Winning it all in 20-21

[Zagdawg]

Femi Abebefe
@FemiAbebefe
· 16h
The Westgate @SuperBookUSA makes Gonzaga the favorite (10/1) to win the 2020-21 men's college basketball national championship.

Jeff Sherman (@golfodds), the sportsbook's VP of Risk Management, tells me it's the first time EVER the Zags are the preseason betting favorite.

[BurgessEraZag]

Whom of us wouldn't want to Win in all in 20-21?
I would and I'll pray the science and basketball Gods give us a chance to try.

Strongly recommend a Sports Page Editorial Piece in Wall Street Journal, Saturday June 27 entitled, "The Unknown (longterm) Effects of Covid-19"
Story was in response to Celtic Jaylen Brown's question, "What are the long term effects of Covid-19". SPOILER ALERT, medical experts aren't sure and there is not enough data or testing or analysis to "accurately" predict. Authors interviewed 17 cardiologists, epidemiologists, physicians and infectious disease experts how they would respond. As they opined, professional athletes don't have the luxury of waiting for outcomes of longitudinal studies on corona patients. These athletes who place the highest value on their hearts, lungs and physical conditioning will have to live with uncertainty if the long term effects are damaging.

I didn't find the article a "Debbie downer" but just food for thought. Remember Ronny Turief's heart problem? Fortunately his sx was a success and he played on. How many GU Zags stars we revere and love to see and hear about their success? I'd hate to look into the future and find any one of them saddled with health problems because of the virus.

Very balanced article so hopefully with the wonderful advances in medical science we've had in the past 60 years there won't be any serious "long term effects of Covid-19" and especially not for our GU players. When you read the article CADECUS please give us your take on it.

As an eternal optimist I trust the higher power for life but I also trust Mark Few, his staff and Gonzaga will do everything in their power to give us fans the opportunity to root for the NATTY CHAMP this coming year. 10-1 odds looks like it would be worth dropping a few bucks on our favorite team. Go Zags!!!

[Zags11]

Fauci pushing vs playing. We need a respectable covid thread as it impacts zags.

[spike_jr]

Femi Abebefe
@FemiAbebefe
· 16h
The Westgate @SuperBookUSA makes Gonzaga the favorite (10/1) to win the 2020-21 men's college basketball national championship.

Jeff Sherman (@golfodds), the sportsbook's VP of Risk Management, tells me it's the first time EVER the Zags are the preseason betting favorite.

Is Vegas laying odds as to whether or not there is going to be a college basketball season? Vegas may be a more accurate predictor of the future than the politicians

[zagfan24]

If there is a season, it's likely going to look quite different. Limited fans, some changes and restrictions with travel, and players probably more quarantined. Maybe fewer practices, maybe just conference play, maybe the tournament is a smaller number of teams at one site or something similar.

So, how does this impact GU? I'd say that the Zags are pretty well situated to withstand this adversity. The one concern is inexperienced (albeit extremely talented) guard play. However, Ayayi will help in this respect as will the incredibly maturity I've seen in the snippets about the incoming tricky trio. In addition, we have a very experienced and veteran front court likely returning and a coaching staff that is obviously well situated.

If there is any semblance to a normal season, the roster is so loaded it's hard to not see them as a favorite. Just an embarrassment of riches with almost no holes up and down the lineup.

[tinfoilzag]

Fauci pushing vs playing. We need a respectable covid thread as it impacts zags.

Set specific rules for the thread. I think a lot of us would like a dialogue and not a debate (which tend to get personal) but it may be more trouble than it's worth to moderate it.

[DZ]

If there is a season, it's likely going to look quite different. Limited fans, some changes and restrictions with travel, and players probably more quarantined. Maybe fewer practices, maybe just conference play, maybe the tournament is a smaller number of teams at one site or something similar.

So, how does this impact GU? I'd say that the Zags are pretty well situated to withstand this adversity. The one concern is inexperienced (albeit extremely talented) guard play. However, Ayayi will help in this respect as will the incredibly maturity I've seen in the snippets about the incoming tricky trio. In addition, we have a very experienced and veteran front court likely returning and a coaching staff that is obviously well situated.

If there is any semblance to a normal season, the roster is so loaded it's hard to not see them as a favorite. Just an embarrassment of riches with almost no holes up and down the lineup.

To the extent that a season is possible it will almost surely be without fans - at least until late spring (best case scenario IMO), and I think the Zags are well equipped to handle a drastic change in atmosphere such as that.

All teams will undergo a massive relearning period as to new environments. That is a given.

But I feel that the Zags are uniquely suited to adjust. Zag basketball has always been about family, brothers who play for their team, school, friends at the school, their coaches, etc. They are not there to make SportsCenter top 10, nor hear the roar of huge crowds - they could go to Arizona, Oregon, Kansas, Kentucky, to hear the roar and be in the bright lights of the big city. Some of our recruits have chosen that path and that's just fine. But the guys that come here buy-in.

If we have a season where games are limited to the teams, the staffs, and support personnel, I believe that our guys and their maturity and priorities will shine through. They'll struggle, every team will. I just don't think they'll struggle as much.

I have my doubts about the viability of this year, but have no doubt my heart breaks for these kids already, hanging on the edge, not knowing, killing themselves to remain in shape, scared they'll be the one that quarantines or infects a team. Just really have my heart out for these guys.

One way or another, games or no games, I have no doubt that they'll make us extremely proud.

[willandi]

Burg.....respectable poster..../ Every time we bring a COVID discussion on board, it generates a not so good outcome and the hreads get closed. 5 times this has happened. If we can restrict the topic to predictions, I suppose we could try it again. We do have a very good modeling person in our membership. Maybe he could help. As for me, I'm "COVID out" . Best wishes...

We could have a designated COVID thread. We could share links and opinions, and agree with those opinions or, without arguing or bringing up past posts, post links that are a different opinion.

Any arguing or negative posting results in a 'time-out', geometrically becoming longer with each time.

[Zags11]

We could have a designated COVID thread. We could share links and opinions, and agree with those opinions or, without arguing or bringing up past posts, post links that are a different opinion.

Any arguing or negative posting results in a 'time-out', geometrically becoming longer with each time.

Solid Idea. I know it will turn Left vs Right with some posters and Mods probably don't like it. I think opinions on if their will be sports and facts should be allowed.

[willandi]

Solid Idea. I know it will turn Left vs Right with some posters and Mods probably don't like it. I think opinions on if their will be sports and facts should be allowed.

Just post links. No dragging up what someone said 6 weeks ago to prove a point. The point will be proven, one way or another.

With some of the highly knowledgeable folks on the forum, I have learned a lot. I don't wish those voices to be silenced. I don't wish any other opinions to be silenced either, but trying to prove someone else is wrong , is wrong.

[Bogozags]

Just like flying will never be the same, it will take a long time before sports are played, especially as they have been in the past...imo

[scrooner]

Not sure how Vegas will handle it, but I would put COVID at the top with Gonzaga as the 2nd best odds.

[ZaGrad]

Not sure how Vegas will handle it, but I would put COVID at the top with Gonzaga as the 2nd best odds.

Vegas refunds all tickets for events that never happened/were unable to be completed. A bet on the zags at 10/1 is a good move knowing there's a high probability that you're really just giving Vegas an interest-free loan

[tinfoilzag]

Just like flying will never be the same, it will take a long time before sports are played, especially as they have been in the past...imo

There are a lot of people that see others not following lock down protocols as people that are directly threatening their lives. In other words, potential murderers.

You can't participate in or attend contact sporting events and follow social distancing protocols. Those that participate in or attend sporting events will be seen as people trying to harm others so the games won't happen. No one wants to been seen as a murderer.

It's profoundly tragic that the end of stadium sports (as we have known it) is coming at the peak of GU basketball program.

[zagdontzig]

Vegas refunds all tickets for events that never happened/were unable to be completed. A bet on the zags at 10/1 is a good move knowing there's a high probability that you're really just giving Vegas an interest-free loan

Vegas needs it right now. That place is literally dark.