Gonzaga Bulldogs
West Coast Conference (25-6, 13-3)
As usual Gonzaga is a well-tested team. The non-conference slate had games against the likes of Notre Dame, Illinois, Michigan State, Arizona and Xavier. Even the West Coast Conference got a little tougher this season with the addition of BYU. However, this is still a young team and the lights of March shine much brighter than they did in November.
Big Wins: 11/30 Notre Dame (73-53), 12/17 vs Arizona (71-60), 2/9 Saint Mary’s (73-59)
Bad Losses: 12/3 at Illinois (75-82), 2/2 at BYU (73-83), 2/18 at San Francisco (65-66)
Coach: Mark Few (13 seasons at Gonzaga)
Why They Can Surprise:
The Bulldogs frontcourt has plenty of experience. Elias Harris and Robert Sacre form one of the best dynamic frontcourt duos in the nation. Harris is an explosive athlete who can score inside and out. He can even stretch the defense with his outside shooting ability. Harris has been relatively inconsistent the last couple of seasons, but if he gets hot at the right time, he is very tough to defend. Sacre is the traditional center. At 7-0 and 260 pounds, he takes up a lot of space in the paint on both ends of the floor. He will rarely steal the spotlight, but Sacre is a good interior scorer and a strong rebounder. Sacre can also block some shots and that is something this team needs him to do as much as possible. Sam Dower will be the primary backup for Harris and Sacre. The 6-9 sophomore has a nice feel for the game offensively and can provide an offensive spark in the paint. Guy Landry Eli, a junior college transfer, missed some games early in the year, but has really come on strong. The 6-5 small forward is a good athlete, but is still learning the ropes. However, he has earned a starting job and he is getting better all the time.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The Gonzaga backcourt is not really a weakness. Kevin Pangos is a great point guard and a superb shooter, Gary Bell is full of potential, David Stockton has proven to be a fine ballhandler and Mike Hart is the defensive stopper. However, the inexperience factor is huge. Pangos added a dimension to the Gonzaga offense that has been missing…a point guard who can shoot. He has done an incredible job, shooting lights out from long range and dishing out about two assists per turnover. Bell is another freshman, and one the Zags stole away from some big conference schools. Bell is a versatile guard who has been shooting very well this season, but needs to mix up his game by attacking the basket more often. Pangos, Bell and the rest of the backcourt have stepped up big time this season, but whether or not they can do it in crunch time during the NCAA Tournament is another question.
Probable Starters:
Kevin Pangos, Freshman, Guard, 13.8 ppg, 3.4 apg
Gary Bell, Freshman, Guard, 10.0 ppg, 1.9 apg
Guy Landry Edi, Junior, Forward, 5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Elias Harris, Junior, Forward, 13.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg
Robert Sacre, Senior, Center, 11.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Marquise Carter, Senior, Guard, 4.0 ppg, 1.8 apg
Sam Dower, Sophomore, Center, 8.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Mike Hart, Junior, Guard, 1.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg
David Stockton, Sophomore, Guard, 3.8 ppg, 2.4 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 74.0 (43rd in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 62.7 (64, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.5 (28, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.2 (84, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.4 (134, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.2 (33, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.3 (94, 4)
Rebound Margin: 6.9 (13, 2)
Assists Per Game: 13.7 (99, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.5 (167, 6)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
Gonzaga 2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over St. Johns
Gonzaga 2011 NCAA Round of 32 loss to BYU
Gonzaga 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Florida State
Gonzaga 2010 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Syracuse
Gonzaga 2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Akron
Gonzaga 2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Western Kentucky
Gonzaga 2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to North Carolina
Gonzaga 2008 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Davidson
Gonzaga 2007 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Indiana
*all team stats through 3/4
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
