Gonzaga Recap
Maui Invitational
By Chris B.
Overall: Well I think we kind of all predicted this one. A cross country flight, then across the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands, only to get to play the number 8 team in the country in the morning in Hawaii who only has to travel from Washington State. Slow starts are common even when we play in the friendly confides of the Comcast Center so falling behind Gonzaga early was no real shocker. I think we even predicted in the message board to fall behind, make a ferocious comeback only to fall short at the end. Well guess what, it happened. We actually rallied to take a one point lead in to the second half, but a long scoring drought brought on by Gonzaga's zone defense sealed the deal. In the first half, Gonzaga had 12 turnovers and helped the Terps out in transition, but the second half the zag's only had 5. The three headed monster of Morrison (who seems pretty legit to me after watching them against Mich St), Ravio, and J.P. Batista combined for 70 of their 88 points!
My thoughts: Strawberry is going to be better than I thought he would at running the show. Against pressing teams, he is going to need McCray help him get the ball up court I think, but he should get leaps and bounds better and more comfortable by the time we get in to the heart of conference season. McCray still seems streaky from 3 (1-7), Gist needs to demand the ball down low. He is our best option inside, and there is a good chance that he will get fouled because of his quickness off the ground. He seems to have improved his FT stroke from last year. My first recap I talked about Mike Jones didn't need to shoot the three all the time. Well this game he was 4-7 from the field, all from behind the arc. So much for that philosophy, fire away! Final Score 88-76. The biggest thing I see this team needing is a guy we can count on night in and night out to be "the guy". You knew what you were going to get from Joe, Johnny, Juan, Lonny, Booth, Nicholas, and Blake. When each of those players were the leaders, you knew the kind of performance you were going to get. I just don't see it from anyone. Maybe strawberry, you can't out on all out hustle, and good D, but this team needs a consistent GO TO GUY! Since those guys left we have had one guy who was capable of puting the team on his back, but he wanted to do it every time down the court. Does McCray have it in him? NCM, he COULD, but will he. Someone needs to say I am the leader, and set the tone. I hate to say it, but this team may be a bunch of complimentary players, without a star!
Report Card:
Nik Canner-Medley- D The only thing stopping it from being an F, was that he actually had 6 assists (6 TO's also) on a nite where he was 1-7.
Ekene Ibekwe- C 4-4 from the field 1-3 from the line. 9 tp
James Gist C Command the ball! 2-5, 6-6 from the line 7 boards. 10 points
Chris McCray, C 18 points (1-7 From deep) 3 assist, 6 TO's
DJ Strawberry B+ 7-10 (2-2 From 3) Could have been an on hustle alone, but with out the W, it is tough to give him an A.
Mike Jones B+ 12 points in 18 minutes
Travis Garrison C Nothing spectacular off the bench. Use that frame of yours to get position inside big guy!
Will Bowers D 1-3 in 11 minutes. So much for the big man camp.
Sterling Ledbetter (Sterbo)- D 0-1 1 assist, 1 TO
Parrish Brown and David Neal inc 0+ minutes listed in box score, I guess that means less that 30 seconds!