Zags @ Cougars: Head to Head / Pre-Game Media

[caduceus]

I'm out of town this weekend, so getting this on early. Of the remaining games for the Zags, I doubt anyone will argue that this is the pinnacle of the regular season. An away win against Brigham Young University (22-7, 11-3) would add another crown jewel — a Quadrant 1-A win to the Zags' résumé. You can bet that the Cougars and their rowdy fans in white will be like the Queen's Guard to prevent that from happening.







The Zags haven't played BYU since January 18th. Without Yoeli Childs, they took a 69-92 beatdown. Since that loss, they are 8-1 with their only loss @USF by one point. BYU is a dangerous team, particularly on the offensive side:




source: https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-ba...ars-2020-02-22


KenPom has BYU at #21 (#5 offense, #83 defense). They are #1 nationally in 3-pt%, #2 in effective FG%, #3 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, #5 in assists per game, and top 20 in denying turnovers. Tempo is #106, relatively fast. They are very offense oriented, take care of the ball, pass well, and score from near and far very well. They are top 10 in 2nd half points per game as well. The Zags lead in 3 of 4 factors for winning basketball, with the Cougars statistically being better shooters than the Zags. Let that sink in. While the Zags' defense is improving, BYU's offense has become a force worth reckoning. Add in the home field advantage, and the Bulldogs are in for a fight.







For those that want to dig into the nitty-gritty, here's the efficiency comparison:




source: https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-ba...-22/efficiency


BYU doesn't get a lot of offensive rebounds, but part of that is due to the fact that they get a lot of made baskets. Another interesting tidbit is that because the Cougars shoot so many 3's (42%!), they don't get to the line much. In fact, the Zags get to the line a full 20% more often than the Provo castronovos.

I think the game will be another boat race. Key issues will be Zag rebounds on the offensive glass, and Zag free throws (if the refs allow any).

This game will by no means be like their last encounter. Torvik predicts an 82-79 win for the Jesuits. Sagarin's predictor says a 3.8 point win for GU.


Despite that, expect a lot of this on Saturday:




Have fun! At least we'll have real announcers for this tilt.

[U Zig, I Zag]

Thanks for these each week.

[sittingon50]

Great pics, cad!

[RenoZag]

TSSF: GU @ BYU Preview

The sub-title says it all: "The biggest BYU game since they've been in the WCC"

Story Link: https://www.slipperstillfits.com/202...op-25-showdown

One of the best, and perhaps only way to beat Gonzaga is by getting extra possessions and free points. BYU does neither of those. They rank 347th in offensive rebounding percentage. They rank in the bottom third in steals and forcing turnovers. And maybe most concerning, they only score 12.3 percent of their points at the free throw line, which is 352nd in the country (only Texas is worse). In short: if BYU can’t create turnovers on defense or get second chance opportunities or get to the foul line, that puts more emphasis on them hitting a lot of jump shots. The margin for error is already slim when facing Gonzaga, but it becomes even slimmer if the only way you can win is by hitting a ton of threes.

[RenoZag]

It's Senior Night at the Marriott Center

From the Deseret News: LINK: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/...-haws-mark-few

Before Saturday’s game, the school will honor seven seniors on the roster — Yoeli Childs, TJ Haws, Jake Toolson, Zac Seljaas, Dalton Nixon, Evan Troy and Taylor Maughan — who will be playing in their final game at the Marriott Center.

“It’s awesome. It’s a great opportunity for our team. We’re up for the challenge,” Toolson said. “They’re a good team. We’ve been getting better all year long. It’s cool how this season has come together. Down the stretch there are fun opportunities for us. We’re really excited about it.”

[RenoZag]

Tyson Jay Haws - Last of the 'Lone Peak 3'

Jeff Call does a nice job recapping the journey of TJ Haws in this feature from the Deseret News:

LINK: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/...ika-marty-haws

While some might judge Haws by what he hasn’t accomplished, he’s silenced critics this season, leaving a lasting impression with a series of signature moments.

In November, he made a buzzer-beating jumper at Houston. In February, he buried a long-range 3-pointer to vanquish Saint Mary’s with nine seconds remaining (and hours before the birth of his first child). And last Saturday, his alley-oop pass to Yoeli Childs with 11.1 seconds left lifted the Cougars to a dramatic 72-71 road victory over San Diego. Those plays will live on in BYU basketball lore.

Along the way, Haws has been quietly moving up the career charts, ranking in the top 10 all time in several categories — eighth in scoring (1,842 points), third in 3-point field goals made (239), third in assists (569), eighth in steals (152) and ninth in free-throw percentage (82.1%).

[RenoZag]

Loads on the line in Provo: Meehan

From the Spokesman-Review:

BYU will have forwards Childs and Gavin Baxter, both of whom missed Gonzaga’s 92-69 win last month in Spokane, but is without senior Dalton Nixon (ankle). Baxter is slowly working his way back from a shoulder injury, logging 31 minutes in the past four games.

Childs, averaging 20.8 points and 8.6 rebounds, ranks sixth in scoring and second in boards in program history. He’s knocked down 51.4% behind the 3-point line after shooting in the low 30s the previous two seasons.

“He’s real athletic and can do many things on the court,” Gonzaga sophomore forward Filip Petrusev said. “You get ready differently than last time, try to get hm away from the basket where he’s most dangerous. On offense, just do the same, try to attack him and get him off the court.”

LINK: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...d-winning-str/

[RenoZag]

Salt Lake Tribune: "It's going to be sheer insanity."

STORY LINK: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-co...ty-knocks-byu/

“We’ve talked a long time about seniors being magic and these guys, with everything they’ve gone through in their respective career, their last home game of their career as seniors is the first time that they’ve ever been ranked, two ranked teams going head to head at the Marriott Center, in a sold out arena winning seven in a row,” Pope said. “If you would have asked us if we would take that before the season started, every single one of us would have signed up a million times over. What these seniors have accomplished is breathtaking. It really is breathtaking.”

Dave Rose left a full cupboard but "chef" Pope has shown he can blend the ingredients with flair.

[RenoZag]

Seth Davis: "One of the best home court environments of the season."

This is going to be one of the best homecourt environments of the season. Hopefully, the fans at the Marriott Center will see a better game than the first meeting on Jan. 18, when Gonzaga walloped the Cougars in Spokane, 92-69. True, BYU was playing without its leading scorer and rebounder, 6-8 senior forward Yoeli Childs, but Gonzaga’s leading scorer, 6-11 sophomore forward Filip Petrusev, only played 15 minutes because of an ankle injury. Gonzaga looked mortal for 20 minutes Thursday night before rallying from a nine-point halftime deficit to beat San Francisco by 17 at home. The good news for the Zags is that 6-10 senior forward Killian Tillie is healthy, but they will need to play stellar defense against a Cougars squad that leads the country in 3-point percentage (42.2) and ranks fourth in made 3s per game (10.6). BYU is a very good team and has one of the oldest rosters in the country. I think the Cougars are ready to pull off the upset.

https://theathletic.com/1626362/2020/02/22/college-basketball-against-the-spread-picks-kansas-baylor-february-21/

[RenoZag]

WCC Hoops Columnist Jeff Faraudo: Coach Pope Feature

LINK: https://wccsports.com/news/2020/2/20...w-2-20-20.aspx

There is also the simple matter of continuing to improve. It’s “desperately important,” said Pope, who has seen it in the locker room and on the court.

“It’s working daily to quiet their own personal agendas in terms of competing and fighting for each other,” Pope said. “The guys have been really generous in trusting us in the way we imagine playing. At the offensive end, that’s making plays for each other. It’s almost more of what we turn down than what we take. At the defensive end, when we've had success, we’re making every possession matter.”

Pope is perhaps most impressed that his players hardly blinked when senior forward Yoeli Childs — one of the WCC’s elite players — twice was absent for stretches of time. He missed the season’s first nine games due to NCAA suspension, then four more in conference play after dislocating a finger.

“Excuses don't work. When this team is evaluated, it’s not going to be someone got suspended or got hurt,” Pope said. “As much as you want to curl up in bed and make excuses because they make you feel better in the moment, they have no staying power.”

[Markburn1]

Jeff Call does a nice job recapping the journey of TJ Haws in this feature from the Deseret News:

LINK: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/...ika-marty-haws

(and hours before the birth of his first child).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf0YSVUyrk8

A little irreverent but I'm thinking T.J.'s wife was on this train.

[zagmeister]

ESPN's Jordan Schulz claims this is Coach Dave Rose's best team since Jimmer

Jordan Schulz is a proclaimed expert on ESPN's website. Here is what he writes about BYU-Gonzaga:

Gonzaga Bulldogs (-4.5) at BYU Cougars ---

I've been waiting all year for a good spot I can fade the Zags. Thanks to the unforgiving Provo, Utah, air and hot shooting from the Cougars, we've finally arrived. This is Dave Rose's best team since the Jimmer era. Why? Offense, of course! Rose's team ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, third in total points, third in field goal percentage and first in 3-point percentage. Six-foot-8 senior forward Yoeli Childs (57.5 FG% and 50% 3s) averages nearly 21 points per game while three others are in double figures as well. Per KenPom, the only four teams with better adjusted offensive efficiency clips are the Zags, Dayton, LSU and Iowa. This is the game of the year in the WCC and it's a gift to receive points and back the home side.

Pick: BYU

[RenoZag]

Jordan Schulz is a proclaimed expert on ESPN's website. Here is what he writes about BYU-Gonzaga:

Gonzaga Bulldogs (-4.5) at BYU Cougars ---

I've been waiting all year for a good spot I can fade the Zags. Thanks to the unforgiving Provo, Utah, air and hot shooting from the Cougars, we've finally arrived. This is Dave Rose's best team since the Jimmer era. Why? Offense, of course! Rose's team ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, third in total points, third in field goal percentage and first in 3-point percentage. Six-foot-8 senior forward Yoeli Childs (57.5 FG% and 50% 3s) averages nearly 21 points per game while three others are in double figures as well. Per KenPom, the only four teams with better adjusted offensive efficiency clips are the Zags, Dayton, LSU and Iowa. This is the game of the year in the WCC and it's a gift to receive points and back the home side.

Pick: BYU

Saw that earlier this morning. . .ESPN is starting to look more and more like the early days of The Bleacher Report

[TexasZagFan]

Jordan Schulz is a proclaimed expert on ESPN's website. Here is what he writes about BYU-Gonzaga:

Gonzaga Bulldogs (-4.5) at BYU Cougars ---

I've been waiting all year for a good spot I can fade the Zags. Thanks to the unforgiving Provo, Utah, air and hot shooting from the Cougars, we've finally arrived. This is Dave Rose's best team since the Jimmer era. Why? Offense, of course! Rose's team ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, third in total points, third in field goal percentage and first in 3-point percentage. Six-foot-8 senior forward Yoeli Childs (57.5 FG% and 50% 3s) averages nearly 21 points per game while three others are in double figures as well. Per KenPom, the only four teams with better adjusted offensive efficiency clips are the Zags, Dayton, LSU and Iowa. This is the game of the year in the WCC and it's a gift to receive points and back the home side.

Pick: BYU

Some expert, couldn't even get the coach's name right.

[RenoZag]

Jim Meehan: Baylor Loss Opens Door to No. 1 Ranking

Story Link: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...t-be-gonzaga-/

Gonzaga faces one of its toughest challenges of the season against No. 23 BYU in Provo. A victory would give the Zags their fourth win of the season over an opponent ranked at the time.

ESPN’s Dick Vitale on Twitter congratulated Kansas on a major road win, but noted that he would only vote the Jayhawks No. 1 if the Zags lost to BYU.