ESPN WCC Preview

[Angelo Roncalli]

Here's a reality this season that might be difficult for other WCC teams to accept: Mark Few, in his ninth season as head coach, should have his deepest roster since the 2003-04 season and owns a young and veteran balance of talent.

and...

He [Few] also knows this: The Zags this season could be better than ever in seeking a 10th-straight NCAA Tournament berth, a fact strengthened by the arrival of Austin Daye, a 6-foot-9 forward ranked 28th in the country by Scouts Inc., and Steven Gray, a 6-3 guard ranked 80th by Scouts Inc. Gonzaga has long since eliminated the idea of recruiting the same players as other WCC teams, fortunate enough now to confront and clash over talent with schools from the Pac-10 and other major conferences.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2974624

[El Voce]

It wasn't really all that many years ago when the Zags were fighting teams like Montana and Idaho State for recruits, and often losing out to those schools.

We old farts on this board continue to marvel at the success the Zags have had over the last 15-20 years. Unfortunately, too many of the younger Zag fans take this success for granted, and consider as disappointing those years when we fail to make the Sweet 16.

Like other Zag fans, I, too, would love to see us make the Final Four. And, truth be told, I think we're going to get there someday. But in the meantime, I am going to continue to enjoy the journey: watching talented players continue to develop, watching the Zags on national TV in venues like Madison Square Garden, and watching games in our wonderful new arena. Zag fans, enjoy the moment!

[TexasZagFan]

It wasn't really all that many years ago when the Zags were fighting teams like Montana and Idaho State for recruits, and often losing out to those schools.

We old farts on this board continue to marvel at the success the Zags have had over the last 15-20 years. Unfortunately, too many of the younger Zag fans take this success for granted, and consider as disappointing those years when we fail to make the Sweet 16.

Like other Zag fans, I, too, would love to see us make the Final Four. And, truth be told, I think we're going to get there someday. But in the meantime, I am going to continue to enjoy the journey: watching talented players continue to develop, watching the Zags on national TV in venues like Madison Square Garden, and watching games in our wonderful new arena. Zag fans, enjoy the moment!

El Voce has never spoken truer words. May the younger Zag fans take heed to these words of wisdom.

[former1dog]

Count me amongt the fans who remembers the lean years. Truly almost a modern sports miracle how this "run" has been maintained.

[Rubbadub]

Liked this quote:

This team may not be as deep as Noah's Ark, but coach Mark Few seems to have two of everything. There may be least five players who, eventually, could play in the NBA.

[ZagNut08]

at least 5...maybe even 6

[CDC84]

From Fran Fraschilla

1. Gonzaga
This team may not be as deep as Noah's Ark, but coach Mark Few seems to have two of everything. There may be least five players who, eventually, could play in the NBA. Junior Josh Heylvelt is back from a late-season suspension and is in the best shape of his career. Junior Jeremy Pargo is the latest in a long line of Zags' scoring point guards and sophomore Matt Bouldin has a terrific feel for the game. Freshman Austin Daye is Gonzaga'a most highly decorated recruits and Micah Downs averaged almost 17 points over his last five games and is finally ready to blossom. The nonconference schedule is brutal, but the Zags should cruise through the WCC without many speed bumps.

I very much look forward to the game versus Oklahoma......Fran will most likely be the color analyst for that game. He's a good one.

[CDC84]

scout.com

BTW...I have no idea where ESPN is getting those scout.com rankings for Daye and Gray. This is scout.com's final 2007 list:

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&pid=88&cfg=bb&yr=2007

Daye is at 57 and Gray isn't in their top 100.

[Rubbadub]

Maybe they have some sort of super exclusive membership, actually truthful, that they give out to coaches and espn analysts.

[4EVERaZAG]

BTW...I have no idea where ESPN is getting those scout.com rankings for Daye and Gray. This is scout.com's final 2007 list:

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&pid=88&cfg=bb&yr=2007

Daye is at 57 and Gray isn't in their top 100.

Scouts Inc. the service that ESPN uses is different from Scout.com. Here is the link to there 2007 top 150 rankings:

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/espn150?season=2007&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fespn150%3fseason%3d2007

[lawzag]

[QUOTE=El Voce;82689]We old farts on this board continue to marvel... /QUOTE]
speak for yourself you old fart! some of us on this board are young & gorgeous!


I was pleased with this ESPN article that appears to be an actual intelligent and well researched description of the Zags, rather than the cr** that most "sports analysts"(I say that with sarcasm) regurgitate year after year.

[CDC84]

Re:

Thanks for the clarification 4EVERaZAG

[lothar98zag]

Liked this quote:

Quote:
This team may not be as deep as Noah's Ark, but coach Mark Few seems to have two of everything. There may be least five players who, eventually, could play in the NBA.

Huh?!?! I thought only "crazy message board using Zag-nuts" said stuff like that? Someone who gets paid to write about college basketball actually said that? no way!

[ZagNative]

Liked this quote:

This team may not be as deep as Noah's Ark, but coach Mark Few seems to have two of everything. There may be least five players who, eventually, could play in the NBA.

Reborn? Reborn? Time to weigh in with some "I-told-you-sos."

[Rubbadub]

I think all of us negative nannies have put a damper on Reborn's once abundant enthusiasm.