Kevin Calabro: Zags are as good as anyone in the country

[FuManShoes]

I was just listening to the radio here in seattle and sure enough Kevin Calabro starts gushing on the Zags, saying he's seen a lot of teams this year and the Zags are as good as most if not all of them. Jim Moore chimed in and said they look like a Sweet 16 team. I think they're overlooking some things. But it's nice to hear it. .... And now he's vociferously defending his stand!

[Robzagnut]

They certainly are peaking at the right time. A bounce here or there and this team can make a deep run.

It's going to be irritating if the Big East gets 11 teams in the tourney and the WCC only gets one.

[gamagin]

The SMC game

was perfect timing for post season preperation. a gut check. a survival of the fittest and luckiest, clutch f.t. shooting, clutch play (Meech + SD + RS) and on and on.

Beat USD & win the conference championships, too, and the level of confidence will be just prime for the dance. As good as we can hope to get in 4 quick months and we are still growing, if the SMC game is any indication.

[Drew]

Good to hear that Seattle radio is actually supporting Gonzaga BB.

[U Zig, I Zag]

They legalize medical marijuana in King County already?

Zags have the individual players, I think, to hang with a few top teams - but putting it all together with smart passing, good D and exploiting opposition weaknesses is another thing.

One game at a time...

[Reborn]

Open your eyes and you'll see it's happening!!!! Some people just can't (or don't want to) believe!

[DZ]

I love this team, really love the heart to come back from facing a 3-3 game on the road against UP with a loss making us 5th in the WCC with a 3-4 record and yet come back and have a chance for the title.

But:

I do have my eyes open and I have seen UCONN, Kansas, Texas, Pitt, Ohio State - - we may be a good or even great team, maybe one of the top 20 teams in the country, but we are not in that company above. But, hey, not many teams are.

[TheZagPhish]

They legalize medical marijuana in King County already?

____

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to U Zig, I Zag again.

[Coptrdr]

They may be overlooking a few things....but if we can keep gelling through the conf. tourney there will be a few surprised teams in the dance. I'm liking what I'm seeing.....

[zagitarious]

i think we could compete with UConn

aside from ohio state, kansas, texas, and pitt..anyone, anytime, anywhere.

[MDABE80]

This team finds its way to the Sweet 16 and I'll call it one of the biggest comebacks I've seen..ever!

Beginning to make its final gelling would do me proud! A little luck and if Same, Rob and Elias toughen up, it could happen. Unlikely but it could happen.

[VinnyZag]

I think Callabro's mostly seen Pac-10 games and Seattle U games, so ...

[NovaZag]

I'd like to see more consistent scoring from Steve, Elias, and Rob before I entertain the idea of the Zags as something more than a 1st round ncaa tourney team.

[Reborn]

I love this team, really love the heart to come back from facing a 3-3 game on the road against UP with a loss making us 5th in the WCC with a 3-4 record and yet come back and have a chance for the title.

But:

I do have my eyes open and I have seen UCONN, Kansas, Texas, Pitt, Ohio State - - we may be a good or even great team, maybe one of the top 20 teams in the country, but we are not in that company above. But, hey, not many teams are.

UCONN just lost to Marquett at home. We beat Marquette on a neutral court. Notre Dame is in second place in the powerful Big East, and we nearly upset them on their home court. And Harris was still hurt. We also beat Xavier without Gray and Harris. Xavier just won their conference title with only one conference loss. I have never understood why ESPN fails to put up our win over Marquette as one of our good wins when they talk about our chances of making the NCAA tournament as an at-large team.

[GoZags]

I think Callabro's mostly seen Pac-10 games and Seattle U games, so ...

In person, perhaps.

Calabro got a "text" from a listener after making his GU proclamation. I didn't hear his original comment (discussed above). I DID hear his reaction to the incoming text, which said "Have you even seen Gonzaga play this year?"

He has seen a ton of GU basketball. He's seen a ton of the others. He's a basketball junkie.

What I find stunning about his comment -- I believe he's only seen the Zags in person once -- he did the Washington State -- GU game. We know how that turned out.

I believe he's referring to the talent, the chemistry and the gelling of the Zags.

I thought it was pretty cool.