Recap: Zags over BYU 87-80

Note: sorry for the late recap.  I traveled to the game then got burried in work and travel.  Here's my insight from row six behind the bench.

The Zags traveled to Provo heavy favorites.  There was a bit of an upset bug going around college basketball though.  There were two AP top 10 upsets in UNLV over Arizona (3) and George Washington over Wichita State (9).  There were no real surprises in Provo.

The Zags ran up the score board seemingly before BYU even realized the game had tipped, at one point leading 31-15.  With starting Cougar center and post force Nate Austin injured, the Cougars were obviously hurting for size to defend against veteran back-to-the-basket and rim-protector Przemek Karnowski and athletic new-comer Domantas Sabonis.  Coach Dave Rose tried a number of post rotations until finally settling on a chippy but talent-mismatched Corbin Kaufusi.  Kaufusi's only real contribution was that he both flustered Sabonis into foul trouble (a problem that will self-correct as Sabonis gets experience), and tired Karnowski to the point where he was noticeably slow in transition, on a few occasions missing his signature hook shot.

Kaufusi tries to get physical with Karnowski.  Karnowski played

33 minutes for 9 points, 10 boards, 3 assists, and a block.

The Zags had Too Many Options

The Zags made a late but needed transition to it's perimeter offense in the second half.  Despite the Zags early massacre on the scoreboard, BYU's Kyle Colinsworth managed to tie the score going into the half on a running buzzer-beater three from 25' out.  The Zags continued a post-game attack into the second half, a strategy that became progressively less effective on account of Sabonis' foul trouble and Karnowski's overuse.  Coach Few called for a time out, and the Zags came out of it immediately executing high picks for Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos.  Both were on fire from downtown, and quickly stretched the defense to relieve Karnowski of the double teaming, something Pangos referred to as "keeping the defense honest.

Pangos celebrates one of his five 3-pointers (5/8 or .625 from deep).

It was also nice to see Pangos posting some points.  He had been in a bit of a score drought, although for fundamentally sound reasons.  With David Stockton out of the sixth man rotation that typically saw Pangos go from point guard to shooting guard, the Zags have been using Pangos exclusively as a true point guard this season.  He's spent almost all his minutes in the floor general position that resulted in him establishing one of the best assist/turnover ratios in division 1 basketball.  Not withstanding that success, it was a bit nostalgiac to see Pangos knocking down wing threes with his signature, textbook, machine-like follow through. 

Other Good Developments

Kyle Wiltjer and Byron Wesley both had great nights.  Silas Melson also got some good attention. Wiltjer really deserves some analysis here if for no other reason than he is performing fantastically.  He played great head-up mid range basketball, has great post foot-work, and is opening up the post and driving lances with his ability to shoot from any distance.  He turned in another 20+ point game.  There's really nothing else to say besides noting that he's contributing at a high level and very consistently against a range of defenses.  He is not a defensive powerhouse, but I will leave that for a future piece when I better understand his efficiency figures.

Wesley continued steady drives to the basket for high-percentage shots around post men.  Silas Melson also had an entertaining game, making a highlight reel dunk off the weak-side baseline on a cross-court assist from Karnowski.  Karnowski got the ball on the strong side high post.  Melson watched from the weak side baseline as the defense collapsed on Karnowski.  He tiptoed to towards the basket, and Karnowski made the quick pass for the uncontested dunk.  It was a great demonstration of Karnowski's poise and ability to keep his head up to make plays under pressure.

Melson's Dunk: 2H GONZ S. Melson made Dunk. Assisted by P. Karnowski ...

Concerns

The Zags should have had the game in hand by 7 against a healthy BYU roster, but struggled (ever so briefly) against a hobbled BYU roster.  Basketball cannot be analyzed as a linear function, and it's more likely that the Zags played to the scoreboard.  They still scored on demand late in the second half when BYU was showing signs of life, and made consistent stops without dumb fouls.  Nevertheless, it was noteworthy that BYU closed a 20-point gap to take the lead on a pathetically-hobbled front line.  I'm sure Coach Few addressed this, both at the half, and when he obviously gave Bell and Pangos firing orders from deep.