WCC did hurt us (Rui)

[Alum08]

Rui regressed during WCC play. No doubt about it. He developed the bad habit of being soft with the ball and it cost us dearly when we started playing against physical talent again. My hunch is that he was most severely affected because of latent habits from his Japanese HS days, where he could get away with being soft.

I also wonder why the coaches didn't spend a practice or two letting the walk-ons smack his arms and forcing him to finish through contact. That method is pretty effective with even less physically-gifted players. If they did do this, then they should've kept doing it up until and including pregame today, because it was never rectified.

It's remarkable because usually the detrimental effect of the WCC on our team is not as clearly evident. Most argue that it has a negative mental effect but those observations can be explained away with our tournament success. In this case the effect was blindingly obvious.

[jazzdelmar]

Just one of many ways the WCC is toxic for GU.

[gonzagafan62]

I disageee but you bring up decent points. Still don’t think it’s because WCC though. Prob other things

[CB4]

Gonzaga lost a close game tonight due to a few mental errors and bad bounces. Rui will be a lottery pick and double digit millionaire in a couple months.

To attribute all of Rui or Gonzaga's perceived failures tonight to the WCC, Japanese high schools, and a speculative lack of practice drills against walk on players is a real stretch.

But yeah, if we could get in the Pac 12 or Big 10 or Big East that wouldn't hurt. I've said it all along, we need to play Jan and Feb nonconference games to fix some of the inherent problems of the WCC.

[Ezag]

Zag fans regressed after this game

[Goshzagit]

I disageee but you bring up decent points. Still don’t think it’s because WCC though. Prob other things

Agreed.

I flew out to watch the Zags take on USD and LMU.

Rui didn't play soft. No matter the opponent. He was aggressive, hard nosed, strong handed, hit the hole and hoop without abandon.

That player died after Las Vegas.

Something clicked in Rui.

I don't want to assume or presume anything but all the NBA hype is a load. Trying to focus on the here and now while the media interrogates you about your future in the NBA is distracting.

Tentative play, softness, avoiding injury or physicality, playing "safe" just seemed like it affected him.

A different player from what I saw IN WCC play.

Our conference didn't habe anything to do with it something flipped off in Rui. It was palpable, obvious, and hard to admit, but any one who watched him all season knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Rui from a month ago would have had 35 tonight. This Rui is still talented enough to hit some shots but fadaeays, soft hands, lacking any sort of physical play, etc.

Different kid. Hope for the best and will always be a fan.

I used to feel he would be a star in NBA, but in all honesty, I feel very different after past 3 wks. Pressure makes diamonds or it just crushes others. I can't see him playing vs grown men, unless he is paired with the right type of hard ass Coach.

[SwainZag]

So is this going to be a theme every year we lose in the tournament? If it's to a P6 team it's automatically going to be because the conference drug us down? Rui did his part tonight. There's a lot more anger directed at him than Zach who chucked a lot, BC who turned it over 6 times, Kispert who did about nothing in 24 minutes. It's a team game guys.

[jazzdelmar]

Rui arguably sweetest young man ever to play for GU. Sayonara and arigato.

[Goshzagit]

Rui arguably sweetest young man ever to play for GU. Sayonara and arigato.

Good observation. He has a sweet spirit.

I adore his sweet spirit, yet leave it off the court.

We need a mean streak from him.

NBA will hopefully bring out the best in him.

[Alum08]

Zag fans regressed after this game

I absolutely love Rui. Maybe I should've opened with that to soften the blow to the egos of some of the posters here. I figured it was self-evident that we're all Zags fans here and want the best for the team and its players.

That doesn't mean that they are above criticism.

[kdaleb]

So is this going to be a theme every year we lose in the tournament? If it's to a P6 team it's automatically going to be because the conference drug us down?

This. Great year. Love in my heart for the guys and the effort they put in all season.

[MJ777]

Kentucky fans agree:

https://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/t...-seeds.293432/

Do they say that TTU will foul out 4 players if they play that kind of slapping D against Duke?

[jazzdelmar]

Rui was a blessing for us. Arigato.

[HillZag]

Zag fans regressed after this game

Nah. It's just that after a loss the small but well known negative contingent finds the courage to voice all of the pent up pessimism they've had to swallow during a great season.

[Ezag]

They currently have three different threads about us. All of them saying that we are over seeded every year. It’s exhausting and a fruitless endeavor in trying to comprehend a conversation that is equal parts arrogance and equal parts ignorance.

Why you care so much about what other fans think of us? Doesn't bring anything meaningful to the conversation on this board.