Gonzaga, overrated?

BtownJay · March 7th, 2006, 08:19 AM

THANK GOD that they got lucky and won their conference final last night. I was on the edge of my seat praying that Loyola wouldn't score that final basket. If that dude had not missed that open layup, the under .500 Loyola team would have made the dance, and knocked at good team out (one of the good bubble teams). There is NO reason that the West Coast Conference needed to get two teams in.

But after watching the Zags this year, are they really as good as their ranking says? They have seemed to stuggle alot this year at times when they probably shouldn't have. They also seem to have only 3 players who can step up and play solid throughout the game (Morrison, Bautista, and their point guard, cant remember his name right now, starts with a "R").

ssigman · March 7th, 2006, 08:42 AM

i don't think they are overrated..i don't think they deserve to be #4 in the country due to the conference they are in..but they showed earlier in the season they can compete with the top teams...i think playing 4 games in 4 nites(not sure about that) just tired them out and teams prepared better cause they saw them already during the year...i think the zags have a real good shot at the sweet 16

Gunnerman · March 7th, 2006, 08:51 AM

OK, I get confused on this stuff, why would Loyola get to go to the tournament ahead of Gonzaga if they had won? I mean didn't Gonzaga win their conference?

BtownJay · March 7th, 2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunnerman

OK, I get confused on this stuff, why would Loyola get to go to the tournament ahead of Gonzaga if they had won? I mean didn't Gonzaga win their conference?

Loyola wouldn't go ahead of Gonzaga. Gonzaga is in no matter what because they are one of the best teams in the nation. But who ever wins the conference tourney gets an automatic birth into the NCAA tourney.

Since Loyola wouldn't have been in the big tourney without winning their conference tourney, they would have taken up an extra spot that would have gone to a team in a different conference. For example, a team with a 18-11 record could get in the big tourney with an "at-large" birth. But less of those teams can get in if these shitty schools are taking extra spots.

I don't really know how to explain it all that well... i hope that was semi-clear. But re-reading it... i don't think it is.

ssigman · March 7th, 2006, 09:16 AM

basically the winner of the conference tourny gets an automatic bid despite the record....after all those teams are in from the conference tourny's...they choose at-large bids...gonzaga would get one because they are one the top teams..so after the top teams are taken..they go to teams that have decent records and choose...like jay said, if you have a team with a 6-20 record for example winning the conference tourny...it takes away a spot for a team with an 18-11 record...65 teams make the tourny total

Gunnerman · March 7th, 2006, 09:32 AM

Thanks for explanations, it just seems to me that if teams get automatic spots for winning their conference tournies it totally devalues the regular season, because this system could allow for teams who may have sandbagged during the season a chance to qualify, but that could just be me looking at it strangely....

BtownJay · March 7th, 2006, 09:43 AM

I pretty much agree Gunny. For the smaller conferences the only way for them to get a team into the NCAA tourney is for them to win their conference tourney. And you see it every year... a team can go 13-1 in their conference and get upset in their conference tourney by a team who went 5-9 in the regular season. So that bad team gets in over the team who dominated all year. I don't like it.

And in Gonzaga's case, if they had lost last night, Loyola would have been in the NCAA tourney with a 12-18 record. And they would have bumped out one of the 18-11 or 17-12 teams who play all the toughest competition all year.

ssigman · March 7th, 2006, 10:00 AM

well the bigger conferences usually have a cutoff of teams that make it to the conference tourny..like the big east cuts it off at 12 teams...so the bottom 4 don't even get a shot at it

Mike · March 7th, 2006, 03:46 PM

For such a small school and to have a program like they do, you have to give them credit. For the past number of years they have played really well and finished strong in the tourney's. Hey if they win by 20 or 1, it's still a win no matter what and any team can be surprising on any given day!!

Insanity · March 7th, 2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

For the past number of years they have played really well and finished strong in the tourney's.

If by finished strong in the tourneys you mean didn't make it past the first weekend, then yes.

The Gonzaga program as a whole, not overrated. This year's team, overrated. They won't go anywhere in March because they don't play defense. They'll meet up with someone who can contain Morrison and they'll be done.

Rusty27 · March 7th, 2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

a team can be surprising on any given day!!

They should make a movie about that.

BtownJay · March 7th, 2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insanity

If by finished strong in the tourneys you mean didn't make it past the first weekend, then yes.

The Gonzaga program as a whole, not overrated. This year's team, overrated. They won't go anywhere in March because they don't play defense. They'll meet up with someone who can contain Morrison and they'll be done.

Whoa! Who are you?!?! lol

Thats what i was asking... about this year.

Meik, I'm not saying not to give them credit... but if this CURRENT team is ranked too high. And yes, winning by 20 and looking good and winning by 1 over Loyola is very different... and it does matter.

Insanity · March 7th, 2006, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BtownJay

Whoa! Who are you?!?! lol

Heh, yes it's been a while.

Maybe Gonzaga is just on cruise control through their conference games, but that's still not a good sign heading into the tourney. i'm staying away from them when it comes to picking winners.

March 7th, 2006, 08:19 AM	#1
BtownJay Join Date: 07-14-2004 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 28,016	Gonzaga, overrated? THANK GOD that they got lucky and won their conference final last night. I was on the edge of my seat praying that Loyola wouldn't score that final basket. If that dude had not missed that open layup, the under .500 Loyola team would have made the dance, and knocked at good team out (one of the good bubble teams). There is NO reason that the West Coast Conference needed to get two teams in. But after watching the Zags this year, are they really as good as their ranking says? They have seemed to stuggle alot this year at times when they probably shouldn't have. They also seem to have only 3 players who can step up and play solid throughout the game (Morrison, Bautista, and their point guard, cant remember his name right now, starts with a "R").

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

March 7th, 2006, 08:42 AM	#2
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,221	i don't think they are overrated..i don't think they deserve to be #4 in the country due to the conference they are in..but they showed earlier in the season they can compete with the top teams...i think playing 4 games in 4 nites(not sure about that) just tired them out and teams prepared better cause they saw them already during the year...i think the zags have a real good shot at the sweet 16

March 7th, 2006, 08:51 AM	#3
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	OK, I get confused on this stuff, why would Loyola get to go to the tournament ahead of Gonzaga if they had won? I mean didn't Gonzaga win their conference?

March 7th, 2006, 09:16 AM	#5
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,221	basically the winner of the conference tourny gets an automatic bid despite the record....after all those teams are in from the conference tourny's...they choose at-large bids...gonzaga would get one because they are one the top teams..so after the top teams are taken..they go to teams that have decent records and choose...like jay said, if you have a team with a 6-20 record for example winning the conference tourny...it takes away a spot for a team with an 18-11 record...65 teams make the tourny total

March 7th, 2006, 09:32 AM	#6
Gunnerman Join Date: 04-01-2004 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,519	Thanks for explanations, it just seems to me that if teams get automatic spots for winning their conference tournies it totally devalues the regular season, because this system could allow for teams who may have sandbagged during the season a chance to qualify, but that could just be me looking at it strangely....

March 7th, 2006, 09:43 AM	#7
BtownJay Join Date: 07-14-2004 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 28,016	I pretty much agree Gunny. For the smaller conferences the only way for them to get a team into the NCAA tourney is for them to win their conference tourney. And you see it every year... a team can go 13-1 in their conference and get upset in their conference tourney by a team who went 5-9 in the regular season. So that bad team gets in over the team who dominated all year. I don't like it. And in Gonzaga's case, if they had lost last night, Loyola would have been in the NCAA tourney with a 12-18 record. And they would have bumped out one of the 18-11 or 17-12 teams who play all the toughest competition all year.

March 7th, 2006, 10:00 AM	#8
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,221	well the bigger conferences usually have a cutoff of teams that make it to the conference tourny..like the big east cuts it off at 12 teams...so the bottom 4 don't even get a shot at it

March 7th, 2006, 03:46 PM	#9
Mike Join Date: 07-08-2002 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 10,795	For such a small school and to have a program like they do, you have to give them credit. For the past number of years they have played really well and finished strong in the tourney's. Hey if they win by 20 or 1, it's still a win no matter what and any team can be surprising on any given day!!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)