Go Zags!

Is that team wearing Elgin Baylor commemorative jerseys?

Two early observations:

1. Even one day of fandom on my part spells doom for a team; and

2. If the Zags don't figure out how to stop getting out rebounded like they are 6th graders, this game is over.

It is an iron rule of college football and basketball championships that the most unlikeable team wins more often than not.

That is holding true so far.

Baylor looks so much more athletic and explosive than zags

Baylor from the arc:

Just a thought: Baylor breezed by 20 points in their last game. They emerged from that game without being emotionally and/or physically exhausted. Gonzaga, on the other hand, had to exhaust all their and physical and emotional attributes to win. Hence, with so little time between games, Baylor has much more gas in the tank. I've seen this happen to teams hundred of times.

Baylor had a 19 point lead. Are they starting to sh@it on home plate?



Edit: No

I think that's a real factor

Zags maybe did wake up after barely surviving the Baylor blitz

I don't think Baylor can keep up such aggressive defense without major foul trouble

helltopay1 said:

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Just a thought: Baylor breezed by 20 points in their last game. They emerged from that game without being emotionally and/or physically exhausted. Gonzaga, on the other hand, had to exhaust all their and physical and emotional attributes to win. Hence, with so little time between games, Baylor has much more gas in the tank. I've seen this happen to teams hundred of times.

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Baylor jumped all over the Zags early. They weren't ready for such aggressive defense. Now we see if they can keep it up the whole game after Gonzaga closed to 10 at halftime.

If I was up by 19, shooting 60% from arc vs 17% and I'm only up 10.....that is failure to punch your opponent through the ropes.


Edit: Nice try at optimism

That Baylor dude is Mullet First Team

That was one of craziest play I've seen this season

Drew Timme just slipped to 4th round pick in Turkish League

This is over. Baylor too physically dominant.

*Currently laying foundation for his alibi on sideline. Are headbands tear absorbent?

Are zags over rated?

HoopDreams said:

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Are zags over rated?

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They got to the Final and are only losing to the consensus #2 team (pre-tournament), so probably not that much.

....and the Jason Kapono Headband Award goes to..

sycasey said:

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HoopDreams said:

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Are zags over rated?

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They got to the Final and are only losing to the consensus #2 team (pre-tournament), so probably not that much.

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3PT
10-23
5-17

Rebounds
38
22

Dominated on the boards and the 3-point line, once Zags got behind they were toast.

Oscar Fryer in One Shining Moment

This was such a boring final after that all-timer with fucla. Oh well, maybe one of these days we'll see Fox lead Cal to the Final 4.

It is interesting that Ken Pom had Gonzaga and Baylor 1 and 2.

I would not have predicted this result but then I was not surprised at all. Baylor had far more energy.

calumnus said:

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It is interesting that Ken Pom had Gonzaga and Baylor 1 and 2.

I would not have predicted this result but then I was not surprised at all. Baylor had far more energy.

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Gonzaga had to play two mighty Pac-12 teams in a row which wore them out. Baylor had none in their region and came in fresh. Clearly this is the reason the final went this way.

Anyone notice the age discrepancy??Vital, Baylors' center, was 24 years old. most of the Baylor players looked like grown men playing against fresh-faced college kids. I've seen convicts from San Quentin who looked younger than the Baylor players...Marek Few is a class act. wonder if they Baylor players are required to attend class...Just wondering out loud..

bearister said:

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Drew Timme just slipped to 4th round pick in Turkish League

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An article I just read suggested "Timme may have lost some money tonight as he appeared a slow footed defender and overwhelmed in the paint".

That's what I was thinking, too.
He can pivot like Kevin McHale against some of these college kids but wait until he faces bigger and more experienced nba centers.

And Timme is a sub 30% from range shooter. And *only* 6'10".
You know, his real problem may have been that he shaved! He resisted for a long time, mentioning the luck, but cleaned up for the big game. That doomed him!

Notice how the cheeks were cleaned up.
Coincidence? I think not.

calumnus said:

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It is interesting that Ken Pom had Gonzaga and Baylor 1 and 2.

I would not have predicted this result but then I was not surprised at all. Baylor had far more energy.

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Before Baylor, I had watched the last 3 games of Gonzaga. That's it.
Incredibly convincing in wins if 20 points. But prior to Baylor, I said, "maybe Gonzaga's actually not all that good."

I mean, they HAD just struggled to beat an 11-seed team missing 3 players it thought they'd have 12 months ago.
And who did Gonzaga have?
A great freshman who is not a ball dominant ruler.
A crafty but very physically underwhelming center.
A quiet 6'7" model of efficiency.
And 1 athletic and exciting Frenchman.

It's not surprising to see how Baylor ripped them apart.

Gonzaga looked like a WCC team vs a true power five side. Upon reflection, who did Gonzaga play this season?

concordtom said:

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Gonzaga looked like a WCC team vs a true power five side. Upon reflection, who did Gonzaga play this season?

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I don't think this argument holds much weight. Gonzaga always plays a tough non-conference schedule and this season was no different. They beat Kansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Iowa, and Virginia. Then in the tournament they beat Oklahoma, Creighton, USC, and UCLA. Sure they looked bad in the championship game, but no one would have said "they didn't play anybody" going in.

sycasey said:

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concordtom said:

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Gonzaga looked like a WCC team vs a true power five side. Upon reflection, who did Gonzaga play this season?

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I don't think this argument holds much weight. Gonzaga always plays a tough non-conference schedule and this season was no different. They beat Kansas, Auburn, West Virginia, Iowa, and Virginia. Then in the tournament they beat Oklahoma, Creighton, USC, and UCLA. Sure they looked bad in the championship game, but no one would have said "they didn't play anybody" going in.

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I agree. And I looked up their schedule.
But I only saw them beat Creighton, USC, and UCLA, not blue bloods of the last decade.

It simply didn't look like they ever had a chance.
One article said the same, but emphasized that it wasn't that Gonzaga looked bad, it was tgat Baylor looked that good.