[BosCard]

Preview:

Gonzaga is a very good team this year, starting off 2-0 after defeating CSU Bakersfield and U Tennesee-Martin quite handily at home.  They play excellent defense--limiting Martin to 5 baskets in a half, and they are good shooters as usual at 56% so far this year.  They lost some big names to graduation (Zykera Rice and Laura Stockton are gone) but don't seem to be missing a stride.  The Wirth twins at 6'3" give them 2 highly competent junior forwards, with Jenn leading the team with 17 points and 10 rpg.  They both had great games against us a year ago which they credit for setting up their success for the rest of the season.  Jill Townsend is a 5'11" guard averaging 11 ppg, mostly from inside.  Katie Campbell is a 5'10" senior guard shooting 60% of her treys--last year she hit 4 in a row to help beat us.  And point guard senior Jessie Loera has a better than 2:1 assist:turnover ratio.  Notice all the starters are juniors and seniors?  This is an experienced, competent team that beat us just a year ago and will come in to Maples with no fear.  A year ago they out rebounded us, shot much better from the free throw line, shot a much higher pecentage of their treys, and played better defense without fouling.  None of our prior foes other than team USA remotely prepare us for this level of competition.  Gonzaga will be better than half the Pac 12 this year--at least.

Last year's write up and thread: https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...ht=Gonzaga

I remember they killed us with their mid-range jump shooting last year.  Our defense would sag a bit to defend the drive and they were skilled enough to pull up and drain the mid-range jumper.  I think to defend against that we will use players who are both quick and tall enough to bother a mid-range shooter.   Thus my prediction is that Hullsx2 plus Jones will see a lot of playing time.  Probably Belibi as well.

[BosCard]

Preview:

Gonzaga is a very good team this year, starting off 2-0 after defeating CSU Bakersfield and U Tennesee-Martin quite handily at home.  They play excellent defense--limiting Martin to 5 baskets in a half, and they are good shooters as usual at 56% so far this year.  They lost some big names to graduation (Zykera Rice and Laura Stockton are gone) but don't seem to be missing a stride.  The Wirth twins at 6'3" give them 2 highly competent junior forwards, with Jenn leading the team with 17 points and 10 rpg.  They both had great games against us a year ago which they credit for setting up their success for the rest of the season.  Jill Townsend is a 5'11" guard averaging 11 ppg, mostly from inside.  Katie Campbell is a 5'10" senior guard shooting 60% of her treys--last year she hit 4 in a row to help beat us.  And point guard senior Jessie Loera has a better than 2:1 assist:turnover ratio.  Notice all the starters are juniors and seniors?  This is an experienced, competent team that beat us just a year ago and will come in to Maples with no fear.  A year ago they out rebounded us, shot much better from the free throw line, shot a much higher pecentage of their treys, and played better defense without fouling.  None of our prior foes other than team USA remotely prepare us for this level of competition.  Gonzaga will be better than half the Pac 12 this year--at least.

Last year's write up and thread: https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...ht=Gonzaga

I remember they killed us with their mid-range jump shooting last year.  Our defense would sag a bit to defend the drive and they were skilled enough to pull up and drain the mid-range jumper.  I think to defend against that we will use players who are both quick and tall enough to bother a mid-range shooter.   Thus my prediction is that Hullsx2 plus Jones will see a lot of playing time.  Probably Belibi as well.