Tell Me I’m Crazy – The ‘Zags

Tell me I’m crazy, but I think that this year’s Gonzaga team is the best team that they have ever had.

I know, I know, they have had 3-seeds and even a 2-seed, but did they really have better years than this team did? 

I know, I know, they have had guys like Adam Morrison and Dan Dickau, who were drafted in first round (Morrison even went #3), but were those guys any more talented than any of the guys on this year’s team?  And, even more obviously, they weren’t surrounded by the talent that this year’s squad has.

Well…this team went 14-0 in the WCC and dominated the conference tournament.  And, as a direct result of Gonzaga’s success, this is probably the best WCC ever.  And, look at the non-conference schedule.  To start the season, they won a warm-up game against a D-II school, then they beat a solid Idaho team by 34.  Then they won five straight away from home against teams from MAJOR conferences, including three tournament teams (Oklahoma St. by 12, Maryland by 22, Tennessee by 9, Indiana by 16, and at Washington St. by 22).  They only lost five games all year–all 5 to tournament teams, and all but one within single-digits.  These losses included Memphis, UConn on a neutral floor, and road games against Arizona and Utah.  The only spot on the whole schedule that you could question was a 7-point home loss to Portland St., who made the tournament, as a 13-seed and gave Xavier a run for its money in the first round.

Well…Austin Daye is a future first-round draft pick.  Jeremy Pargo will probably be drafted by someone, or at least signed as an undrafted free agent.  If Josh Heytvelt was not such a head-case, he would probably be a first-rounder.  Matt Bouldin should at least get a cup of coffee in the NBA.

So, they may or may not beat the most talented team in the country tonight, but regardless of the outcome, I think this is the best Gonzaga team ever assembled.

 Tell me I’m crazy…