Give and Take: Current Zags get the nod

Mark Few will coach his 16th different team into the NCAA tournament later this week. We asked readers for their opinion on the best Few team. The current team was the overwhelming favorite, followed by the 2005-2006 team. What follows is a sampling of responses:

2002-2003

Mr. Brooks and Mr Turiaf. …Need anything else be said. Well, Mr. Bankhead. What heart!

Steve Vessels

2003-2004

The 2003-2004 team was the best-balanced team of all-time. This team was so deep that Adam Morrison was coming off the bench. Erroll Knight and Tony Skinner were defensive specialists; not to mention Turiaf and Knight producing highlight dunks thrown from Blake Stepp. And don’t forget that Derek Raivio was the backup point guard. This team would put the 2014-2015 team to shame. Too bad things did not break for them in the NCAAs.

Michael Barnhart

2005-2006

That team was truly amazing. Adam Morrison was a one man wrecking crew and made every game “must see TV.” In my opinion, his will to win will never be matched at GU again. JP Batista was also a force to be reckoned with. The terrible loss to UCLA is burned in my family’s memory. It’s been almost 9 years since that defeat and we rarely talk about it. All the losses since then pale in comparison.

Christy Heitstuman

This was tough. The two teams I initially thought of were 2012-13 because of the No. 1 seed and 2002-03. But I keep coming back to 05-06 because of Adam Morrison and how close they were to going on. I don’t think people quite remember how special a season that was, and how great he was that year. I feel like people block it out because of the way it ended, but deep down everyone knows that was the best shot at going back to the Elite 8 and possibly beyond.

David Seesholtz

Two words: Adam Morrison

Ryan Barbieri

Adam Morrison was a scorer. Batista was a beast and all of the reserves and other starters filled key roles. Raivio was a great 3-point shooter and could seal a game with free throws. Mallon coming into his own. Knight created a huge spark. Pendo was the hustler who made the big stop or got rebounds when needed. If they didn’t choke against UCLA they may have gone all the way.

James Edwards

In a battle of wits, the more experienced coach Few opts to utilize a deep rotation of length throughout the foul-plagued affair. A lob pass from Wiltjer to Sabonis leads to a bounce pass, out of the double team, to a cutting Bell, Jr. to cap off the back-and-forth battle over the 2002-2003 club.

Aaron Lawhead

I feel like this is the deepest team we’ve ever had as far as our bench goes. Everyone on that bench that isn’t starting can come in and score big points. I feel like the talent this year is at its best and that each player is just as important as the other in different ways. This team also seems to just jive perfectly and play so well together! I feel like this is the year we can make a deep run with our players!

Connie Smith

This team would beat out the 2005-2006 team in the Final Four and then pull out a win over the 2004-2005 team in the championship. While those other teams have solid starters, their benches are simply not deep enough to outlast this year’s team. The bench on this year’s team is good enough to compete with most of the other 15 teams in this bracket. They simply have too many weapons to lose to any of the other teams. They are stacked at guards with Pangos and Bell, loaded at center with Karnowski, Sabonis, and Nunez (who by the way doesn’t get the playing time he deserves), have superior offensive scoring ability with Wiltjer and Wesley, and are all-around a better defensive team than in years past. This is no contest, if this year’s team falls short of at least an Elite Eight run, it has to be considered a failure of a season for Few.

Brandon West

I think the 2005-2006 team had the best player in Adam Morrison, plus Derek Raivio at the point and JP Batista down low was formidable. They also should have been our most successful team. The 2012-2013 team was absolutely fantastic, but I think they were No. 1 in the country in a year there weren’t many great teams in the country. I think this year’s team is the deepest team GU has seen, and is also the most talented.

Nathan Mannetter

They have depth, size and cohesiveness. They are the best overall defensive team. They don’t have to depend on one person to score. They are very poised and confident.

Jerry Pittsley

With the best player from USC, the SEC 6th man of the year, Karnowski mountain, the WCC defensive player of the year (Bell), and the WCC player of the year (Pangos) as a starting five, I think they could beat any of the other Gonzaga teams up against them.

Ryan Bax

They were all great to watch, but this year’s team has the experience, leadership, size and bench depth to beat any past Gonzaga team. They will also exceed any past Gonzaga team on their quest for a national championship.

Mike Huffman

My favorite team is the Casey Calvary-led teams. I loved the toughness that he brought to those teams. I love the Morrison team, but I would have this year’s squad winning. Senior guard play is key. From top to bottom this team is as deep as they come. The depth on this team would be too much to overcome.

Brad Dawson

Gonzaga could go far in the tournament this year, or it could fall in the round of 32 or the Sweet 16. Either way, this is Mark Few’s deepest and best team, and the accomplishments to date should not be overshadowed by success or lack of success in the tournament.

Donald A. Anderson

This year’s iteration of the Zags is too dynamic to be beaten. The versatile play of both Pangos and Wiltjer set the stage for the inside presence of Karnowski and Sabonis off the bench. The defense of Bell is absolutely top notch and shuts down even the best players on the court (looking at you, Haws). Combine those names with incredibly efficient shooting from the rest of the starters and the bench results in a team that is well rounded and capable of receiving big numbers from anybody at any time.

Karl Fencl

They are “brothers” on and off the floor, which personifies their play on the court. They are the role models we want to have represent their school and our community. They have demonstrated all season that their is no “I” in team but that it takes all to win the big game!

Karen Heimbigner