldin are right behind them. The matchup between Daye and Anderson should be fun to watch, with both being sophomores who tend to get lost in the shuffle behind Blake Griffin and James Harden in regards to national attention.

Looking at this game, the key player may indeed be Heytvelt, who’s looking to recover from a subpar 2007-08 campaign. Missing the back end of the previous season due to suspension definitely had an effect on his game and finding his comfort zone within Coach Few’s system, but it should be all systems go this time around. Look for the Bulldogs to win a close one and move on to Friday’s semifinals.

Winner: Gonzaga Margin: 3-7

Poll: Who Will Win the Old Spice Classic?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:29:59 -0500

Top Lists: Floor Generals, Underrated Players, Do-It-All Stars

Jason Brubaker — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:44:32 -0500

We’ve covered the preseason All-Americans, Final Four picks and individual team previews. Now it’s time for the fun stuff – the guys who make college basketball so fun to watch. Let the debates begin:

Floor leaders: These guys are coaches on the floor

1) Darren Collison G, UCLA: Three seasons, three Finals Fours. Not a bad resume heading into his senior year.

2) Eric Maynor G, VCU: Would we even be talking about VCU basketball if it weren’t for this guy? Quite simply, he does it all for the Rams

3) Jeremy Pargo G, Gonzaga: Seasoned veteran keep Zags offense clicking

4) Nick Calathes G, Florida: Was given controls of the team as a true freshman, has great understanding of the game

5) Ty Lawson G, UNC: Speedy leader manages to keep all of UNC's scoring options happy.

Inside/outside: Good luck matching up with these versatile threats

1) Kyle Singler F, Duke: Was Devils' best post player and leading rebounder, but also comfortable on the perimeter (51 3’s)

2) Earl Clark F, Louisville: Has NBA scouts drooling over his potential (11 ppg, 8 rpg)

3) Damion James F, Texas: Terrific rebounder (10.3 rpg) and post presence also can hit from outside (38 3’s, 41%)

4) Tyler Smith G/F, Tennessee: Looks like a small forward, plays like a point guard, the toughest match-up in the SEC.

5) James Johnson F, Wake Forest: Multi-talented forward was a pleasant surprise for Deacons last year (14.6 ppg, 8 rpg)

Under-Appreciated: These guys don't get the headlines, but you can bet their opponents know about them

1). Patrick Christopher (Cal) - Dangerous scorer is often overshadowed by flashier Pac-10 guards

2). Marcus Ginyard (UNC) - Defensive stopper does the dirty work for nation's best team

3). Jessie Sapp (Georgetown) - Combo guard is perfect fit for Hoya's motion offense

4). Wesley Matthews (Marquette) - Does a little of everything for the Eagles but stays under the radar

5). David Lighty (Ohio State) - Overlooked because of one-and-dones, but is natural leader for young team

Previously:

Top Dunkers, Shooters, Rebounders

Top Shotblockers, Comeback Players, Hidden Gems

Disagree with Jason's picks? Let us know your top lists below!

College Basketball: Breakout Stars

CHN — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:24:39 -0500

BREAKOUT PLAYERS

CHN writers were asked a simple question: What player is on the verge of becoming a household name? Here’s what our guys had to say.. let us know who you would choose below:

	Chris Wright (Dayton): With Brian Roberts gone, Wright will get plenty of chances to carry the Flyers. A terrific athlete who was one of the most touted recruits to ever sign with Dayton, Wright was limited to 13 games because of injury last year, but he has the talent to be an all-conference player when healthy. Jason Brubaker
	Sherron Collins (Kansas): Pretty simple - the Jayhawks need Collins to play big minutes this season and become more of a focal point, so I expect him to do so. Jeff Fox
	Eric Devendorf (Syracuse): Devo was playing the best basketball of his career before he went down with the knee injury last year. Look for him to come back full steam and combine with Jonny Flynn to make up one of the BIg East's best backcourts. Raphielle Johnson
	Patrick Patterson (Kentucky): Was the only freshmen among the SEC's top scorers before getting hurt last season. He'll be the biggest reason Kentucky will be a contender for the SEC East. Kevin McNeill
	Jeff Allen (Virginia Tech): Lost in last year’s freakish freshman class, Allen quietly had a solid 11 & 7 season for Virginia Tech. But if he keeps his head on straight, Allen has the chance to be one of the best players in the ACC. Shawn Siegel
	Austin Daye (Gonzaga): There is nothing on a basketball court he can't do (well, except defend, but who cares about that, right?). Just a match-up nightmare that can get his shot off any time and should keep improving. Jason Tomassini
	Damion James (Texas): James can score around the basket, shoot the ball and is an absolute beast on the glass. A.J. Abrams might be Texas' leading scorer this season, but James will be the most valuable player. Joel Welser
	Austin Daye (Gonzaga): Daye is a 6'10" perimeter player who can dribble, shoot and create his own shot. WCC defenders, you have been warned. Joey Whelan

More Writers Picks: Overrated Players - Underrated Players

Who do you think belongs on this list? Post your comments below:

Gonzaga Basketball Preview: #13

Joel Welser — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:48:15 -0500

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Overall Rank: #13

Conference Rank: #1 WCC

2007-08: 25-8, 13-1, 1^st

2007-08 postseason: NCAA

When point guard Jeremy Pargo decided to return for his senior season, this turned into possibly the most talented Gonzaga team ever. And that is saying a lot. Pargo makes this team go and the 6-2 senior averaged 12.1 points and 6.0 assists per game last season. His speed and quickness allow the Bulldogs to be extremely dangerous in transition. Pargo is sometimes out of control and makes poor decisions, but now that he is a senior that should be less of a concern. And if it is not a problem this year, Gonzaga could be a Final Four quality team.

Who’s Out:

David Pendergraft rarely put up great numbers, but he was the glue guy in the frontcourt and would do all the dirty work. He ended the year averaging 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds and it remains to be seen who can replace his hustle and defense. Part-time starter Abdullahi Kuso is also gone. The 6-9 forward was a decent scorer around the basket, but it was his presence on the defensive end that will be missed. Larry Gurganious, a 6-5 forward, has also wrapped up his career at Gonzaga after tallying 3.3 points per game a year ago.

Who’s In:

The backcourt has a couple point guards who could work their way into the regular rotation this year. Grant Gibbs is 6-5 and could see some minutes at the two guard spot as well. And the sharpshooting guard might stay on the wing if fellow incoming freshman Demetri Goodson is indeed the next in line of great point guards in Spokane, Washington. Goodson is more of a true point guard, but he will certainly do plenty of scoring as well. Spending a year behind Pargo should help him develop quickly and be ready to take over the starting role next year. As for this year, he has enough talent to spell Pargo and keep him fresh down the stretch. Walk-on Chris Pontarolo-Maag will add some emergency depth to the perimeter after redshirting during the 2007-2008 campaign. The lone big man Coach Mark Few is bringing in this year is Andy Poling. The 6-11, 230 pound forward has the skills to play inside and out and he will have to help replace Pendergraft and Kuso right away.

Who to Watch:

But even without Pendergraft and Kuso, the Bulldogs frontcourt is still among the best in the nation, especially if you count wing Matt Bouldin. The 6-5 junior led the team with 12.6 points per game and added 3.7 rebounds. The power forward spot will be taken over by Austin Daye. He had a superb freshman season coming off the bench averaging 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, and that was in just 18.5 minutes per contest. If he can stay out of foul trouble, the 6-10 forward will have a huge sophomore campaign. Josh Heytvelt did not have a great year in 2007-2008, but he was still a double-digit scorer and the team’s leading rebounder. He is expected to step back into a starting role for his senior season and it could be a great year for him if he can stay healthy and out of trouble. Finding some depth is the only concern, but even that is not as bad as it sounds. Robert Sacre, a 7-0 center, managed to start ten games last year and Ira Brown is an experienced senior who can play the small forward spot and at least grab some rebounds.

Final Projection:

With Pargo, the newcomers, Steven Gray and Micah Downs, the depth in the backcourt is not an issue at all. Steven Gray should be starting next to Pargo. As a freshman Gray hit 46.2 percent of his attempts from long range and managed to earn 19 starts. Gray is more than just a shooter; he is a decent athlete who can score around the basket. Downs can do a little bit of everything and he could play an important role on this team if Daye is slowed by an off-season knee injury. Downs is really a wing, but at 6-8 he has played the four spot before. Both Daye and Downs are not your typical power forward and toughness and rebounding could be the main thing stopping this Gonzaga team from making a deep run in March.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Jeremy Pargo, Senior, Guard, 12.1 points per game

Steven Gray, Sophomore, Guard, 8.1 points per game

Matt Bouldin, Junior, Guard, 12.6 points per game

Austin Daye, Sophomore, Forward, 10.5 points per game

Josh Heytvelt, Senior, Forward, 10.3 points per game

More:

WCC Basketball Preview: 2008-09

WCC Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:31:23 -0500

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Conference Rank: 10th

Conference Page

All-WCC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Jeremy Pargo	Gonzaga	Sr
G	Patrick Mills	St. Mary's	So
G	Brandon Johnson	San Diego	Sr
F	Diamon Simpson	St. Mary's	Sr
C	John Bryant	Santa Clara	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
High-Major All-Americans Austin Daye Matt Bouldin Josh Hetyvelt Jeremy Pargo Mid-Major All-Americans John Bryant Brandon Johnson Dior Lowhorn Patrick Mills Gyno Pomare Diamon Simpson		Points: Dior Lowhorn 20.5 Rebounds: John Bryant 9.6 Assists: Jeremy Pargo 6.0

WCC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

13	Gonzaga	WCC	1	NCAA
35	St. Mary's	WCC	2	NCAA
61	San Diego	WCC	3	NIT
151	Santa Clara	WCC	4
179	San Francisco	WCC	5
222	Portland	WCC	6
251	Pepperdine	WCC	7
274	Loy Marymount	WCC	8

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the WCC?

Other WCC Content

Conference Media Poll

WCC Poll & All-Conference Team

Other

Rise & Fall: The WCC

College Basketball: Top Small Forwards

Joey Whelan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:34:16 -0400

Probably the toughest position to define in the college game is small forward. Many of these players act as a third guard, or on a team loaded with backcourt players, move down to the power forward spot. With that in mind, some of the players on this list are hybrids, capable of starting at a variety of spots, but most often fall under the heading of small forward. The top six is loaded with talent, including four players who will contend for Player of the Year honors in their respective BCS conferences, and a couple of mid-major gems. In all, ever player on this list will be a star in his own right and be a major factor in the success of his respective team this season.

Pick Six: Top Small Forwards

Throughout the week, check back for articles highlighting the Top 6 players at each position. Tomorrow we’ll be rolling out the Top 6 at shooting guard.

1. Tyler Smith - Tennessee

The Vol’s will be in good shape to contend for another regular season SEC crown with the return of Smith, arguably the conference’s top player this season. The junior had little trouble transferring over from the Big Ten, where he was with Iowa, improving on most of his numbers. Smith possesses excellent athleticism and a great first step. These physical attributes have allowed him to be a very effective slasher, getting into the lane for easy buckets and earning plenty of trips to the foul line (his 6.3 attempts per 40 minutes was third amongst SEC small forwards last season). Smith really stands out as a defender, showing good lateral quickness and his length allows him to hold his own against bigger players. He seems to have a real good grasp of how to play on this end of the floor. Already a major threat overall, if Smith improves his perimeter shooting, watch out.

Stats: 13.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.4 apg

2. Sam Young – Pittsburgh

Talk about a player exploding onto the scene. Young nearly doubled up in every major statistical category during his junior campaign, becoming one of the elite players not only in the Big East, but in the country. The senior is a physical specimen, packing a defined 210 pounds onto a long 6’6” frame. Equally impressive is Young’s explosiveness and his quick first step for a stronger player. He is an extremely efficient player, connecting on 50% of his shot attempts last year, many of which were mid-range jumpers. Young shows nice ability as a catch and shoot perimeter player, but needs to improve somewhat on his ability to connect from long range off the dribble. He is strong enough to post smaller players and score at a high clip on the block, while proving to be a dangerous transition scorer. As a defender, Young excels in one-on-one situations thanks to his toughness, and is an excellent rebounder for his size. If Pitt is going to make a run deep into March, Young will have to have another big year.

Stats: 18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.2 apg

3. Chase Budinger – Arizona

The junior high flyer may be the best player in the Pac-10 this season. Budinger is a match up nightmare for most teams due to his 6’7” frame and tremendous athletic ability. What was most encouraging to see from him as a sophomore though was a maturing of his offensive game. Budinger became a better perimeter shooter, improving his stroke, while continuing to be a threat in the lane thanks to his great body control around the hoop. Becoming a more consistent ball handler would go a long way to solidifying his scoring ability. Defensively there are still qualms about his ability as Budinger has proven to be somewhat heavy footed when forced to move laterally. Either way, that won’t stop him from once again being one of the best out west.

Stats: 17.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 apg

4. Robbie Hummel – Purdue

In Hummel the Boilermakers have themselves a potential Big Ten Player of the Year. The sophomore, like Budinger, is a major match up issue for opposing teams, standing 6’8” and capable of knocking down perimeter jumpers consistently. Hummel also does well attacking the basket; though he lacks a great first step, he has a nice collection of dribble drive moves that allow him to break down defenders. He could probably stand to post up smaller defenders more often, but does a nice job on the offensive glass, playing very aggressively. Perhaps the biggest surprise about Hummel’s game last season was his efficiency distributing the basketball. The freshman ranked 22^nd in the nation in assist to turnover ratio and was tops among all small forwards in this category. Defensively he is a liability somewhat at this point, but with his outstanding play already on offense and his further development, Purdue will be happy to take the good with the bad.

Stats: 11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg

5. Austin Daye – Gonzaga

You may scoff, you may hoot, you may holler, but Daye is deserving of a spot on the list. This is a player with seemingly endless amounts of potential and with a year of college ball under his belt, we could see Daye explode in the WCC this season. At 6’10”, the sophomore can shoot from the outside and handle the ball like a player four or five inches shorter. While the release point on his shot is somewhat inconsistent, he connected on over 41% of his three-point attempts last season and also showed the ability to shoot off the dribble. Daye looks very comfortable handling the ball and can attack the basket with either hand. Defensively he has some work to do, but his length and athleticism make him a constant shot blocking threat. If you still aren’t convinced, his adjusted freshman numbers had him at 22.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per 40 minutes; not bad.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 apg

6. Lee Cummard – BYU

This was a very tough final pick to make, but ultimately the solid and consistent senior won out over the rest of the field. Cummard is a very good all-around player who largely goes overlooked playing in the Mountain West Conference. A lights out shooter from anywhere on the floor (56.9% FG, 47.2% 3P FG), Cummard doesn’t need a ton of room to get his shot off. At 6’7” he has good size for his position and rebounds very well, hauling down better than six rebounds per game last season. Perhaps one of the interesting things to examine with Cummard is how he stacked up with other small forwards who entered their name in the draft last season. The sharp shooter finished was top ten in scoring and rebounding, while finishing tops in assists and assist to turnover ratio. Even more encouraging was that Cummard was the only small forward to have a positive Pure Point Rating, which determines how well a player distributes the ball. With a strong BYU team returning, Cummard should get more attention this season.

Stats: 15.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.5 apg

Next in Line: DaJuan Summers, Georgetown; Paul Harris, Syracuse; Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest; Alonzo Gee, Alabama; James Anderson, Oklahoma State. Tomorrow: PF's

Love it or hate it, let’s hear it!

Pick Six Archive -- The Big List: CHN's Preview Index

College Basketball: Top Point Guards

Joey Whelan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:54:41 -0400

Ah, the old floor general; the point guard. He is the player responsible for standing at the helm of his team and guiding them as an offensive catalyst, while also serving as the first line of defense on the other end of the floor. Is it any wonder then that seven of the last nine national champions have seen their point guard drafted in June? Probably not.

Last season, the first to see all four top seeds advance to the Final Four, also saw four point guards (Darren Collison, Ty Lawson, Mario Chalmers and Derrick Rose) who were either drafted this past June, or are safe bets to be wearing an NBA uniform come the 2009-10 season.

With that known emphasis on the importance of a steady hand at the wheel, here’s a look at the top six point guards that will appear on the court this season.

Pick Six: Top PG's

Throughout the week, check back for articles highlighting the Top 6 players at each position. Tomorrow we’ll be rolling out the Top 6 at shooting guard.

1. Darren Collison - UCLA

The Bruins senior leader gets the nod over Ty Lawson because he has a more diverse offensive skill set and is a better defender. Collison has managed to guide UCLA to three straight Final Four appearances, proving his worth as a winner at the collegiate level. Likely the fastest player in the Pac-10, Collison is a nightmare to guard due to his excellent first step, ball handling skills and court vision. The problem here, is when defenders play off him to avoid getting beat off the dribble, there is the matter of 52.5% shooting clip from beyond the arc. Throw in the fact that Collison is one of the better backcourt defenders in the country despite his small stature, and you have yourself the top point guard in college basketball.

Stats: 14.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.8 apg

2. Ty Lawson – North Carolina

If not for a couple of off the court issues and an injury this past spring, Lawson wouldn’t even be on this list, he’d be on an NBA roster. With that said, the Tar Heels are thrilled with the return of their one-man fast break. Lawson’s game is built on speed so it is only natural that he is at his best in transition. His ability to change direction when in a full sprint with the ball is unmatched by any other player, but perhaps most important is that Lawson has learned how to control that speed. He slows down somewhat in the half court set, but shows good body control when attacking the rim. Lawson’s 7.2 assists per 40 minutes was 4^th in the country last season and he had an excellent 2.3 assist to turnover ratio. With Carolina bringing even more offensive firepower into their program this season, don’t expect his scoring numbers to increase a ton, but certainly a boost in the assist numbers is likely.

Stats: 12.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.2 apg

3. Tyrese Rice – Boston College

Rice has yet to show the full extent of his point guard abilities for the Eagles and don’t expect that to change this season. With a roster devoid of much scoring ability, Rice has had to run the offense as well as be the offense for BC, scoring 30% of the team’s points last season. Still, there may not be a better scoring point guard in the country than the 6’0” senior. Rice possesses an excellent shot, don’t be fooled by the 35.8% three-point shooting percentage, if he is given space on the perimeter, he will do a lot of damage. He is fantastic dribble-drive player, able to break down most defenders at the college level thanks to great handles and an excellent first step. Somehow, he managed to dish out five assists per game as well last year. While it is likely he will have another season where he has to take an abundance of shots (15.4 per game last season), if he continues to put together performances like the 46 points he dropped on UNC, fans in Chestnut Hill likely won’t be complaining.

Stats: 21.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg

4. A.J. Price – Connecticut

After missing two seasons for the Huskies, Price was finally able to show what he can do last year, putting on a phenomenal display during his junior campaign. Another one of the scoring point guard types, Price has good quickness, a solid mid-range game and excellent instincts. While he isn’t a huge threat to consistently beat teams from the outside, he will hurt you if left alone. Price really turns heads with his passing ability, able to thread the needle from the perimeter and showing increasing improvement to drive and dish. He was tops in the Big East last season in every conceivable passing statistic, dishing out 5.8 assists per game and posting an outstanding 2.46 assist to turnover ratio, good for 6^th in the country. What makes Price all the more appealing as far as his pro potential is concerned, is that he is still developing after missing so much of the early part of his career.

Stats: 14.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.8 apg

5. Jonny Flynn – Syracuse

While his teammate Donte Greene may have gotten more attention last year, Jonny Flynn may ultimately be remembered as a better player in upstate New York. While there is no question the sophomore was streaky in his first season with the Orange, he did prove to be a major offensive weapon, posting seven 20-point games against Big East opponents. He is another player who thrives in the open court, using his speed, great ball handling skills and ability to change direction to disrupt defenses on a regular basis. Flynn shows good court vision and instincts for a young player, but he made plenty of questionable decisions last year. Having a full season of college basketball under his belt should help limit the number of mistakes he makes this year, but learning to not always be in a hurry with the ball will go a long way to making him even more of a big time player.

Stats: 15.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.3 apg

6. Jeremy Pargo – Gonzaga

Physically, Pargo may have the best overall make up of any player on this list. He has good size for the point guard spot at 6’2”, is very strong and super explosive. Pargo has an advanced arsenal of dribble drive moves that allow him to penetrate to the basket or create space for himself on the perimeter. These skills nicely complement a mid-range game that has continued to develop in his time at Gonzaga and has made him the WCC’s top player. As a defender, Pargo shows a lot of aggressiveness and hustle, something coaches and scouts love to see, and allowed him to average better than a steal per game last season. The decision to return to school for his senior season was a good one for Pargo and it will likely pay dividends not only for Gonzaga, but for him as well.

Stats: 12.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.0 apg

Next in line: Patrick Mills; Saint Mary’s; Jrue Holiday, UCLA; Levance Fields, Pitt; Nick Calathes, Florida; Eric Maynor, VCU

-- Tomorrow: SG's

Pick Six Archive (including Top 6 per league) -- The Big List: CHN's Preview Index