Scouting Report: Colorado

W-L: 3-0
RPI: 35
SOS: 91
Best Wins:
(43) Texas Southern W 88-77

Best Losses:
N/A

Current Rankings:
#35 RPI

Team Overview:
For a team that went 1-15 in Big 12 play last year, there are a few reasons for optimism in 2009-10. Foremost among those reasons is the return of super-stud Cory Higgins. The do-everything junior is one of the better returning players in the country and is skillful enough to help propel Colorado to a few more conference wins this season.

Expect Newcomers Alec Burks, Shane Harris-Tunks, Keegan Hornbuckle, and Marcus Relphorde to pay big dividends for Head Coach Jeff Bzdelik who is trying to steer these Buffaloes to the NCAA Tournament in his third season at the helm.

Team Leaders:
Points: Cory Higgins 23.3
Assists: Nate Tomlinson 4.0
Rebounds: Nate Tomlinson 4.7

Best Player:

Cory Higgins G 6-5 190 JR
Higgins is the Buffaloes most complete player, shooting 70% from the floor and 67% from Three.

My Take:
This is not going to be an easy game, this one will be decided at the end. I think Colorado is a lot better this year than people have given them credit for. I expect our defense to struggle with Cory Higgins and Alec Burks.

Final Score: Gonzaga 72 Colorado 65

Recap: IPFW Vs. Gonzaga

Final Score:Gonzaga 90 IPFW 55

Box Score Snapshot
Scorer: Robert Sacre/Matt Bouldin 15 Points
Rebounder:Robert Sacre 8 Boards
Passer: Mike Hart 3 Assists
Swatter: Robert Sacre 2 Blocks
Thief: Matt Bouldin 5 Steals

Game MVP: Robert Sacre
15 Points, 8 Boards, and 2 Blocks

Team Comparison: Zags/Mastodons
Points: 90/55
Assist to /Turnover Ratio: 0.72/0.18
Rebounds: 48/33
Shooting Percentage: 63%/31%
3pt Percentage: 50%/32%

What it means for the future (Analysis):
This game helps coach Few see some of his bench, no offense to the Mastodons, but this game was never in question. I was very surprised to see Bol Kong finally work his way into a game, and he did not dissapoint 10 minutes, 8 points on 2 big threes and a couple of nice free throws (Great form). I think if he can continue to work hard, he and Kelly Olynyk will be the first two players in rotation off the bench. He had the offensive awareness of an Adam Morrison type, he also compared to Morrison on the defensive end, kinda standing around looking to others to do the work.

Meech Goodson had a great game, 14 points, 4 Steals, 2 Assists, and 2 Boards. He looked solid after a couple of rather ugly games. Steven Gray seemed to finally find his shooting touch, heres hoping he can start knocking down some threes with regularity. Elias Harris sat on the bench for a bit, but played his heart out when he got action. Robert Sacre continued to play well, and i think played the best of the bunch.

We go into the Maui Invitational with a chip on our shoulders, i would not be surprised at all if we win the whole thing, I would not wish what is about to happen to Colorado on anyone.

Recruiting News

ESPN released their Top 25 early Season recruiting class for next year, this isn't that list, but it is their honorable mention. These teams are the ones that no one would talk about, but who quietly put together great recruiting classes. No Gonzaga on the list, but that is due in part that we had such a large recruiting class this year. With Players like Sam Dower, David Stockton, and Bol Kong possibly redshirting this season, our class for next year looks solid enough to me. Enjoy.


Justin Martin

1. Xavier Musketeers
Conference: Atlantic 10
Players signed: 4
SF Justin Martin (Indianapolis/Mountain State)6-7, 200
SF Jay Canty (High Point, N.C./Oak Ridge Military Academy)6-5, 175
PF Jordan Latham (Baltimore/City College)6-8, 210
PF Griffin McKenzie (Cincinnati/Moeller)6-9, 220.

Breakdown: New coach Chris Mack, who spent five years at Xavier (his alma mater) as an assistant before taking over for Sean Miller in April, showed Xavier isn't slowing down as the Musketeers cleaned up in the early signing period at small and power forward. Martin is a big-time athletic wing with size; he is a scorer with range to 20 feet. Latham is a solid big man who can score and rebound inside; he will help in the paint immediately. McKenzie is a skilled high-post player who had an outstanding summer and is a good face-up shooter out to 19 feet. Canty is a jack-of-all-trades. He is the ultimate glue guy who does the little things that can help a team win. The beat keeps going at the "X."


Juwan Staten

2. Dayton Flyers
Conference: Atlantic 10
Players signed: 5
PG Juwan Staten (Dayton, Ohio/Oak Hill Academy)5-11, 165
SG Brandon Spearman (Chicago/Simeon)6-3, 185
SG Jesse Berry (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson)6-1, 170
SF Ralph Hill (Westerville, Ohio/North)6-6, 195
SF Devin Oliver (Kalamazoo, Mich./Central)6-6, 195

Breakdown: The Flyers put together a very solid class that should help keep them in the upper echelon of the A-10 for years to come. The cornerstone of this class for coach Brian Gregory and his staff was keeping local product Staten in Dayton. The super quick and athletic point guard, who can be a difference-maker for the Flyers, can score and create with the best of them. Spearman is a solid shooting guard with a strong body who can knock it down from the perimeter and will help in many ways. Berry is a combo guard who can score and create, although he is best with the ball in his hands in point guard mode. Hill and Oliver are skilled, athletic small forwards.


Dominique Ferguson

3. Florida International Golden Panthers
Conference: Sun Belt
Players signed: 4
PF Dominique Ferguson (Indianapolis/Hargrave Military Academy)6-9, 210
PG Phil Taylor (Marietta, Ga./Wheeler)5-9, 160
SG Richaud Pack (Birmingham, Mich./Seaholm)6-3, 175
SG DeJuan Wright (Detroit/Gillette [Wyo.] College)6-4, 170
PF Eric Frederick (Oklahoma City/Highland [Ill.] CC)6-7, 230

Breakdown: The Sun Belt Conference has been top-heavy during the past decade with very few teams breaking through into the upper echelon of the league. FIU has shown that not only does it plan on asserting itself as one of the elite programs in the conference, but the Panthers also plan on going toe-to-toe with the high-majors for talent. FIU's class would have been considered strong if it had included only talented backcourt players Taylor, Wright and Pack, but when coach Isiah Thomas was able to convince Ferguson, a 6-9 power forward, to sign on the dotted line, it became a class deserving of Top 25 conversation. Ferguson is a long, athletic wing who spurned offers from some of the top programs in the country to play for the Panthers and could be the lightning rod that propels Thomas' squad to new heights.


Alex Kirk

4. New Mexico Lobos
Conference: Mountain West
Players signed: 2
C Alex Kirk (Los Alamos, N.M./Los Alamos)6-10, 225
Tony Snell (Riverside, Calif./Westwind [Nev.] Prep)6-7, 190

Breakdown: Coach Steve Alford's wish list was not long, but it was specific: sign Kirk. The 6-10 center, a longtime target of the Lobos' staff, was a very important get for Alford on two fronts. First, he gives New Mexico the skilled big man it desperately needed. He fits the system perfectly and will be the post player the Lobos can build their program around. Secondly, as a highly recruited, in-state prospect, signing Kirk was monumental for the fan base. With very few in-state players good enough to help the program compete in the Mountain West, the roster is thin on players from within the borders so it was imperative to keep the big fella home. With nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster, the addition of Kirk and versatile 6-7 guard/forward Snell gives the Lobos two high-major level players to add to a more experienced squad.


C.J. Aiken

5. Saint Joseph's Hawks
Conference: Atlantic 10
Players signed: 3
C C.J. Aiken (Conshohocken, Pa./ Plymouth-Whitemarsh Sr.)6-9, 190
SG Langston Galloway (Baton Rouge, La./Christian Life Academy)6-3, 185
SF Daryus Quarles (Clayton, N.J./Life Center Academy)6-6, 170

Breakdown: There are not many coaches who do a better job of evaluating and attracting players operating just under the radar, and then developing them into national names than Phil Martelli and his staff. They again have done a great job at unearthing some hidden gems that should keep the Hawks soaring with the A-10 elite. Aiken, a rail-thin 6-9 center, has tremendous upside and will be one of those players that people can't believe they missed on in two or three years. Galloway is a steal; he is a winner who will bring confidence and energy to the floor each night. Also, look out for Quarles, whose feel for the game and ability to score will ensure that he finds his way onto the floor.


Shelton Boykin

6. Long Beach State 49ers
Conference: Big West
Players signed: 3
SG Jacob Thomas (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights)6-4, 190
SF Shelton Boykin (Long Beach, Calif./Poly)6-5, 190
PF Nick Shepherd (Houston/Westbury Christian)6-9, 200

Breakdown: In his third year, coach Dan Monson is quietly building a program at Long Beach State that can compete for championships. The 49ers hauled in a solid class of talent for the second year in a row with commitments from an outstanding trio of prospects. Boykin, a 6-5 wing type, exploded up the rankings due to his athletic prowess and an innate ability to score in a variety of ways. Meanwhile, Monson scored a coup by convincing the sharpshooting 6-4 Thomas to leave his Midwest roots and take up residence in the Big West. Lastly, the 49ers grabbed an intriguing big out of Texas with an enormous upside in the 6-9 Shepherd. The race for supremacy in the Big West is going to get interesting during the next few years.


Ben Vozzola

7. San Diego Toreros
Conference: West Coast
Players signed: 4
SG Ben Vozzola (Las Vegas/Centennial)6-5, 160
PF Dennis Kramer (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon)6-9, 215
C Simi Fajemisin (Lynnwood, Wash./Lynnwood)6-9, 260
PF Trevor Fuller (Dallas/Episcopal School)6-8, 225

Breakdown: Despite a disappointing season of unmet expectations on the court last season, the coaching staff never lost sight of the importance of getting it done on the recruiting trail. Coach Bill Grier needed an upgrade in frontcourt talent and he accomplished that task with a recruiting haul of three players over 6-8 -- Fajemisin, Kramer and Fuller. Fajemisin is an improving back-to-the-basket center who has upside, while Kramer and Fuller give the Toreros an athletic and skilled combination at the forward position. However, the multiskilled Vozzola, who can play all three perimeter positions, is the jewel of the class.


Alex Tiffin

8. UC Davis Aggies
Conference: Big West
Players signed: 2
Alex Tiffin (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks)6-7, 210, PF
C Michael Kurtz (Roseville, Calif./Woodcreek)6-10, 200

Breakdown: The Aggies may be new to the Division I game, but they have wasted little time adjusting to the recruiting wars that are so important to a program's success. Coach Gary Stewart & Co. have been turning heads in the recruiting world with their ability to sign quality players who should have them competing for championships. Tiffin gives UC Davis a high-level skilled performer who should garner playing time and impact the program immediately. The player who may end up as the biggest coup in the class is Kurtz, a 6-10 sleeper who oozes potential but needs to develop physically to realize his full abilities. Don't forget forward Josh Ritchart. UC Davis hasn't received Ritchart's letter of intent yet, but the Aggies commit should pair with Tiffin to give UC Davis a nice pair of bookend forwards.


Yannick Atanga

9. Santa Clara Broncos
Conference: West Coast
Players signed: 2
PF Yannick Atanga (Ojai, Calif./Besant Hill)6-8, 210
PF John McArthur (Concord, Calif./De La Salle), 6-8, 220

Breakdown: Coach Kerry Keating knows how difficult the WCC has become and landed a couple of horses to help him compete in the improving conference. The WCC continues to progress as opposing teams have upgraded their programs in order to keep up with the Joneses, in this case Gonzaga. The Broncos' two-man class addresses the need for size and athleticism on the interior. Originally from Cameroon, Atanga gives the Broncos a developing high-major athlete who can compete against the league's elite, while McArthur is a beast who is sure to be a fan favorite. He wins most loose balls and hustle plays, and brings the type of game that will have an immediate impact on the team.


Ugo Okam

T-10. Harvard Crimson
League: Ivy
Commitments: 3
(Note: Harvard doesn't officially give scholarships, so there is no NLI to sign)
C Ugo Okam (Lagos, Nigeria/Montverde, Fla.)7-1, 220
SG Laurent Rivard (St. Bruno, PQ, Canada/Northfield-Mt. Hermon School)6-5, 215
SG Matt Brown (Barrington, R.I./Northfield-Mt. Hermon School)6-3, 190

Breakdown: One of the world's most famous academic institutions, Harvard, which has experienced March Madness only once (1946), is beginning to garner some well-deserved attention on the hardwood. Coach Tommy Amaker has been able to find some true double-threat student-athletes who should give the Crimson a legitimate chance to compete for an Ivy League championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The most intriguing figure is Okam, a 7-1 center. The future BMOC -- literally -- is a rare get for an Ivy League school as athletic 7-footers who are elite students with basketball upside are usually a hot commodity.


Travis Robinson

T-10. Boston University Terriers
Conference: America East
Players signed: 7
SF Travis Robinson (Philadelphia/Friends Central)6-5, 185
PF Dominic Morris (Philadelphia/Friends Central)6-8, 230
PG D.J. Irving (Philadelphia/Arch. Carroll)6-0, 170
SG Mike Terry (Philadelphia/NE Catholic)6-1, 170
C Anthony Mayo (Philadelphia/Roman Catholic)6-8, 205
SG Malik Thomas (Wadleigh, N.Y./Wadleigh)6-4, 185
PG Henry Gaskins (Philadelphia/Friends Central)5-9, 145

Breakdown: With six of seven pledges coming out of the City of Brotherly Love, BU's class makes you wonder if the Terriers left any players in the Philadelphia area for anybody else to sign. In his first year, coach Pat Chambers and his staff signed a class of seven players that should set the foundation for his future teams. Two of the top recruits are high school teammates -- Robinson and Morris -- who give Chambers two talented forwards to build on, while Irving and Terry form the potential backcourt of the future.

Scouting Report: IPFW

FYI
IPFW stands for Indiana University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, similar to IUPUI otherwise referred to as Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis. These are part of the Indiana State Public University Network.

W-L: 1-1
RPI: 285
SOS: 24
Best Wins:
(NR) Madonna W 86-57

Best Losses:
(40) Wisconsin L 46-75

Current Rankings:
Are you Kidding?

Team Overview:
Head Coach Dane Fife is only 30, but is entering his fifth season in charge of the Mastodons. His team could be poised for a breakout year, as IPFW returns four starters and the defending Summit League Sixth Man of the Year, Deilvez Yearby (9.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg).

Team Leaders:
Points: Deilvez Yearby 20.0
Assists: Ben Botts 3.0
Rebounds: Deilvez Yearby 6.0

Best Player:

Deilvez Yearby F 6-6 212 SR
Yearby averaged 9 points and 6 boards a game as a Junior.

My Take:
This game will be a nice tuneup for the Maui Invitational, i expect the team to dominate in all aspects of the game.

Final Score: Gonzaga 92 IPFW 65

Recap: Gonzaga @ Michigan St.

Final Score:Michigan St. 75 Gonzaga 71

Box Score Snapshot
Scorer: Robert Sacre/Elias Harris 17 Points
Rebounder:Elias Harris 9 Boards
Passer: Matt Bouldin/Steven Gray 4 Assists
Swatter: Steven Gray 3 Blocks
Thief: Elias Harris 3 Steals



Game MVP: Elias Harris
17 Points, 9 Boards, 3 Steals, and an Assist

Team Comparison: Zags/Spartans
Points: 71/75
Assist to /Turnover Ratio: 1.09/0.75
Rebounds: 30/43
Shooting Percentage: 36%/44%
3pt Percentage: 22%/27%

What it means for the future (Analysis):
What a great Game! The Zags played their hearts out. Its not often you see a Mid Major team with 9 freshman travel across the country and almost walk away with a win. For 37 Minutes of the 40 Minute game, the Zags were the better team. Overall it seemed that the Zags played like a much better team than many expected.

Robert Sacre looked amazing, if it was not for foul trouble he may have scored twice his 17 points. His Jump Hooks and around the basket offense was on full display, definitely one of the better offensive centers in the country. As Tom Izzo said, He is built like Adonis.

Elias Harris continued his excellent all around play showing the country that the Zags have yet again struck gold on the recruiting trail. He Played with the spunk of a seasoned vet, and in all honestly is quickly making Zag Fans forget about that Austin Daye kid. I think he is further along at this point that Daye is now in the pros.

That being said for as good as our frontcourt played, our backcourt was just as bad. Matt Bouldin seemed to press things at times, playing more like a Freshman than the Senior he is. He really needs to slow it down, and be more selective with his looks, he had 4 turnovers and a couple of those were just plain bad. Steven Gray seemed to be pressing things quite a bit and shot 3-14 from the floor and 1-8 from three, he really needs to get his shot back, if not he is nothing more than a defensive specialist. Dmitri Goodson continues to play great defense and he doesn't make a lot of mistakes on offense, but he also really does not contribute much. He had his hands involved in only 3 points all night, 1 for himself and 2 for his one assist. All in all the backcourt finished 8-34(23.5%) from the floor and 3-16(18.8%) from three, really the big difference in the game.

The bench looked lost. Kelly Olynyk is really playing like a freshman right now, not that he shouldn't but his extended minutes have been hurting this team. I cringed every time he got on the floor, he put up bad shots, play porous defense, and looked all together confused by the speed of the game and MSU's defense. He also didn't move his feet much on offense, at times he would kind of hang about two feet from the three point line and just watch the team go to work. I think he will get better over time, but right now he is a liability. GJ Vilarino played well for the most part, but he is nothing more than a Dmitri Goodson clone, which means he plays great defense but is having trouble contributing much of anything on the offensive side of the ball. Will Foster was the bright spot off the bench, in 12 minutes off the bench he ended up with a nice shot and 3 boards. Manny Arop played 1 minute and looked like a Project, he took a bad shot and gathered a rebound.

In the end, we all expected this game to be tough, but i dont think many (other than me, i predicted 75-70) expected the Zags to come this close to an upset. They played very well as a whole and came into this game with a fire and intensity that they have lacked in seasons past. Expect this team to continue to learn more about themselves through the early season schedule with games against IPFW and the Maui Invitational coming up. GO ZAGS!

Scouting Report: Michigan St.

W-L: 1-0
RPI: 17
SOS: 262

Best Wins:
(263)Florida Gulf Coast W 97-58

Current Rankings:
#2 AP
#2 Coaches
#17 RPI

Team Overview:
The Spartans will likely start three guards with Kalin Lucas, Chris Allen, and Durrell Summers. Forwards Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe will likely complete the starting lineup.

* Lucas will be the team leader at the point guard position and is emerging as one of the top floor generals in the nation.
* Morgan is the only senior in this starting lineup and will be depended on heavily for points in the paint.
* Allen is the sharpshooter of this squad, providing a dangerous outside threat.
* Summers will use his explosiveness to drive at the basket and also can spot up and shoot from outside.
* Sophomore Delvon Roe will be given the oppurtunity to show why he was recruited so heavily as an extremely athletic forward.

Off of the bench, sophomore Korie Lucious will be a sparkplug with his lightning quickness and high energy play. Sophomore Draymond Green is continuing to get himself in better physical shape, making himself an even more dangerous player off of the bench.

Freshman centers Garrick Sherman and Derrick Nix will see a lot of playing time, to help prepare them for tournament time when MSU will need a post presence off of the bench.

Michigan State has a lean and athletic squad this year that will be one of the more exciting teams in the country. Size in the frontcourt is a weakness for the Spartans, but that didn’t stop them from reaching the Final Four last season. The Spartans should edge out Purdue for a Big-10 Chamionship and contend for a Final Four berth.

Team Leaders:
Points: Kalin Lucas 21.0
Assists: Korie Lucious 8.0
Rebounds: Derrick Nix 14.0

Best Player:

Kalin Lucas PG 6-1 190 JR
Lucas is the do everything guard for the Spartans, expect him to have a big game.

My Take:
This game is going to be the biggest early season test the Zags have experienced in years. I expect a great game, but probably low scoring and a tough loss for the Zags.

Final Score: Michigan St. 75 Gonzaga 70

Recap: Mississippi Valley St. Vs. Gonzaga

Final Score:Gonzaga 92 MVSU 74

Box Score Snapshot
Scorer: Matt Bouldin 22 Points
Rebounder:Robert Sacre 9 Boards
Passer: Steven Gray 7 Assists
Swatter: Robert Sacre 3 Blocks
Thief: Demetri Goodson 3 Steals

Game MVP: Elias Harris
18 Points, 7 Boards, and a Steal in only 19 Minutes!

Team Comparison: Zags/Delta Devils
Points: 92/74
Assist to /Turnover Ratio: 0.94/1.08
Rebounds: 39/22
Shooting Percentage: 56%/42%
3pt Percentage: 35%/42%

What it means for the future (Analysis):
This was a sloppy affair. Matt Bouldin looked lost at times, Demetri Goodson didn't seem to really kick it into high gear. And the freshman...They played like Freshman. There were some exceptions, Elias Harris looked like a Magician, he played with the effort and Heart of a Seasoned vet, but with the talent of an All-American. Robert Sacre proved he can be a force down low, i see big things from our front court this year. Going to East Lansing will prove to be one of the toughest early season tests in recent memory, especially with a team that is as young as this. I don't think we will win, but we will give it our best effort. GO ZAGS!

Scouting Report: Mississippi Valley State

W-L: 7-24 (2008-09)
RPI: 329
SOS: 300
Best Wins:
(259) Jackson St. 73-67

Best Losses:
This team was held to 25 points last year against Wazzu...

Current Rankings:
Are you Kidding?

Team Overview:

Highly touted junior college transfer D'Angelo Jackson is expected to push veteran Kevin Burwell at the point guard spot, where Coastal Carolina transfer Joshua Mack could also figure into the mix.

Also back for the Devils are juniors Julius Cheeks and Shannon Behling and sophomore Tashan Newsome, giving Head Coach Sean Woods plenty of options in his rotation.

Cheeks improved as the season progressed last year, upping his scoring average in league play as well as shooting better from the field, the 3-point line and the free-throw line against conference opponents. Behling was the Devils' most prolific 3-point shooter, taking the most attempts (166) on the team from beyond the arc and burying 57 of them (34.3 percent).

Team Leaders:
Points: Shannon Behling 10.4
Assists: Julius Cheeks 1.6
Rebounds: Shannon Behling 5.3

Best Player:

Shannon Behling F 6-7 200 SR
Behling led the Delta Devils in Rebounding last season despite his slight frame. He is the leading returning scorer on this team and a Senior.

My Take:
DOMINATION. This will be a nice tune up for Michigan State and should show everyone who will take charge of the Zags. I fully expect the Zags to win this one easily and am more concerned with the hit our RPI will take with a game like this on our schedule. Here's hoping this one doesn't hurt our seeding come March.

Final Score: Gonzaga 95 Mississippi Valley St. 45

Former Zags News...

I thought it would be fun to discuss the status of several former Zags with onset of the Euro League Season and the NBA Season. Here we go:

Ira Brown Drafted in the 4th Round or 59th Overall of the NBDL draft by the Austin Toros, an affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs...Jeremy Pargo scored 36 Points in his Gilboa debut, taking over the game and proving he is a great young talent. Good Luck Jeremy over there in Israel...Former Zag, and current CS Riverside forward, Larry Gurganious, scored 15 points in his debut with his new team...Austin Daye has been a slow starter for Detroit, but that was to be expected as he adjusts to the physical nature of the NBA...Adam Morrison logged a total of 3 minutes in the Dallas game on October 30th and has not played again, he appears to be stuck behind the great depth of the Lakers and may not get a chance to join the rotation unless someone is injured or he is traded away. Here's hoping he can get to a team where he gets some playing time, i have heard great things about his improvement on defense...



Look out for the first Scouting Report of the Season, Mississippi Valley State, coming mid week next week.

Recap: Alberta vs. Gonzaga

Gonzaga 94 Alberta 53



Man i love Steven Gray's new do! Its awesome! Matt Bouldin looks like hes taking the leadership roll this year and doing a dang fine job of it...LETS GO ZAGS!