How to beat the Zags.

Run Jimmer at the big guy and get him into fout trouble. Oh... I guess that would require an officiator to call a foul on the other team. sorry. :lol:



Gonzaga looked pretty good an has a lot of size. I noticed the Vegas odds makers had the game as a PK. I believe that means that no favorite is picked. So I say this to the Cougars: SHOW ME SOMETHING! (Like when you went to "The Show" and handed it to SDSU). :crazy:

The key here is going to be to rebound hard. We may not win the rebounding battle, but we don't need to to win, we just need to keep it close (like against SDSU).



Take good shots, both inside and outside the arc.



Abouo needs to step it up big time in this game, he will be the major cog with his inside defensive game and rebounding. Plus, we need him to slash and cut to the rim from the outside on offense to make the defense collapse down.

hawkwing wrote:
The key here is going to be to rebound hard. We may not win the rebounding battle, but we don't need to to win, we just need to keep it close (like against SDSU).



Take good shots, both inside and outside the arc.



Abouo needs to step it up big time in this game

I agree. We need our shots to count. Good shoots and rebounds.

Jack up fewer 3's and take it to the rack off the bounce. And not just Jimmer. Charles and Jax need to as well. Test their interior and score in the paint or kick out. Make them work hard on D. And defensive rebound like demons.

Hit open shots & shoot fewer "highly" contested shots.



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The main thing we need is some regression toward the mean, for both teams, in FG%. Gonzaga was feeling it last night. I'm not sure any team in the nation would have beat Gonzaga last night. On the other hand, as other threads point out, our FG% has been low lately. It is time for us to get in "the zone."

I think our shot % has been lower because our shot selection is getting worse. We jack up too many contested 3-balls lately. And not enough shots in the paint. Change that equation, and our shot % will increase a good 4-5 pts. Become more inside-out. Right now, still too much church ball with 4 dudes hanging out on the 3-line. More pick and rolls would help. Jimmer and Hartsock and Jimmer and Abuou. hartsock has a nice mid range game and Abuou could take it to the rack. Score on those, and it opens up Jimmer to step back on shoot easier.

Also, with their 7-foot center, we need to keep up the dribble penetration but we need at least 1guy flashing into the 10-15 foot range on the wings to receive the dish for every drive to the hoop. Too often, too many guys are camped at the 3-point line and we eliminate the chance for offensive boards. I know we are trying to spread the floor to help neutralize height, but having a guy in that range would give us a higher percentage shot, and better rebounding position.

Lawboy wrote:
I think our shot % has been lower because our shot selection is getting worse. We jack up too many contested 3-balls lately. And not enough shots in the paint. Change that equation, and our shot % will increase a good 4-5 pts. Become more inside-out. Right now, still too much church ball with 4 dudes hanging out on the 3-line. More pick and rolls would help. Jimmer and Hartsock and Jimmer and Abuou. hartsock has a nice mid range game and Abuou could take it to the rack. Score on those, and it opens up Jimmer to step back on shoot easier.

I totally agree. A big part of the "regression toward the mean," that we need is for the Zags to have a little more average or below average night. They couldn't miss from anywhere. They were hyped!



Also, they were on all the loose balls and they outhustled St. John's all game long. We need to beat the Zags in the "effort" category or our run is over.

Emery should just tail Jimmer 5 - 8 feet behind. Entire defense will collapse on Jimmer and Emery will be waiting to hit the open 12 footer. That's money every time.

We literally have to play our best game of the year, for every game from here on out, or we go home. I haven't seen much from BYU post Davies. I don't blame them for it, nor the coaches. Davies is irreplaceable this year for us, without Ccoll on the roster.



What a great season, Cougs and Coach Rose (and staffers)! Any other win from here out is just gravy for me!