Zags looking to avenge loss
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, still smarting from Monday night’s close-to-unfathomable 67-61 loss at Loyola Marymount, get a chance to set things right with their loyal fans – and in their own minds, as well – when they host Saint Mary’s College today in the McCarthey Athletic Center.
Tipoff is set for 5 in the first of two crucial West Coast Conference home basketball games that promise to have a dramatic impact on this year’s regular-season title race.
Saint Mary’s (13-12 overall, 5-4 in the WCC) is first up for the Zags (17-8, 7-2), who will be trying to retain their share of the league lead and avenge the 80-75 road loss they suffered against the Gaels in mid-January. And on Monday, they get conference co-leader Santa Clara (17-7, 7-2), which plays at Portland tonight.
“They’re both huge games,” said Bulldogs sophomore point guard Jeremy Pargo, who will be trying to help his team extend its nation’s longest home-court winning streak to a milestone 50 games. “It’ll be nice to get back home in front of our fans, but with them – or without them – we’re going to come out ready to play.”
To a man, the Zags seem confident they will be able to correct most of the defensive deficiencies that plagued them – especially in the low post – throughout their earlier loss to the Gaels.
In that game, sophomore forward Diamon Simpson and freshman center Omar Samhan both turned in career-scoring efforts, combining for 49 points. Simpson, a 6-foot-7 wing, finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds, while the 6-11, 265-pound Samhan added 20 points and five boards despite playing only 24 minutes.
Samhan’s offensive outburst was particularly perplexing, considering he wasn’t even starting at the time.
“It was poor execution by us,” explained David Pendergraft, the Zags’ undersized junior forward. “Our coaches did a great job of scouting that game. They told us what he was going to do and what we couldn’t let him do.
“But us guys inside didn’t take that information and use it to our advantage, and he just kind of handed it to us.”
Samhan used excellent positioning to consistently free himself up in the post and convert shots on the low blocks.
“We just didn’t handle him very well, and that’s something we’re going to have to change,” said Josh Heytvelt, GU’s 6-11 sophomore forward, who was often matched up against Samhan in their earlier showdown. “I didn’t play very good defense that game at all. I was giving up tons of position and letting him do whatever he wanted to do.
“I let him get to the spots he wanted and do what he needed to do. This time, I need to step forward on defense and keep him from doing what he wants.”
Bulldogs coach Mark Few likes the fact that his bigs seem to be taking tonight’s challenge personally.
“But talk is cheap,” he added. “I’m really not too interested in that. Let’s see what happens. They manhandled us (before), and I’d rather not hear our guys talking about it. Let’s see our guys do something about it.”
Few said the only thing that surprised him about the play of SMC’s big men in the previous meeting was the outside shooting touch displayed by Simpson, a normally reluctant 22.2 percent shooter (6 of 27) from 3-point range, who stepped out and knocked down a pair of important treys.
“That was what we were going to let him have,” Few explained, “and he made us pay. I don’t know what he’s shooting now, but that’s certainly not the main part of his game.”
Adding to the pressure surrounding tonight’s game is the tightness of the league race and GU’s desire – and, perhaps, need – to pad its suspect NCAA resume with a seventh consecutive regular-season WCC championship.
“We realize the situation we’re in right now and how urgent each game is,” said fifth-year senior forward Sean Mallon. “It’s not something we have to talk about. We all know we’re fighting for our postseason right here.”