Zags, Huskies clash in Seattle
Time for a renewal of the short, but thoroughly entertaining series between Gonzaga and Connecticut. The teams will tangle at 1 p.m. Saturday in KeyArena as Gonzaga tries to snap a two-game losing streak (Nevada, Tennessee) in the Battle in Seattle.
They've met three times. Gonzaga won 85-82 a year ago in Boston with Jeremy Pargo pouring in 23 points. In the 2005 Maui Invitational championship, the Huskies won 65-63 on Denham Brown's basket with 1.1 seconds left. The most memorable contest came in 1999 when then-upstart Gonzaga gave the eventual national champion Huskies fits before falling 67-62 in the West Regional Final.
Read on for an unedited preview that will run in Saturday's S-R.
By
Staff writer
His vote would probably go to
“There is no more physically imposing team,” Gonzaga’s head coach said of the unbeaten Huskies, who provide the opposition for the Bulldogs today at KeyArena in the sixth annual
Battle being an appropriate description of this showdown featuring two of the nation’s top teams. Gonzaga (8-1), which was ranked No. 4 before falling to
The Huskies have led Division I in blocked shots the last seven seasons and they’ve been in the top 15 nationally in field-goal percentage defense 11 of the last 13 years.
These teams met a year ago in
“They’re off the charts athletically, off the charts ability-wise, and probably the most impressive thing about UConn is how tough and hard-nosed they play,” Few said. “They’re a physically imposing team, you can’t back down from that. You have to step up and take that on.”
Gonzaga did so a year ago, with its guards leading the way. Daye struggled with the physical play and also was in foul trouble, but he contributed with three free throws in the closing seconds.
“I don’t know,” said Daye, when asked if
Few said the biggest difference in the Huskies is that the 7-foot-3 Thabeet, who wasn’t much of a factor a year ago against the Bulldogs, is vastly improved. He’s projected in the top five of most 2009 NBA mock drafts.
Thabeet is a force in the paint. He’s averaging 12.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. With 299 career blocks, he ranks second behind ex-Connecticut great Emeka Okafor’s 441. Thabeet is a 59.9 percent career field-goal shooter, helped greatly by the fact that 23 of his 45 baskets this season have been dunks.
Thabeet had just six points and five rebounds against Gonzaga a year ago, partially because he was in foul trouble.
“When you see the difference in him from last year to this year,” Few said, “it’s amazing.”
There are additional differences from a year ago. Gonzaga played that contest without Heytvelt and Steven Gray. Both were injured. However, 7-foot backup center Robert Sacre, who delivered nine points off the bench against UConn, is out with a foot injury.
For
In his first game back, Robinson, who has made 45 career starts, had seven points in 16 minutes in a victory over Stony Brook.
“It’s a national championship caliber team,” Few said. “We’re going to have to play A-plus to get it done.”
Both teams made weather-related adjustments to their travel schedules and arrived safely in