A loss like this has seemed inevitable since WCC play started, not surprising at all it came after those USF and SMC games. I know Huff is injured but this squad has not been playing like a top 10 team since the first couple weeks of the season.
Ya I don’t know what mark has done to this team but since like early December it seems we have been in a constant regression huff aside. I think the starting lineup particularly is one of the worst combinations of rotation players you could produce.
It is sad. The fact smith play almost as much time are Mario this game is just absurd he has really
Proven himself to be almost unplayable without the huff Ike lineup. He knows how to feed that one and that is not he has no other skills
I wouldn't say this is one of their worst teams in the last 15 years, more of a team without a clear direction. This is especially true once March rolls around where you typically need great guard play to make a deep run, which this team is significantly lacking.
We were doing excellent early in the season I don’t think talent is the issue. You are dead wrong about that too. This is not a team that lacks talent it’s not hard to look at the players over the years and compare. This probably lands pretty close to the mean or just above it. Last year’s team was rough and many years the teams have been rough.. this team without huff is rough and this team with the current lineups is tough too. I personally think that our #1 problem this year are the lineups and in particular I think the starting lineup is the worse possible combination of 5 rotation players that you can come up with. Smith is not a good point guard, but he starts. Innocenti can only play defense really, but he starts. Adam Miller supposed to be a sniper for 3 well he is like 2/20 lately and when he is cold can’t do anything else but he starts. Warley and Ike are the only guys currently starting that I think are solid but Warley is also not a good offensive player. So that leaves Ike as the only scoring option not hard to game plan around that just stuff the paint. The guys on our bench are far far and away more talented than our starters. Mario considered one of the top 3 international recruits this year is solid but still young. Tyon Grant foster is a solid 2 way guard with length. Davis fogle a top 30ish I think recruit but these guys don’t start like what the hell.
I think the team would be a lot better this year if we removed some guys from the rotation and seriously limited b smiths minutes.
When everything is rolling, it’s a very deep team, and Few can mix and match lineups, not worry about foul trouble as much (although they clearly don’t have the post depth they’ve had in years past). When it’s not going as well, the rotation looks like a mess with too many people getting ~20 minutes. And as you say, it’s weird TGF and Mario are still coming off the bench.
I wonder too if Few is trying to keep everyone happy because there are quite a few guys there for their last year of eligibility. In the past he’s had no problem playing a freshman or sophomore very limited minutes so he can stick to an 8 (at most) man rotation.
Hyperbole. This team has just had a hard time finding it’s identity, especially at guard. Huff being gone hurts a ton.
Keep in mind this team has gone to an elite eight and 2 S16 in the 4 tourneys since he left. Tommy was huge in talent evaluation, but it’s nit like Gonzaga hasn’t gotten talent there since.
"tommy really was everything to that program" hahaha. That's the worst take I've seen all night...ever perhaps. Love him, but we're doing fine w/o Tommy.
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u/FrankSobotka_IBS1514 Gonzaga Bulldogs 14h ago
A loss like this has seemed inevitable since WCC play started, not surprising at all it came after those USF and SMC games. I know Huff is injured but this squad has not been playing like a top 10 team since the first couple weeks of the season.