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Contrasting styles as Bulldogs meet

Posted by Vince

Nov. 24, 2006 9:23 a.m. • 0 comments

GONZAGA UPDATED 2:10 P.M.

It will be a contrast of styles tonight in the finals of the preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden (4 p.m.; ESPN2).

At least that’s how GU coach Mark Few sees it, according to Steve Bergum’s advance.

Watching Butler play Tennessee in the semifinals, I was struck by how the Bulldogs (yes, there are two Bulldogs playing tonight) try to break you down with the dribble. The Indiana squad doesn’t try to break down your defense with back cuts a lot, a la Princeton. The Bulldogs don’t run a patterned passing game, a la flex. They don’t pass and cut a la Texas Tech.

They catch, face and beat you with the bounce. Tennessee couldn’t guard them, broke down out front and bad things happened. It will be up to Jeremy Pargo, Derek Raivio and Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes to keep the Butler guards in front of them and make them shoot 10-footers.

We’ll be back before the game with some information, then be on during the game with an occasional comment. Afterward, we’ll post a game story right away and a column about the result. Also, don’t forget to check out Steve’s blog.

UPDATE: Seth Davis’ hoop thoughts at SI.com have a GU connection.