Gonzaga or St. Johns

It looks like we will be playing the Zags, but their 7 footer worries me a little. At least we have James Anderson, oh wait... we are screwed!

I think I prefer St Johns, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. :~(

I haven't seen the whole game. But at 9 minutes remaining with the score 64-52, I can only imagine the pace has been pretty frenetic. That's good for us. Maybe zags burn a lot of energy and don't play as well v byu. Here's hoping.



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Zags were VERY good tonight. Cougars struggled. I think that bodes well for Saturday, as things tend to even out.

What are we going to do about Sacre??

beauso79 wrote:
What are we going to do about Sacre??

We are going to have to win with our offense. I am afraid that without Davies we are back to Living and Dying by the 3 point shot. but that doesn't mean we don't stand a chance.



The good news is that as cold as we were shooting the 3 our guys are due for a big performance. We should be able to outscore them.



I am okay with our performance tonight, a good seed should get you out of the first round. Now we need to play lights out, which is exactly what we should have to do if we expect to advance to the sweet 16.

We have been shooting cold for a while now. It is because we have no inside presence, so they can extend their defense and force us to take contested shots.



We haven't had a good shooting entire game since the last game against SDSU in the regular season. Jimmer went off against UNM, but his team had almost nothing to do with that.



We are going to lose this game. It will be in the 10-14 range. I don't expect us to shoot well as a team, because I haven't seen anything different the last 5 games. Our spacing sucks, and we just stand around the 3 line more than half the game.



The only x-factor in this is whether or not Jimmer goes off. If he scores 25 by the half, we have a prayer. The sky is not falling, we just don't have the personnel to stop Sacre.



I think that we need to start Anderson, because Noah can't guard him. After Anderson fouls out at the half, then we will make an adjustment.



I'm content losing to a team like Gonzaga. I think they would give Florida or UCLA a run for their money anyways. I could honestly see the winner of this game going to the elite 8 pretty easily. If we had Davies, we make it no sweat.

BlueIsBetter wrote:
We have been shooting cold for a while now. It is because we have no inside presence, so they can extend their defense and force us to take contested shots.



We haven't had a good shooting entire game since the last game against SDSU in the regular season. Jimmer went off against UNM, but his team had almost nothing to do with that.



We are going to lose this game. It will be in the 10-14 range. I don't expect us to shoot well as a team, because I haven't seen anything different the last 5 games. Our spacing sucks, and we just stand around the 3 line more than half the game.



The only x-factor in this is whether or not Jimmer goes off. If he scores 25 by the half, we have a prayer. The sky is not falling, we just don't have the personnel to stop Sacre.



I think that we need to start Anderson, because Noah can't guard him. After Anderson fouls out at the half, then we will make an adjustment.



I'm content losing to a team like Gonzaga. I think they would give Florida or UCLA a run for their money anyways. I could honestly see the winner of this game going to the elite 8 pretty easily. If we had Davies, we make it no sweat.

You sound like everybody on ESPN

I don't know how we're going to get any rebounds Sat. I was so hoping St. Johns would win.



Gonzaga was shooting 60 percent until the last 5 min of the game and finished at around 55 percent. Would be hard to duplicate that effort two games in a row, so I guess that's good news. :skeptic:



We're going to have to move the ball around really well Sat. and shoot at or above 50 percent. Jimmer needs to drive and dish as we don't have a single inside presence (Noah has no idea what to do in the low post). Abouo needs to drive to and either take it hard to the rim or kick it out to an open Jimmer or Emery and they're going to need to hit their shots.



Gonzaga is 10th in the nation in field goal percentage. These guys can shoot. Lets hope for an off night by the Zags and an on night Jimmer and company.

We had the matchup we wanted with St Johns due to size. Now Im afraid we will struggle big time. But, we do have Jimmer!



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I hope to return from the Pepsi Center and proclaim that you are all wrong. Gonzaga, IMO, not as good as everyone thinks. We don't match-up well but the same is true vice-versa. Their guard play cannot match Jimmer and Jackson and I question their 3-spot rotation. If we can get good looks on our first shots and knock them down, like we've done most of the year, we can out run these guys.



St. John's was disinterested and showed no effort. They made Gonzaga look much better than they actually are. We need Jackson to get out of his slump and Abouo to rebound like he has been. This game is definitely winnable and, in my mind, BYU should win.

tyscat wrote:
I hope to return from the Pepsi Center and proclaim that you are all wrong. Gonzaga, IMO, not as good as everyone thinks. We don't match-up well but the same is true vice-versa. Their guard play cannot match Jimmer and Jackson and I question their 3-spot rotation. If we can get good looks on our first shots and knock them down, like we've done most of the year, we can out run these guys.



St. John's was disinterested and showed no effort. They made Gonzaga look much better than they actually are. We need Jackson to get out of his slump and Abouo to rebound like he has been. This game is definitely winnable and, in my mind, BYU should win.

Basically Gonzaga = St. Marys but the zags are hot right now and playing with confidence. They have experience getting to the dance and that will help them. They are not better than New Mexico or UNLV. In other words - we can beat them and they can beat us. We need to play well. If Jimmer's supporting cast finished their shots better, he would have had a double double tonight including his 32 or so points.

beauso79 wrote:

We have been shooting cold for a while now. It is because we have no inside presence, so they can extend their defense and force us to take contested shots.



We haven't had a good shooting entire game since the last game against SDSU in the regular season. Jimmer went off against UNM, but his team had almost nothing to do with that.



We are going to lose this game. It will be in the 10-14 range. I don't expect us to shoot well as a team, because I haven't seen anything different the last 5 games. Our spacing sucks, and we just stand around the 3 line more than half the game.



The only x-factor in this is whether or not Jimmer goes off. If he scores 25 by the half, we have a prayer. The sky is not falling, we just don't have the personnel to stop Sacre.



I think that we need to start Anderson, because Noah can't guard him. After Anderson fouls out at the half, then we will make an adjustment.



I'm content losing to a team like Gonzaga. I think they would give Florida or UCLA a run for their money anyways. I could honestly see the winner of this game going to the elite 8 pretty easily. If we had Davies, we make it no sweat.

You sound like everybody on ESPN

and Greg Wrubell: per his tweets on the right side...

Since Davies suspension, BYU has shot under 40% in three of six games; BYU shot under 40% only twice in the preceding 24 games.

BYU's three-point shooting is clearly more important w/o Davies, but he gave shooters more space. BYU 40/143 (27.0%) 3pfg post-suspension.

I think Wrubell is stalking me... I'd be afraid if I wasn't so excited... ;) RAWR!



We are shooting badly for a reason. I think fatigue has a small part to do with that, but a greater portion is that defenses can cheat up on us closer to the 3 line, and we aren't moving around. We have all the disadvantages of being a smaller team, with none of the advantages. We aren't cutting to the hoop, we aren't scoring very much in transition, and we aren't getting good teams tired.



It was a really good run, and something good to build off of. I will be fantastically happy if we win this game, but it is going to take a near perfect game by everyone not named "Jimmer," and a pretty darn good one by him also. It isn't in the cards. Thanks for a great season Cougs, and thanks Davies, for one of the biggest letdowns in my cougar lifetime. Go Cougs! ( <-------------------- still a little bitter .... )

BlueIsBetter wrote:



We are shooting badly for a reason. I think fatigue has a small part to do with that, but a greater portion is that defenses can cheat up on us closer to the 3 line, and we aren't moving around. We have all the disadvantages of being a smaller team, with none of the advantages. We aren't cutting to the hoop, we aren't scoring very much in transition, and we aren't getting good teams tired.



It was a really good run, and something good to build off of. I will be fantastically happy if we win this game, but it is going to take a near perfect game by everyone not named "Jimmer," and a pretty darn good one by him also. It isn't in the cards. Thanks for a great season Cougs, and thanks Davies, for one of the biggest letdowns in my cougar lifetime. Go Cougs! ( <-------------------- still a little bitter .... )

Unfortunately, no matter what happens the remainder of the season, this season will be remembered for two things: Jimmer and what could have been.



Would we have lost against UNM in Provo, would we have lost against SDSU in Las Vegas, would we have gotten a 1 seed, would we have lost against XXX team in the tournament had Davies been able to play.



I'm still bitter too and try not to think about what could have been and enjoy the team we currently have. We have Jimmer a group of talented guys. They showed us what they're capable of doing against UNM with a little motivation. Let's hope they come out with a lot of motivation.

In spite of their higher seed, Vegas has BYU as a 2 point underdog and the line is still moving. It was PK earlier, now -2. Most comments have to do with the inside size of the Zags and the idea that BYU has no way to counter it.



Short and simple, the Cougars need to shoot the lights out like they did in the second half against Wyoming.

I think that interest and motivation are key to this team. Yesterday's game reminded me of TCU. We played just good enough to win but win we did. I think we win if:



KC has 12 rebounds

Noah has 10 rebounds and 10 points

Charles has 5 rebounds and 15 points

Jax has 5 assists, 10 points and shuts down their guard oh and 3 steals

Jimmer scores 30 has 5 assists and 5 rebounds

Bench gets 10-15 points and 10 rebounds



I think that is doable. Seen it before. I am always optimistic and I will NOT ever think that we are going to lose.... yes I am not a realist. It's ok, I am happy with it ha ha :P :crazy: 8) :lol:

By the By we played great after the TCU game....

I think the story of todays game - BYU vs. Gonzaga - will be in the paint & on the boards. I'm real nervous about Gonzaga's height & rebounding. About really need to step-up. Jimmer needs to be very selective with his shots & knock them down (because we will not get a 2nd chance).



In Gonzaga's win over St. John's - the Zags out rebounded them 43-20!!!! Huge. It will probably be the same today. We can win - but - all our players need to step up & make their shots!



I'm excited - but very nervous about the Zags big men, their play in the paint & clearing the boards. Go Jimmer!! Go Cougs!!

[quote="Ddawg"]I think the story of todays game - BYU vs. Gonzaga - will be in the paint