Shem, JWIII and Perk rode the bench for the last seven minutes of the game

[Zigzag92]

i love Zach to death, but have to disagree with you. Shem is the starter, unless his is not healthy.

Collins has to start...Karnowski just simply isnt more than a role player

[All Weather Fan]

Everyone seems to agree on the reasons the Fab Freshmen were on the floor to close out the game. I applaud Coach for the decision. They clearly were the reason we were able to gut out the win. I was glad to see Josh on the bench, only because he has obviously lost his confidence and setting him up for failure would be devastating for his future value to the team. He has the talent and IMHO needs to build on successes at this point, not failures.

[ZagLawGrad]

Collins has to start...Karnowski just simply isnt more than a role player

Karno didn't play great the last two games. But he is still a leader and has 130 something wins under his belt. I'm betting he will deliver.

[zagray]

Zags are playing their worst basketball of the year. Multiple players are struggling at the same time. This was one of Fews best coaching jobs, going with that closing lineup. Melson has earned a starting job. If the Zags don't turn it around godspeed WV will embarrass them.

[ZagsGoZags]

Josh P was playing better a year ago than he is right now

[RenoZag]

why do you think Perkins was on the bench at the end?

Because he is more a liability than an asset ?

[RenoZag]

Karno didn't play great the last two games. But he is still a leader and has 130 something wins under his belt. I'm betting he will deliver.

Karno has been terrible in the Big Dance so far. All of the talk about him being an elite passer out of the double-team is a rapidly fading memory. Don't care about his wins. Collins is the better player and it isn't even close.

[Ekrub]

Did jazz steal Reno's account?

[Plainsman]

A lot of griping on here lately and some justified to a degree but step back and take a look at what the Zags have this year in talent and depth, especially talented depth. Can you name a recent season where we would have three starters on the bench at the end of a tight game and we still played at a winning level? Pretty damned amazing and everyone should step back and appreciate this team, warts and all. Will we make the FF? Who knows but it's still a pleasure being able to watch these guys play and I think we will see a more complete game against WVU if for no other reason than we won't have a big lead.

[Hoopaholic]

Karno has been terrible in the Big Dance so far. All of the talk about him being an elite passer out of the double-team is a rapidly fading memory. Don't care about his wins. Collins is the better player and it isn't even close.

Post season stats don't play this out though

Shem is average 12.4 points per game 6.6 rebounds per game1.2 assist per game .6 steals per game 2.0 turnovers per game. 1.6 blocks per game shooting 55% from floor. And 10-16 from free throw line

Collins is averaging 9 points per game 3.6 rebounds per game. .2 assists per game. Zero steals at all, 1.6 turnovers per game 2 blocked shots per game shooting 75% from floor and 12-16 from free throw line

More points, rebounds, assist and steals from Shem

Less turnovers, more blocked shots and 2 more made free throws from Collins


I would say it actually is close

Different styles. But effectiveness none the less from both players

[thespywhozaggedme]

Post season stats don't play this out though

Shem is average 12.4 points per game 6.6 rebounds per game1.2 assist per game .6 steals per game 2.0 turnovers per game. 1.6 blocks per game shooting 55% from floor. And 10-16 from free throw line

Collins is averaging 9 points per game 3.6 rebounds per game. .2 assists per game. Zero steals at all, 1.6 turnovers per game 2 blocked shots per game shooting 75% from floor and 12-16 from free throw line

More points, rebounds, assist and steals from Shem

Less turnovers, more blocked shots and 2 more made free throws from Collins


I would say it actually is close

Different styles. But effectiveness none the less from both players

You left out there minutes per game.

[Ezag]

Unreal. Guys...take a breath.

GU KNEW that Northwestern had one of the best double team schemes in the field. Heck, they nearly beat Purdue in conference, and they DID beat Wisconsin. Size wise, those B1G teams are closest to ours.

I'm just happy that the coaching staff has shifted to rotating our bigs when we need to. It was needed for the type of matchup today. Past years, our bench tightening has often been our demise. Those freshman are not freshman anymore at this point in the year.

Per FiveThirtyEight, our chances for NC have risen to 17% (was 14%). Our chances for a FF appearance are almost even now (was 41%), and a 66% chance vs. WVU (78% per KenPom).

Yeah, we struggled some in the second half. In March, a win is a win. Be thankful not to be Villanova or SMC today.

We get to watch our team play another game, and hopefully a few more. I'm certain our starters aren't complaining tonight about their playing time earlier today.

A win may be a win but are you really confident in the way the team has been playing?

[Ezag]

Do we have a free throw coach? Is this the worst FT shooting Zag team ever?

[tummydoc]

Collins has tended to commit careless fouls. Not in the tourney so far. Is that limited minutes, learning, or just that so far the refs allow more physical play?? Probably a little of all. Shem has been less foul prone over the season

Go Zags

[caduceus]

Just because "The Hefty Lefty" (God I hate CBS!), has better numbers per game, you have to take minutes played into account.

Karnowski has 300 shots this season. His true shooting percentage is .602, and his effective FG% is 60%.
Collins only has 181 shots this season. His true shooting percentage is .707 and his effective FG% is 67.7%.

However, most startlingly, is the difference in free throws per FG attempted:

Karnowski shoots FT's per FG attempt 37.7%.
Collins' FT per FG attempts is off the charts at 74%!!!

I won't get into FT%, but you all know the numbers.

Game is on the line, and you want to pound it inside. Who are you going to pick?

I didn't even mention putbacks. Collins has twice as many as Karnowski, despite fewer minutes.

Numbers per Hoop Math.