Hall Often Has The Answers
Quentin Hall has been the answer to a lot of the tough questions that have confronted Gonzaga University’s men’s basketball team during its remarkable run this winter.
And the fearless, 5-foot-8 senior guard was the answer to several again Saturday afternoon - including one posed to his coach just moments after the Bulldogs had dusted off second-seeded Stanford 82-74 in the second round of the NCAA West Regional at KeyArena. Dan Monson was asked why this Gonzaga team has accomplished so much, when others - with similar talent and 20 or more wins - have fallen short of being able to play with the nation’s elite.
“Quentin Hall has been the difference, I think, in our program the last couple of years,” Monson said of the Bahamas native, who transferred from North Idaho College. “He has given us a different dimension on our team - a quick, penetrating point guard that is different than Matt (Santangelo). “He is, in my 11 years at Gonzaga, the best competitor we’ve ever had. Quentin Hall doesn’t even look at a stat sheet, he doesn’t care about shots or minutes he’s played. He’s just about winning.”
Had Hall, a first-team all-West Coast Conference selection, looked at his numbers against Stanford, he might have been impressed.
In 34 minutes, he scored 14 points and snared a career-high eight rebounds, while cavorting among the massive bodies on Stanford’s towering front line.
He also made a critical 3-pointer from the top of the key that gave the Bulldogs a 66-57 lead with 3:29 remaining.
The basket, which came with the shot clock winding down, was still fresh in the memories of Monson and Hall.
“You saw him take that shot,” Monson said. “I didn’t like the shot, but I’m glad he took it, because Quentin Hall has as much winner in him as any kid I’ve ever seen.”
Hall said Monson normally prefers him to penetrate and pass back out in similar situations. “But he knows I will go for the kill,” Hall added. “And I did.”
A bit of advice
What would Stanford’s coach and players tell Gonzaga University on the eve of their first appearance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Western Regional semifinals?
“I think what they have to do is realize that they are good and not get caught up in any of the peripheral stuff they might get caught up in,” said Cardinal coach Mike Montgomery.
Added junior post Mark Madsen, “Don’t be intimidated by any opponent. I think last year, when we made it to the Final Four, that was the mentality we had. Go out there and realize it’s still a basketball game.”
Montgomery said that Gonzaga is a legitimate top 16 team. He said that he would rather have played Minnesota than the Bulldogs because of the way the Bulldogs shoot the ball, their poise and how well they are playing at this time of the year.
Tough year for expectations
Despite the success Stanford experienced this year, it wasn’t an easy season for a team which exited early from the NCAA tourney.
“The expectations were different,” said Montgomery. “Everything we did wasn’t quite good enough in some respects.”
Injuries played a part.
“We’re not the team we started the season with,” said Montgomery. “Ten, 11, 12 guys played all the time. We’re down to eight now.”
Three players - high-profile twins Jarron and Jason Collins and junior guard/forward Ryan Mendez - were sidelined.
Jarron Collins, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound sophomore had scored in double figures five times and was the team’s third-leading rebounder before spraining an ankle on March 4. Jason Collins, at 6-10, 250, dislocated his wrist in December and underwent surgery. He also missed last year with a knee injury.
Mendez, a 6-7 junior whose perimeter shooting was important in last year’s NCAA tourney, suffered a stress fracture.
Around the rim
Mike Montgomery is now 0-2 in games against the Bulldogs while coaching Stanford. Including his years in Montana, his record against Gonzaga is 1-6. … Gonzaga becomes the first West Coast Conference team to advance to the Sweet 16 since Loyola Marymount in 1990. … GU is 3-0 against Pac-10 teams this year and the win over Stanford was its 23rd straight after leading at halftime. .. . Junior guard Richie Frahm became the 21st Bulldogs player to surpass 1,000 points in a career. He has 1,004. … Gonzaga’s 47 rebounds were a season high. .. . Cardinal guard Arthur Lee missed a free throw after making his last 31. It also broke a string of 46 in a row in NCAA tourneys.