The Gonzaga Bulldogs finally did it gang. They finally won a close game AND they did it against Saint Mary’s, defeating the Gaels 58-51 to take the WCC Tournament Championship.
1) All those fans that complain about how rigid Mark Few is with his lineups need to officially STFU for the rest of eternity because Few did what no one probably expected and started both Braden Huff and Graham Ike. It was wild and it worked. Gonzaga started out the game kicking the teeth out of the Gaels.
2) Huff had a great game, arguably the best game of his career. He made Paul Murauskas look like a high school junior in a college game. He finished with 18 of points. However, after making his first three, he started to stray beyond the arc a bit too much. His four attempts at halftime were the most of any player in the game and one of the main reasons the Gaels were able to creep back in. Huff needs to recognize that the three-point shot is not his to take this season.
3) Normally, I think Dave Flemming and Sean Farham do a great job but the moment Mikey Lewis entered the game you would think he was a NPOY. The ESPN broadcast even put up the rather useless “Gonzaga has been outscored 12-7 since Mikey Lewis entered the game.” An interesting stat considering Gonzaga was still leading and Lewis scored a grand total of five points off 2-of-10 shooting.
4) One of the most consequential moments in the game came from a combination of Ryan Nembhard needing to know better plus the unfortunate combo of a T trigger happy ref. Nembhard, who had two fouls at the time, hit the bench for the final minute of the first half. He was very quickly T’d up for chirping from the bench. Regardless of how quickly it happened, Nembhard needs to know better and be better in that moment.
5) It ended up not mattering too much. The Gaels inexplicably did not even really go after Nembhard to start the second half, and Nembhard was able to log nearly 10 minutes no sweat. An absolute gift and a rare coaching miss by Randy Bennett.
6) Gonzaga wins this game by a landslide if they shoot their average from three. Likewise, Saint Mary’s wins this game by a landslide if they do as well. Anybody enjoying the modern game of basketball probably didn’t enjoy this one. Gonzaga was 1-for-15 from three and Saint Mary’s 0-for-16.
7) While the offense struggled to make shots, let’s pour out all the shots for the Gonzaga D. They were absolutely amazing all night. The Gaels could never get into any sort of rhythm, and outside of Mitchell Saxan scoring 20 points, much of the rest of the team was a no show. Gonzaga harried them into 18 turnovers, generating 20 points. That, right there, was the difference in the game.
8) Most importantly for Gonzaga, this was a close AF game that they pulled out to win. It is funny that it nearly took all season for that monkey on the back to finally leap off, but pulling this one out has to be one of the biggest locker room mojo boosters you can ever ask for.
9) After all that hemming and hawing, Gonzaga is in the tournament, and Saint Mary’s has to “sweat” it out on Selection Sunday. Let’s go. Never take a moment of March for granted.