Alright, That Zona-Zags game this weekend had to be the Best game i've seen in many many years...
Only thing that would have made it better would have been a zags win at the end, would have been epic. The ZAGS are THE most likable Mid-Major out there.... They deserve to be a big-time program, the big boys deserve to come and play AT gonzaga...
Full Version: Best College Game In years
I think that was the last game coached by Mark Few at Gonzaga.
I'm sure he'll be scooped up by UCLA, Georgia or whatever other team is dangling the right amount of money at him. to him, I say congrats
I'm sure he'll be scooped up by UCLA, Georgia or whatever other team is dangling the right amount of money at him. to him, I say congrats
I thoughts the UNC-Wilmington vs. Maryland game was incredible. My heart went out to those boys when Maryland hit that 3 pointer with .05 left.
I agree with PhillyFan and Dick Vitale, when he said the Arizona-Gonzaga game was one of the three best early round games in NCAA tournament history....it is rare to see that high of a level of intensity and emotion maintained for thirty consecutive minutes of play (the entire second half along with both OT's)....as Gonzaga's sharp shooting guard Brook Stepp said in the post game news conference, at least he'll get to watch it on ESPN Classic very soon (and many more times over the years as well).
As for Mark Few leaving the Zags for "greener pastures" I have no doubt that he will have his choice of any "elite school" with an opening (including UCLA) if he so desires....perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but at this point I would not be surprised to see Few turn down the "riches" to stay at Gonzaga....while the millions of dollars will undoubtedly be very tempting, Few clearly loves the atmosphere and the "low-pressure" environment there and if I'm not mistaken he has mentioned in the past how wonderful of a place it is to raise his family....no one can argue that the job that he has done (along with his predecessor, Dan Monson, now at Minnesota) over the past 5-6 years is one of the most remarkable jobs in the country -- they obviously aren't able to attract the "blue chip" athletes directly out of high school (just look at how many Zags are now in the NBA) but the system that Munson and Few have implemented is quite successful, to say the least.
For the sake of all the college hoops fans in the Northwest (not to mention those nationwide who had the pleasure of witnessing Saturday's classic) let's hope that the Gonzaga administration entices Mark Few (who is very good looking himself, btw) to stay at Gonzaga for a long time to come.
As for Aubie's comment regarding the MD-UNCW Friday night thriller, that was another early round classic....even though I have the Terps going back to the Final Four in my pool, I was genuinely happy to see the UNCW center (who shot 40% from the free throw line all season long) sink those two clutch foul shots with five seconds remaining -- and the Seahawk player hitting a tournament record 8 FOR 8 from three point range -- what more can you say!....needless to say, though, I was even more ecstatic when Drew Nicholas hit that buzzer beater to revive the Terps from the "dead".
In both of those games, it was a shame that any of the four teams had to lose....those two contests epitomized what college athletics in general and March Madness in particular is all about!
[ March 24, 2003, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]
As for Mark Few leaving the Zags for "greener pastures" I have no doubt that he will have his choice of any "elite school" with an opening (including UCLA) if he so desires....perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but at this point I would not be surprised to see Few turn down the "riches" to stay at Gonzaga....while the millions of dollars will undoubtedly be very tempting, Few clearly loves the atmosphere and the "low-pressure" environment there and if I'm not mistaken he has mentioned in the past how wonderful of a place it is to raise his family....no one can argue that the job that he has done (along with his predecessor, Dan Monson, now at Minnesota) over the past 5-6 years is one of the most remarkable jobs in the country -- they obviously aren't able to attract the "blue chip" athletes directly out of high school (just look at how many Zags are now in the NBA) but the system that Munson and Few have implemented is quite successful, to say the least.
For the sake of all the college hoops fans in the Northwest (not to mention those nationwide who had the pleasure of witnessing Saturday's classic) let's hope that the Gonzaga administration entices Mark Few (who is very good looking himself, btw) to stay at Gonzaga for a long time to come.
As for Aubie's comment regarding the MD-UNCW Friday night thriller, that was another early round classic....even though I have the Terps going back to the Final Four in my pool, I was genuinely happy to see the UNCW center (who shot 40% from the free throw line all season long) sink those two clutch foul shots with five seconds remaining -- and the Seahawk player hitting a tournament record 8 FOR 8 from three point range -- what more can you say!....needless to say, though, I was even more ecstatic when Drew Nicholas hit that buzzer beater to revive the Terps from the "dead".
In both of those games, it was a shame that any of the four teams had to lose....those two contests epitomized what college athletics in general and March Madness in particular is all about!
[ March 24, 2003, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: gamecock ]
I was real sad to see UNC-W out, because I was hoping to see more of Craig Callahan.What a big hunk of midwestern beef. 
Was also sad to see Gonzaga not beat Az,because I'd love it if none of the #1 seeds made it to N'Orleans.I'm intrigued by the assertion that Gonzaga is the most "likable" mid-major,that's not a belief I necessarily share.I'm not sure exactly what you mean-do you consider them more "likable" than Butler or UNC-W, for example? And why do you say that-have you got a preference for conservative,Jesuit schools?For the record,my brother at one time lived in Spokane, worked at Gonzaga, and thought the students were spoiled snobs.Of course,that is probably the case at a lot of schools-in Indy, Butler students have a rep for being spoiled rich kids.I'm pretty sure that Butler is the richest school in the Horizon league,and wouldn't be suprised to discover Gonzaga holding that distinction in the West Coast Conference as well.
As to the scheduling,some of that has to rest with the school itself.If Gonzaga is interested in upgrading their home schedule,then they probably need to change their conference affiliation.At the very least upgrading to the Mtn West, while possibly exploring the PAC-10.Of course,with no football program,the Pac-10 is not currently a viable option.And even if they could move up,that might not be a better situation for them in the immediate future.As an example, look at how upgrading to the Big-10 has effected Penn St basketball. Or Miami and Virginia Tech,who virtually control Big East football yet are in the basement when it comes to basketball.
And what incentive is there for the Big Boys to travel to Spokane to play Gonzaga? IU played them in the Maui Invitational- it was a good competitve game.I imagine IU would have no problem playing them in Assembly Hall in front of 17,000 fans.But what possible benefit could IU gain from travelling 3000 miles to play the Zags in an arena that maybe holds half that many people?There are plenty of quality mid-majors here in the midwest- we played at Ball State this year as part of a home/home series that was a thank you from Davis for some favor from Ball State.We won the game,but even so Davis regrets making the arrangement because it's a no-win situation for IU.If you lose it KILLS you on the rpi and if you do win it HURTS you on the rpi.It only benefits the smaller school-they get the chance to be the Giant Killer.The smaller school is loaded with kids who feel snubbed not to be recruited by the Big School.On the other hand,the Big School is filled with kids who know nothing about the small school and could care less.It's a totally one-sided "rivalry", and only the small school has anything at all to gain. :cool:
Was also sad to see Gonzaga not beat Az,because I'd love it if none of the #1 seeds made it to N'Orleans.I'm intrigued by the assertion that Gonzaga is the most "likable" mid-major,that's not a belief I necessarily share.I'm not sure exactly what you mean-do you consider them more "likable" than Butler or UNC-W, for example? And why do you say that-have you got a preference for conservative,Jesuit schools?For the record,my brother at one time lived in Spokane, worked at Gonzaga, and thought the students were spoiled snobs.Of course,that is probably the case at a lot of schools-in Indy, Butler students have a rep for being spoiled rich kids.I'm pretty sure that Butler is the richest school in the Horizon league,and wouldn't be suprised to discover Gonzaga holding that distinction in the West Coast Conference as well.
As to the scheduling,some of that has to rest with the school itself.If Gonzaga is interested in upgrading their home schedule,then they probably need to change their conference affiliation.At the very least upgrading to the Mtn West, while possibly exploring the PAC-10.Of course,with no football program,the Pac-10 is not currently a viable option.And even if they could move up,that might not be a better situation for them in the immediate future.As an example, look at how upgrading to the Big-10 has effected Penn St basketball. Or Miami and Virginia Tech,who virtually control Big East football yet are in the basement when it comes to basketball.
And what incentive is there for the Big Boys to travel to Spokane to play Gonzaga? IU played them in the Maui Invitational- it was a good competitve game.I imagine IU would have no problem playing them in Assembly Hall in front of 17,000 fans.But what possible benefit could IU gain from travelling 3000 miles to play the Zags in an arena that maybe holds half that many people?There are plenty of quality mid-majors here in the midwest- we played at Ball State this year as part of a home/home series that was a thank you from Davis for some favor from Ball State.We won the game,but even so Davis regrets making the arrangement because it's a no-win situation for IU.If you lose it KILLS you on the rpi and if you do win it HURTS you on the rpi.It only benefits the smaller school-they get the chance to be the Giant Killer.The smaller school is loaded with kids who feel snubbed not to be recruited by the Big School.On the other hand,the Big School is filled with kids who know nothing about the small school and could care less.It's a totally one-sided "rivalry", and only the small school has anything at all to gain. :cool:
I always like the underdog in these games and i loved to see teams like butler and kent state go one... but when you talk about the team that constantly gets in the dance and contantly is a giant killer, that is Gonzaga. I really think Few will stay there.. in the state of WA who can out recruit him? heck in the NW perhaps only Oregon has a shot over him. He's built a great program... Did you see him wiping the court with the towels in OT? Yeah like Lute Olsen would get down and do that...
As for the school, i've never been there... However, NAU played in a game immediately after them vs st johns a few years back... each and every one of their fans stayed for that game instead of celebrating their upset. They cheered right alow with us.. came over at half time and high fived all of us.. They dont have to be everyones favorite team, but they are quite likable and i'm sure most people find themselves rooting for them more often than not. Total class program.
As for the game being one of the best... come on, did you see that gonzaga kid who would drain a 3 just when the zags needed.. right before you said, AZ is gonna run away with this... 2 OT's, that incredible tip in to send it to OT.. The only missing was the Zags upset.
As for the school, i've never been there... However, NAU played in a game immediately after them vs st johns a few years back... each and every one of their fans stayed for that game instead of celebrating their upset. They cheered right alow with us.. came over at half time and high fived all of us.. They dont have to be everyones favorite team, but they are quite likable and i'm sure most people find themselves rooting for them more often than not. Total class program.
As for the game being one of the best... come on, did you see that gonzaga kid who would drain a 3 just when the zags needed.. right before you said, AZ is gonna run away with this... 2 OT's, that incredible tip in to send it to OT.. The only missing was the Zags upset.
I think the MD game w/ the exciting 3 pointer was for sure the most exciting game, I have ever seen!
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