Meehan Pregame post and other St. Mary's Previews

[ZagNative]

See Jim Meehan's preview here. Lots of stuff in there I didn't know ...

Feel free to add any good stories you find previewing the game.

ESPN game page and preview

[LynetteG]

There's a poll on the ESPN site

Who will WIN this matchup?11:05 PM
#14 Gonzaga Bulldogs (12-3) -- 94.8%
@ Saint Mary's Gaels (15-2) -- 5.2%

[Akzag]

CC Times Article on Bennett

[RenoZag]

There is no love lost between Saint Mary’s talkative center Omar Samhan and Gonzaga fans.

Yep, ol' Jim got that one right

[Nevtelen]

Center Robert Sacre has done a solid job defensively, Few said. “He’s been pretty effective. I’d say the other ones have left a lot to be desired and I’ll leave it at that.”

Tough quote to interpret - only Sacre has been playing good D?

[ZagNative]

That was the one that made me scratch my head too, Nev.

[billyberu]

Tough quote to interpret - only Sacre has been playing good D?

That seems to be the perception.

[zagirl2k]

cctimes game preview

[bballbeachbum]

Center Robert Sacre has done a solid job defensively, Few said. “He’s been pretty effective. I’d say the other ones have left a lot to be desired and I’ll leave it at that.”

talking about post D. KO, Will and Elias have struggled in there at times, and we'll leave it at that

also on Rob, reaching down is not how he's picked up most of his fouls, although he does himself no favors when he does that. He's gets them trying to collect charges (has not succeeded in getting that call yet tho he has appeared to be set many times), on offense (he picks up an offensive foul a game seems to me), defending the pick and roll, and on some truly bogus whistles. If he got all his fouls defending the post, fine, even if he reaches for a shot block and picks up a foul, although he's better served not doing that. But it's these other fouls he commits that cut into his PT, and are the ones he needs to eliminate.

[gamagin]

+1

Center Robert Sacre has done a solid job defensively, Few said. “He’s been pretty effective. I’d say the other ones have left a lot to be desired and I’ll leave it at that.”

also on Rob, reaching down is not how he's picked up most of his fouls, although he does himself no favors when he does that. He's gets them trying to collect charges (has not succeeded in getting that call yet tho he has appeared to be set many times), on offense (he picks up an offensive foul a game seems to me), defending the pick and roll, and on some truly bogus whistles. If he got all his fouls defending the post, fine, even if he reaches for a shot block and picks up a foul, although he's better served not doing that. But it's these other fouls he commits that cut into his PT, and are the ones he needs to eliminate.

I'd rather seem him collect an occasional foul knocking the driving opponent into the bleachers, discouraging such presumptuous behavior.

Go TEAM Zags !

[DZ]

Everyone should read the CC times article linked above about Bennet, he is a good man (comes off a lot like Mark Few, comfortable in his own skin, though I doubt that SMC fans would see Few that way), he is a great coach and recruiter. Most importantly, he seems to see the WCC as we do, a very competitive, very underestimated conference where a great program can be built.

Though I hate losing to them, we should appreciate that SMC and USD seem committed to being national programs, what is good for the WCC is good for GU.

[bballbeachbum]

Everyone should read the CC times article linked above about Bennet, he is a good man (comes off a lot like Mark Few, comfortable in his own skin, though I doubt that SMC fans would see Few that way), he is a great coach and recruiter. Most importantly, he seems to see the WCC as we do, a very competitive, very underestimated conference where a great program can be built.

Though I hate losing to them, we should appreciate that SMC and USD seem committed to being national programs, what is good for the WCC is good for GU.

thanks Dixie and Zagirl2K.

Bennett is a tremendous coach. he gets players to come to Moraga, teaches them up a storm, and can game coach, too. doubt I'll get an argument there.

but I don't get the scheduling thing. I disagree some, Dixie. by now, I would have bet they'd play a schedule that could help them determine their own fate better, but they don't do that. instead, they still place all their marbles into the only true home and home of impact on their schedule...their games with GU, and it shows in the quotes from that article.

since other teams are leary (leery?) to home and home them because of potential RPI impacts etc., the Gaels are forced to schedule the tough road games and go for it! EARN IT out of the WCC! it can be done, see Gonzaga But they do not, instead they do this same thing every year, and that is not good for the WCC or us imo.

we need a true partner out there, taking on the big boys (at least some!!!) with pleasure, and dumping plenty of them. They are good enought to do it, but we don't get that from the Gaels. we just get super-targeted by them seems to me.

That's fine, but I don't see them as good ambassadors for the WCC, although I believe they really could be. What am I missing here?

GO TEAM ZAGS!!!