Gonzaga levels Toreros
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – With the grinds of the regular season in the rear-view mirror, Mark Few normally eases up on his Gonzaga Bulldogs heading into the West Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament.
But with such a young team under his command this season, GU’s sixth-year coach opted to lean on his Zags hard during the five-day layoff between last Monday’s regular-season finale against Northern Colorado and Sunday night’s semifinal-round tournament opener against San Diego.
The extra work, it would seem, paid massive dividends.
Because the top-seeded and 12th-ranked Bulldogs, who earned a bye into the semifinals by virtue of winning the regular-season league title, looked anything but rusty in dusting off the 4th-seeded Toreros 90-74 to advance to the WCC championship game for the 8th year in a row.
Sophomore Adam Morrison scored a game-high 25 points, junior center J.P. Batista added 24 and the Zags (24-4) put together one of their best first-half performances of the year in extending their stretch-run winning streak to 11 heading into tonight’s title game against either Saint Mary’s or Santa Clara, which tips off at 9 in Santa Clara’s Leavey Center. Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara played in Sunday’s late semifinal.
“We had a great approach tonight,” Few said. “We came out with a lot of energy, and our defensive intensity, for stretches, was as good as it’s been all year.
“For the first time in awhile, I didn’t taper things back going into the tournament. I just think this team – more than any other, because it’s so young – has a lot of room for growth, so we spent the time working on some things.”
It was hard to tell which aspect of the game got most of the attention at practice last week, considering the Zags did little wrong on either end of the court in racing to a 54-33 halftime lead that was built on a solid base of offensive efficiency and a defensive passion that surfaced only sporadically during the regular season.
Morrison and Batista, with senior forward and co-captain Ronny Turiaf in early foul trouble, took over offensively, combining for 34 first-half points. Morrison made 8 of 11 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Batista went 5 for 5 from the field and got to the foul line six times, making five free throws. The 6-foot-9, 269-pound Brazilian also muscled down eight rebounds.
As a team, the Zags made 21 of 32 basket tries (65.6 percent) and outrebounded the Toreros 22-15. They broke open a close game by making 14 of their last 18 first-half shot and closed the opening period with a 13-2 run that included 10 unanswered points.
“I would think that was one of Gonzaga’s best halves they’ve played all year,” said San Diego coach Brad Holland, who is hoping his Toreros, even at 16-13, might still be in line for a berth in the National Invitation Tournament. “Unfortunately, it was against us. They shot lights-out and got a huge lead on us.
“In my mind, they’re a minimum Sweet 16 (NCAA Tournament) team waiting to happen. No question in my mind they can go far in the tournament – especially if they shoot 65 percent in a half.”
Few refused to rate his team’s first-half effort, but admitted, “We were very good.”
He went on to say he was pleased with his team’s combination of “defensive intensity and disruption,” and “great offensive execution and getting the ball where it needed to be,” adding, “When we’re doing that, we’re fun to watch.”
GU’s depth and versatility was evident in the fact that even with starting point guard Derek Raivio and Turiaf playing only limited minutes because of foul trouble, the Zags found other heroes.
Morrison hit 10 of his 17 shots from the floor and also handed out a career-high eight assists. Batista pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go along with his 24 points, and freshman Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes scored nine first-half points while spelling Raivio at the point.
In addition, the Bulldogs got some increased production from sophomore reserve Sean Mallon, who replaced Turiaf and finished with six points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a blocked shot.
“It was obviously tough on Ronny,” Few said of Turiaf, who played only 15 minutes and scored just two points. “It’s hard to get your rhythm when you pick up two early fouls like that.
“But I thought Sean Mallon really gave us some great minutes tonight, which was huge. That’s how he played for us early in the year, and it was a great sign for us and our staff to see him coming back.”
The Zags also got a splendid defensive effort from junior Erroll Knight, who dramatically limited the touches of San Diego scoring leader Brandon Gay. Gay, who entered the game averaging 17.5 points, finished with 15, but most of those came with Knight resting on the bench.
“This was the most focused I’ve seen them play,” Gay said of the Bulldogs.
Morrison, when asked about his eight assists, just smiled and said, “People were getting open for me. But I don’t think I’ll be breaking Blake Stepp’s records or anything.”