All the Zags have to be go-to guys

Perhaps as well as any basketball coach, Gonzaga’s Mark Few knows the pluses and minuses of having an offense that relies on one or two primary scorers and one that relies on balance.

Most of his teams have been driven by scorers such as Adam Morrison, J.P. Batista, Blake Stepp, Dan Dickau, Ronny Turiaf and Casey Calvary. His current squad has more players with license to score, but nobody who averages more than 13.5 points, a first in Few’s nine years as head coach.

“At times it serves you well,” Few said prior to last week’s West Coast Conference road trip, “but when you get down to the crux of a game against a good defensive opponent, you still have to have a guy that can make the play.”

It has been a unique offensive season for Gonzaga. Never have the Bulldogs been more balanced under Few. Never have they relied on two true freshmen as much. While team statistics lag slightly behind Few’s first eight teams, they remain in the same exclusive neighborhood. (See chart.)

It should be pointed out that Gonzaga, at its current pace of 53 percent shooting and 83.7 points per WCC game heading into tonight’s contest with Pepperdine, would continue closing the gap on past seasons. It’s also necessary to note that the Bulldogs are holding opponents to 65.2 points, equaling the lowest yielded by a Few-coached team (2000).

“We’ve been trying a lot of different things,” Few said. “In fact, we’re playing totally different, at least with our core offense, than we have in the last nine years, primarily because we have no back-to-the-basket threat other than our guards. That’s impacted us, and you just have to play to your guys’ strengths.”

Senior forward David Pendergraft has noticed the change in approach.

“Adam and J.P. were two of the most prolific scorers in college basketball (in 2006) and Adam was probably one of the most prolific of the last 20 years,” Pendergraft said. “Being able to play with those guys gave you a cushion where that wasn’t your responsibility. Your responsibility was to play defense, make plays, be solid and they were looked at for the scoring.

“Then the last couple years, especially the beginning of this year, it was a little different to adjust. This year we’re starting to figure out roles and it’s kind of a more balanced attack. It’s pretty fun.”

Few readily admits that Gonzaga has struggled at times in end-of-game and end-of-shot-clock situations. Last week, GU had mixed results. Against Saint Mary’s, Jeremy Pargo delivered numerous crucial baskets, including a driving layup and a drive-and-dish to Abdullahi Kuso for the tying bucket at the end of regulation. In overtime, Pargo added nine more points. With GU trailing by three, he drew two defenders and fed Micah Downs for an open 3-pointer that was off target. Few was pleased with the execution of the play.

Two nights before against Santa Clara, freshman Austin Daye was a primary option and scored 16 of his 22 points in the last 12 minutes (counting two overtimes). Pargo had a shot rejected late in regulation and was called for charging near the end of the first overtime.

Earlier this season, Pendergraft had a couple of key baskets and Downs made a pair of free throws as GU rallied past Western Kentucky. Pargo made a key jump shot late in a narrow win over Connecticut. After Pendergraft and Downs missed potential game-winners, Daye connected on a pull-up jumper and a pair of free throws as Gonzaga defeated Saint Joseph’s in overtime, but he couldn’t convert in a late-game possession versus Washington State.

Freshman Steven Gray has made several key baskets and hit two free throws with 0.3 seconds left against Santa Clara. Gray and Daye are excellent free-throw shooters, which helps when the ball is in their hands late in games.

“A lot of us aren’t scared of taking the last shot,” Pendergraft said. “I think that makes us even more dangerous if the first option isn’t open.”

Seven Zags are averaging at least 8.2 points. Last year’s team had six at 8.0 points or higher. Few’s previous seven teams had four or less.

“It’s really whoever is feeling it on any given night,” said sophomore guard Matt Bouldin, who hit two free throws with 12.2 seconds left to seal the double-overtime win against Santa Clara.

Bouldin has been GU’s leading scorer most of the season. He’s been held to less than his scoring average of 13.5 in five straight games.

“I’m just trying to get in rhythm and a lot of teams are guarding me pretty aggressively,” Bouldin said. “I’m not getting as many easy looks, as many wide-open shots as I was.”

Few wants Bouldin to become more assertive, but “sometimes his personality doesn’t lend itself for taking over at the end of games.” Nearly every Zag has gone through hot and cold stretches. Downs is coming off a scoreless road trip. Pargo scored 28 points against Oklahoma, and 29 in the next five games combined.

Forward Josh Heytvelt, who missed the first 11 games with a foot injury, has not matched last year’s production (15.5 points in 2007, 11.4 this season). Heytvelt is more effective at the mid-to-high post instead of the low block, Few said. “He’s just not comfortable down there. We’ve had to adjust, step him out – that is his strength – and face him up.”

On the whole, Few has been satisfied with the progression of the offense.

“If you look at the numbers, they’ve been really good,” he said. “We’re spreading the ball better, moving it better and doing some really good things on offense. It may not be as high as some of our other teams, but those were some of the best in the nation.”