Kudos to Cougs
From a Gonzaga fan, congratulations to coach Tony Bennett and the WSU men’s basketball team. They played with great defense, rebounding, shooting, ball movement and energy. As for my beloved Zags, it was an off night. When shooting well, they can beat anyone.
When the outside shot is not falling, you have to have players cutting to the basket with and without the ball, allowing multiple chances to score, like the Cougs did. I’ve noticed in games past, when Derek Raivio drives across the top of the key near the free-throw line, he turns the ball over a lot. Maybe driving toward the basket would help.
We also seemed to run only play screens in the corners while passing the ball mainly around the perimeter, with no penetration or cutting plays toward the basket. Lobbing the ball overhead to small forwards against big defenders is not a high-percentage play.
On defense, when the other team is hitting 3s, our defense doesn’t extend far enough, allowing open looks.
Finally, turnovers from lazy or ill-advised passes across the top of the key allow teams to get back in the game.
These changes, I believe, will allow the Zags to win more games.
Go, Zags!
Gregory Ruff
Spokane