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Despite a good 22-6 record, good wins over UConn, Western Kentucky, and St. Joe's, the 2007-08 Bulldogs are indeed a mystery.
Having seen 24 of the games either on the Tube or in person I have yet to see this team play 40 minutes of the basketball they are capable of.
There has never been this much individual talent on any Zag squad in history, but no Zag team that I can remember has taken this long to shake out the wrinkles and come together.
Center Josh Heytvelt is only now in the last weeks of conference play beginning to resemble vaguely the kid that manhandled Hansbrough in the Gonzaga win over the Tarheels.
Granted, lack practice and game minutes due to the infamous mushroom episode, and several recurring foot injuries have caused the young man to be slow in rounding into shape, but until just lately, the spark, the unbridled joy of playing a game Josh loves seems to have deserted him.
Guards Matty Bouldin and Micah Downs have been inconsistant, while the two freshmen, Daye & Gray have shown flashes of brilliance, but still make freshman mistakes. The two steadiest players all season have been Jeremy pargo and David Pendergraft.
Jeremy has shown the ability to to lead this team with his point guard play and if necessary, take over the scoring load with his powerful drives to the rack and much improved three-point shooting.
Pendo has just been Pendo, undersized for the paint at 6'6", 225. He has been among the rebounding leaders all season, shooting over 40 percent from long range and slipping down the baseline several times each game for quick inside strikes. Both he and Jeremy leave it all on the floor every game.
6'9" Adullahi Kuso has done a workmanlike job in the middle, while Josh has been ailing, and our young bigs, 6'11" Rob Sacre and 7'4" soph Will Foster have shown signs of improvement, but are a long way from being ready for prime time minutes.
So it all boils down to which Zag team will show up this Saturday night at McCarthey Athletic Center (K2) against a St Mary's Gael team that pushed us around pretty good at their place.
If the Zags win this game and play well in the Conference Tourney, I feel confident that a lot of the powers in the Big Dance will run into a Zag team that will give them fits. Let the mystery end!
Having seen 24 of the games either on the Tube or in person I have yet to see this team play 40 minutes of the basketball they are capable of.
There has never been this much individual talent on any Zag squad in history, but no Zag team that I can remember has taken this long to shake out the wrinkles and come together.
Center Josh Heytvelt is only now in the last weeks of conference play beginning to resemble vaguely the kid that manhandled Hansbrough in the Gonzaga win over the Tarheels.
Granted, lack practice and game minutes due to the infamous mushroom episode, and several recurring foot injuries have caused the young man to be slow in rounding into shape, but until just lately, the spark, the unbridled joy of playing a game Josh loves seems to have deserted him.
Guards Matty Bouldin and Micah Downs have been inconsistant, while the two freshmen, Daye & Gray have shown flashes of brilliance, but still make freshman mistakes. The two steadiest players all season have been Jeremy pargo and David Pendergraft.
Jeremy has shown the ability to to lead this team with his point guard play and if necessary, take over the scoring load with his powerful drives to the rack and much improved three-point shooting.
Pendo has just been Pendo, undersized for the paint at 6'6", 225. He has been among the rebounding leaders all season, shooting over 40 percent from long range and slipping down the baseline several times each game for quick inside strikes. Both he and Jeremy leave it all on the floor every game.
6'9" Adullahi Kuso has done a workmanlike job in the middle, while Josh has been ailing, and our young bigs, 6'11" Rob Sacre and 7'4" soph Will Foster have shown signs of improvement, but are a long way from being ready for prime time minutes.
So it all boils down to which Zag team will show up this Saturday night at McCarthey Athletic Center (K2) against a St Mary's Gael team that pushed us around pretty good at their place.
If the Zags win this game and play well in the Conference Tourney, I feel confident that a lot of the powers in the Big Dance will run into a Zag team that will give them fits. Let the mystery end!
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