GAME THREAD: (3) Texas Tech vs. (1) Gonzaga, Elite 8, March 30, 2019

[CDC84]

3:09pm PT, TBS. more info to come.

[CDC84]

We have to understand this and appreciate it, regardless of Saturday's result. In the past five years, Gonzaga has made the national title game, two elite 8 games and two sweet 16 games. And they could've easily made the elite 8 three times if GU had handled 'Cuse's press better and not been victimized by a terrible ten second call that Few received a NCAA apology for. It's just amazing. Most programs would do almost anything to have this level of success, and yet GU continues to do it the right way (not that others don't), despite the FBI investigations and all the rest of the scandals that are hurting college basketball right now.

I think this goes back to around 2011 or so when Few started to take a more active role in recruiting once again, and also when the program realized it had to, despite its immense offensive skill and huge amount of wins, get tougher and more defensively minded in order to advance in the dance. It is not easy to tinker with things when you win 82% or your games. You want to stick with the formula.

But the fact of the matter is that GU was losing some NCAA tourney games that they should have won but failed to due to rebounding problems, defensive problems, players who felt they could just outscore anyone, etc. Few and his staff (some of which are not here now, like Leon Rice and RayG) did a lot of soul searching and dared to make some moves that I will admit were risky. I don't care what league you play in, if you win the amount of games that GU was winning, why make any changes???

It took a lot guts from the staff, and a lot of vision. Nonetheless, you aren't going to win every single battle, and we could see the Red Raiders take out the Zags on Saturday. But Gonzaga is on the right course and is focusing on the right things. What they have done the past 5 years has rarely been done in the annals of college basketball.

[CanadianZagsFan]

What’s the rotation going to look like ?
Who sees court time vs who’s see less?
Few shortened the rotation a tad versus FSU.

[gu03alum]

Go Zags!

[CDC84]

Every opponent brings a different strategy. All I know is that Culver is the most coveted NBA prospect that will be on the floor Saturday. GU has to find some way to check him. Norvell and Culver are the same size. With the way that Snacks has improved on D, he is likely to draw the initial assignment. But it's going to take a lot more than a one on one defender to hold that guy below his season averages. He's going to need a big game for TT to beat Gonzaga.

[MDABE80]

Lots of sliding over. More than Norvell will be needed. We'll have a good defensive scheme. Defensive struggles might be boring to some but this is where the money is on this one. Lets hope we shoot better than 40% from yesterday. We'll need points.

[CDC84]

WIN ONE FOR GENO!!! Something we need to remember is that Geno Crandall is from Minneapolis. It would be this kid's dream to play in the final 4 in his hometown. A little extra motivation for the Zags.

[Zags11]

Lets go zags!!!

[caduceus]

Game Preview:

[SwainZag]

It's like Christmas morning fellas! The next 8 hours are going to dragggg. Enjoy the moment, it's what we wait for. Final Four berth on the line, get it done boys.

[gonzagafan62]

Come on Zags! Here in Missouri as always cheering you on

[slickguser]

stats:

http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?statmonitr=bcs&id=258619

[Zagceo]

Kispert first out shooting now!

[spadefreek]

Go Red Raiders!!!

Nervous excitement over here in West Texas. It’s almost here. Thanks for letting me stop by.

[MJ777]

Go Red Raiders!!!

Nervous excitement over here in West Texas. It’s almost here. Thanks for letting me stop by.

Should be a good game.

Go Zags!