Day after SMU

DVR’d Gonzaga-SMU and by the time the preceding game concluded and the cameras came on inside the MAC there was just 6:50 remaining in the first half. (I gather from my twitter timeline that GU nation wasn’t pleased with this development.) Anyway, the Zags already led by 10 and the tone for the evening had been set in Gonzaga’s 72-56 win.

Here’s the rundown: My game story , John Blanchette’s column and Jesse Tinsley’s photos .

More below.

—One of GU’s most impressive stretches was with (Przemek) Karnowski and Domas Sabonis on the bench, each with two fouls in the first half, and Wesley having little success offensively. The Zags were able to maintain, and even extend their lead, with Angel Nunez (four points) and Kyle Wiltjer (five points in the final 4:05) handling the interior.

“That’s kind of what we’ve been talking about, this depth we have,” coach Mark Few said. “It’s nice to call on that. We had to play a little small and a little finesse, but that’s where Wesley comes in and helps on the glass and veteran guards get down there and help us on the glass.”

—Players and coaches have stressed that defense likely will be the key to whatever success or failure GU has this season. For two games, the defense has been rock solid.

Last night the Zags went with a matchup zone that rattled the Mustangs. SMU was 3 of 23 from the field at one point in the second half before warming up long after the issue was decided. One SMU pass went directly to a GU student in the front row sporting Kelly Olynyk’s No. 41 Celtics uniform.

GU didn’t force a ton of turnovers (13) that led to run-out points, at least compared to the Sac State game, but it did limit talented guard Nic Moore to just 3-of-9 shooting and forward Yanick Moreira finished 1 of 11. The Mustangs missed at least 9 shots from point-blank range in the second half when I stopped counting and focused on writing my game story. GU’s size, particularly Karnowski, was a factor in those misfires in the lane.

“Our zone is a matchup so you have to adjust to what the other team is doing,” Few said. “We have Kev and Gary, and Przemek, he’s become very adept at helping us in the back. His minutes when he was in there, he was quite a force on the glass and defensively against their bigs and we had some success going to him around the basket.”

—Gonzaga’s offense wasn’t quite as crisp as the season opener but that wasn’t going to be in the cards against an athletic, ranked opponent. Still, the Zags were highly efficient with a nice inside-outside balance: 10 3s, 22 points in the paint and 15 second-chance points.

They had 20 assists and just 10 turnovers. SMU didn’t have anybody to deal with Przemek Karnowski, who was roughly 60-70 pounds bigger than the Mustangs posts. Karnowski only played 20 minutes due to foul trouble – a curious call on his third, by the way – but he had eight points, six boards, one block and one assist.

And SMU didn’t have anybody would could deal with Domas Sabonis’ size, quickness and relentless effort. He played 20 foul-limited minutes, too, and racked up 13 points and nine rebounds.

Both probably would have posted double-doubles if they played extended minutes.

“We needed to play inside,” Karnowski said. “I thought we executed really well at beginning. They started doubling us and we started throwing it out to the 3-point line. We got open looks.”

Kevin Pangos struck early with 11 points, leaving the Mustangs in a pinch trying to defend the perimeter and the paint.

“We moved the ball really well,” Pangos said. “They kept turning their heads and focusing on the bigs or guys driving and we just moved the ball.”

STATS OF NOTE

—SMU scored nine points in the final 2:14 to reach 56.

—Pangos is 7 of 11 from 3 in two games.

—Sabonis was 5 of 7, but the Zags collectively made just 8 of 20 FTs.

—Wesley, who didn’t score in the first half, contributed in other ways, particularly defensively. He finished with four points, six boards and three assists.

QUOTEBOOK

Few: “I liked our toughness. That’s a tough team, a physical team and aggressive team that comes at you. I like how we responded to that.”

SMU coach Larry Brown: “The first half, they played tougher and with more effort. That was the difference.”

Brown on scheduling GU: “We thought we’d have (Emmanuel) Mudiay (playing pro ball in China) and Markus Kennedy (academically ineligible), but I want to play the best teams. I admire this program and Mark. I want us to be exposed to what it’s like to be a terrific program that has some consistency, and to play on the road against quality teams.”

Wiltjer on the quick turnaround before facing St. Joseph’s on Wednesday: “Just like any other game. Watch some film of them, get a game plan from coach and execute it.”