Spokane7
61°
December 10, 2010 in Sports
Another tough game coming up for Zags
GU plays at Notre Dame Saturday
Notre Dame guard Ben Hansbrough and the Fighting Irish take on Gonzaga.
(Full-size photo)
With a laundry list of concerns – offense, defense and team confidence probably at the top – Gonzaga will face its fourth ranked opponent in nine outings when it visits No. 23 Notre Dame Saturday.
The Bulldogs (4-4) carry a two-game losing streak into Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center for a nationally televised game with the Fighting Irish (8-1). Gonzaga hasn’t dropped three straight since falling to Connecticut, Portland State and Utah in late December, 2008. Another streak GU is trying to avoid: Falling below .500 this late into the season for the first time since mid-February of the 1990-91 campaign. That team won two of its last three to finish 14-14.
In the Bulldogs’ last two games, they trailed Washington State by 29 in the second half before falling 81-59 and they were down 20 in the second half and lost by 12 to Illinois. WSU and Illinois combined to make 23 of 44 3-pointers and 47.3 percent of their field goals (nearly 60 percent in the second halves) against Gonzaga. The Bulldogs made 7 of 34 3s, shot 40.2 percent overall, and have 29 assists versus 36 turnovers in their two-game skid.
“I know guys are going to struggle each game, but there needs to be a group of us that gets together and responds,” sophomore forward Kelly Olynyk said. “We need to come together as a team and listen to what the coaches have to say. They’ll get us through this stuff and hopefully we can respond against a great team in Notre Dame.”
Obviously, there’s a lot to work on and an unrelenting schedule makes fixing deficiencies even tougher.
“This schedule is just beating us up and really taking it toll on us, but we have to respond,” head coach Mark Few said.
The Irish are also in response mode, coming off a 72-58 loss to No. 17 Kentucky. They led by 11 late in the first half, but were outscored 45-20 the rest of the way.
Notre Dame features five senior starters, four of whom are 6-foot-8. Four average in double figures, led by 6-3 guard Ben Hansbrough’s 16.3 points. He’s the younger brother of former North Carolina standout Tyler Hansbrough.
“They’re a veteran team, a tough Big East team and very, very skilled,” Few said.
The Irish are plus 10.2 per game in rebounding, have a 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio and have attempted 260 free throws to their opponents’ 143. They’ve won 74 of their last 80 homes.
Pros give precious pointers 
PhiltheBibliophil on December 10 at 5:44 p.m.
The BIGGEST concern should be, the Zags coach, Mark Few! I know, I know, he is the annointed one and has done much for Gonzaga and Spokane. BUT, how do you take this cast of players and screw them up this bad? By overcoaching! He runs a new player in every 60 seconds and has no cohesion or continuity on this so called team! Even Steven Gray is getting sick of it! And whats up with playing little Stockton all the time. Did “Daddy” make a big gift to the school? The player I feel really bad for is Elias Harris! This is how to take a potential great future NBA player and screw them up royally! Time for Few to step aside before he starts looking like an aging Rope-a-Dope fighter!
consster813 on December 10 at 9:38 p.m.
Little Stockton is a great point guard and EVERY time he’s in he makes several big plays!
consster813 on December 10 at 9:42 p.m.
I’m sure Few has something to do with this but our best players are making terrible shots, missing the easy ones and quite frankly appear lazy. I’m the biggest fan out here and I don’t think this is all Few! I think our players aren’t playing as a team and don’t seem to be taking these games seriously. Hopefully it can be fixed or us Zags fans are in for a long season. Oh and we have got to defend the 3 point shot and quit standing there watching them shot 3’s!
Dazzeetrader11 on December 10 at 11:01 p.m.
Plan of 9 or 10 losses. Luck to get in the tournament. It’s a team with lots of talent. it’ll come around. Unsettling is the lack of a steady starting 5. Losses are piling up…at least they’re against ranked teams..and WSU which should be ranked come Monday. Must be the hardest schedule in the country till the WCC begins.
SeeRed on December 11 at 9:25 a.m.
Yes it is a tough schedule but you need to win some of the tough games, not get embarrassed by significantly better teams; both talent and coaching. Bottom line is they aren’t playing well as a team, have no leader, zero inside presence and probably need to win the WCC to get into the tournament.