Game Recap: Lunch Break Edition

I haven't been writing many game recaps this season because of my work schedule, which involves getting up at 6:20 in the morning after watching games that don't get started until 10:00 at night. By the time I get home it's pretty much time, especially on Fridays, to start focusing on the next set of games. Last night featured a game that generated much to be said, so I'm squeezing a quick hitting recap into my lunch break at work.

Gonzaga Bulldogs 77 - Saint Mary's Gaels 60

McKeon Pavilion, Moraga, California.

Thursday, February 14, 2013.

Gonzaga has now won two straight games against Saint Mary's. For the past few years these two teams had been alternating between victory and defeat to the tune of a 4-4 record over the past eight games. Now, Gonzaga has ended that see-saw affair with a decisive season sweep of the Gaels. That really won't change anything as far as the rivalry goes. It may actually make it more intense from the perspective of Gaels fans, assuming these two squads meet in the WCC Tournament Championship Game in just under a months time. 

For the Gaels:

• Randy Bennett needs to hire someone else to do his non-conference scheduling.
  If it wasn't for the upcoming Bracket Busters game against Creighton the Gaels would be out of opportunities to pick up a single good win this season. Bennett didn't have anything to do with getting that Creighton game, that was all ESPN. You'd think after five straight seasons with at least 25 wins, most coming against bad teams, but only three NCAA tournament berths that Randy Bennett would figure out that a bunch of wins against a low level teams isn't enough to earn an at large bid. I'm going to write another story about this in the days ahead.
• When you're a great offense playing a great offense you better play great offense if you want to win.
  Saint Mary's had their worst offensive performance of the season last night. If not the worst statistically it's close and earns the overall honor of worst due to the timing. The Gaels shot just 39.7% from the field, coming into the game they averaged 49.3%. They scored 17.8 points less than their average. That's not going to cut it against another elite offense, especially one that is slightly better than your own.
• Is there anybody down there?
  The Gaels' bigs were nearly invisible down low last night and in the box score (except the personal foul column). Brad Waldow played 26 minutes, took only four shots, scored six points, grabbed only four rebounds and missed all three free throws. Mitchell Young went 1-6 from the field, had only two boards and committed four fouls including one exceptionally dumb one with 1.5 seconds left on an inbounds play all the way across the court from the Zags' basket. Kyle Rowley had an ineffective seven minutes on the court with one rebound and one block being his only positive impacts, he managed to do very little besides that as he accounted for only one foul and one turnover. Beau Levesque is more of a stretch four, and he did have a good game, so he doesn't really help the Gaels bang down low with big teams. They've got enough sharpshooters from deep already.

For the Zags:

• Another strong defensive effort:
  This was the ninth straight game in which the Zags have held their opponent to less than 64 points. The last team to score above that? Saint Mary's with 78 back on January 10th in Spokane. Beyond that just take a look at the second bullet under "For the Gaels" but think of it as a positive for the Zags rather than a negative for the Gaels.
• Another strong offensive effort:
  50% from the field, 52.9% from three (with 17 attempts, that's really good) and 20-24 from the line. They corralled nine offensive rebounds, including five from Mike Hart (who also added five points from the field) and one possession that resulted in a Gary Bell Jr. three after two straight offensive rebounds.
• Just keep winning: Saint Mary's is 54th in the RPI, so this isn't exactly a huge win in the eyes of the selection committee. It does keep the Zags set up for a two seed in the tournament though. This was by far the Zags' biggest test remaining on the schedule and with it out of the way it's just a game by game attitude and the Zags will be fine. 
• Pick your poison: Gary Bell Jr. led the Zags in scoring for the third time this season, 20 points, and second time without sharing the lead. The Zags lit up the Gaels from long range. Bell led the team with 20 and Pangos was second with 18. Kelly Olynyk did chip in 17, three of which came from deep, but he was the only Zags big man to make much of an impact in the scoring column. 

For the WCC:

• The big hype continues: The Zags should at the very worst stay put in the polls next week, which keeps the West Coast Conference represented not just in the polls but in the top five. 
• A one bid league? Last year we saw three WCC teams make the big dance for only the second time ever. It's now likely that only one will make it this year. While BYU has seen a serious disappointment relative to last season the Gaels have been less disappointing but haven't racked up the quality wins like they did last season. The chances of an at large berth are slim thanks to Randy Bennett's scheduling and BYU's implosion.
• Vegas Baby! This all sets up a wild WCC Tournament where Saint Mary's and BYU will be fighting for their dancing lives while Santa Clara and San Diego attempt to pull off (legitimate) dark horse runs to the NCAAs.