Will Gonzaga Win the National Championship?

[TheChamps990411]

No

Dont be so quick to write them off. Theyre the new Uconn in a sense. We went through about a decade of success and disappointments before we finally won one. Many felt the same way that many do about the Zags now. That being said i think they have as good a chance as anyone.

 

[IMind]

I know this is a common theory... but I happen to agree with it. I just think they face so little competition for basically the last couple months of the year that it works against them once they hit the tournament. They play some solid non conference games early but other than St Mary's they really coast most years. Even if they win it all I'm not sure I'm wrong.

I also think (this year aside, if they win out or even lose to St Mary's in a conference tournament they should be a 1 seed) that they are treated a little bit like the Duke of the west and get overseeded.

 

[champs99and04]

Last year at this time people were asking the same questions about Villanova.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned West Virginia. This epic meltdown against Kansas notwithstanding, they seem to me to be a good candidate to be America's darlings.

 

[QDOG5]

Last year at this time people were asking the same questions about Villanova.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned West Virginia. This epic meltdown against Kansas notwithstanding, they seem to me to be a good candidate to be America's darlings.

Not after that game last night. The old adage that pressing teams don't like to press came true. Also, they didn't have a "go to" scorer down the stretch or in overtime. Besides giving future opponents ideas on how to beat them I think a loss like that will stick with them for awhile. I really enjoy watching them play because I enjoy pressure defense but I can only see them making it to the elite 8.

 

[pj]

Even money? They are currently 10-1, you be a fool to take anyone even money against the field.

I'll take Gonzaga at 10 to 1.

 

[HooperScooper]

Zags' top scorer wants title to silence doubters

"I want it bad, I want the national championship bad, to kind of put to rest all the naysayers," Williams-Goss said.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Last year at this time people were asking the same questions about Villanova.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned West Virginia. This epic meltdown against Kansas notwithstanding, they seem to me to be a good candidate to be America's darlings.

I was asking that question about Nova. They proved me wrong.

 

[jcp33]

^ Nigel Williams-Goss is quietly one of the best players in the country, could put him in the conversation as best PG in America behind Lonzo Ball and maybe that kid Fultz from Washington.
In my opinion you need to have a great balanced team on both sides of the ball AND that 1 special player to put you over the top (i.e. Kemba, Shabazz) in order to win it all (and a little bit of luck of course), but I believe Williams-Goss can be that guy for them after watching him play. They're top 5 in both Offense and Defensive efficiencies this year (#3 and #4 respectively) as well, something they weren't in 2013 (#3 OE, #30DE) and 2015 (#5 OE, #18 DE) when both those teams won 32+ games.

I'm not saying at this moment they're going to win it all, but it seems like this year they have the best shot on paper for them to pull it off, all the pieces are there.
Also I'll be routing for them because i don't want any blue bloods winning if it isn't going to be us..

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Zags' top scorer wants title to silence doubters

"I want it bad, I want the national championship bad, to kind of put to rest all the naysayers," Williams-Goss said.

The guards are bigger now and can defend better. Pangos was a defensive liability. He couldn't create his own shot. The Zags can withstand foul trouble in the back court and proved it at St. Mary's. I think if Karno gets in foul trouble up front they are in trouble even though Zach Collins is a super young talent and future pro. Karnowski is arguably the MVP in college hoops this year. As a matter of fact against Duke the year the Zags made the E8 it was foul trouble for Karno that was a huge factor in that game.

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

Who will Gonzaga play for the National Championship on the evening of April 3, 2017? The other side of the bracket is still stacked.

 

[mauconnfan]

Who will Gonzaga play for the National Championship on the evening of April 3, 2017? The other side of the bracket is still stacked.

WVU's defense made them look pretty bad they can be thankful the Mountaineers couldn't shoot worth a lick or even make lay ins. No one will play that type of defense again but there will be some really good man defenses thrown at them if they move on 2-3 more games. Should be interesting, at this point I do hope they win it all.

 

[HuskyHawk]

WVU's defense made them look pretty bad they can be thankful the Mountaineers couldn't shoot worth a lick or even make lay ins. No one will play that type of defense again but there will be some really good man defenses thrown at them if they move on 2-3 more games. Should be interesting, at this point I do hope they win it all.

In view in the sweet 16 they are at the level of their talent. Yesterday was an evenly matched game. The got lucky with Xavier winning, so they should make the final four. I have a hard time seeing them beat KU or UNC though.

 

[tzznandrew]

In view in the sweet 16 they are at the level of their talent. Yesterday was an evenly matched game. The got lucky with Xavier winning, so they should make the final four. I have a hard time seeing them beat KU or UNC though.

T0 be fair, though, that West Virginia team as exactly the sort of team that sometimes looks great (KU in Lawrence) but then can't get out of it's own way in winning time (KU in Lawrence). They're a weird team that's hard to gauge, I think. Because of their style and talent, they'd play with anyone, but good teams find a way to beat them.

That said, I don't think they'll win the title. I do, though, think they'll beat Xavier. But it will be rough. This game has a feel, ironically, of the 1999 UConn team. #1 seed who has made runs but never broken through despite good showings (vs. Duke in 2015). They get a huge upset in the lower half, and it looks like a cakewalk, but then it's a dogfight (UConn vs. Gonzaga; Gonzaga vs. Xavier).

The analogy isn't perfect (Gonzaga has been upset a number of times, and has been knocking at this door for about 15 years), but I'm rooting for them. Get the monkey of your back.

I'll do the same in a few years with Sean Miller.

 

[HuskyHawk]

T0 be fair, though, that West Virginia team as exactly the sort of team that sometimes looks great (KU in Lawrence) but then can't get out of it's own way in winning time (KU in Lawrence). They're a weird team that's hard to gauge, I think. Because of their style and talent, they'd play with anyone, but good teams find a way to beat them.

That said, I don't think they'll win the title. I do, though, think they'll beat Xavier. But it will be rough. This game has a feel, ironically, of the 1999 UConn team. #1 seed who has made runs but never broken through despite good showings (vs. Duke in 2015). They get a huge upset in the lower half, and it looks like a cakewalk, but then it's a dogfight (UConn vs. Gonzaga; Gonzaga vs. Xavier).

The analogy isn't perfect (Gonzaga has been upset a number of times, and has been knocking at this door for about 15 years), but I'm rooting for them. Get the monkey of your back.

I'll do the same in a few years with Sean Miller.

If not Kansas I'll go for South Carolina as a real underdog (that I have some connection to), but aside from them, I'd like to see Gonzaga finally pull it off. If for nothing else than showing a mid major winning again.

My point was more along the lines of Gonzaga is a very well coached team (Few has never won less than 23 games there) but doesn't have the sheer talent of the top teams. So they usually run through the bottom of the tournament cleanly and then start facing teams that are lower seeds, but with equal talent (WVU). Agree WVU is unique on D, but had the Zags drawn Arizona, I think they might be in trouble. Instead they get a fairly weak Xavier team, then another team that won't be more talented than them. Against Florida or Baylor it's about a push. In the final, they likely will need to beat a better team.

 

[UCweCONN]

I hate to see one of the big boys winning it but I think it's going to be Kansas. Did you see what they did to a good Purdue team? They are on another level.

 

[sammydabiz]

Lonzo Ball will be the Zags kryptonite... Mark it down

 

[ConnZag3]

T0 be fair, though, that West Virginia team as exactly the sort of team that sometimes looks great (KU in Lawrence) but then can't get out of it's own way in winning time (KU in Lawrence). They're a weird team that's hard to gauge, I think. Because of their style and talent, they'd play with anyone, but good teams find a way to beat them.

That said, I don't think they'll win the title. I do, though, think they'll beat Xavier. But it will be rough. This game has a feel, ironically, of the 1999 UConn team. #1 seed who has made runs but never broken through despite good showings (vs. Duke in 2015). They get a huge upset in the lower half, and it looks like a cakewalk, but then it's a dogfight (UConn vs. Gonzaga; Gonzaga vs. Xavier).

The analogy isn't perfect (Gonzaga has been upset a number of times, and has been knocking at this door for about 15 years), but I'm rooting for them. Get the monkey of your back.

I'll do the same in a few years with Sean Miller.

Couldn't agree more about the parallels between this Gonzaga/Xavier game and the 1999 UConn/Gonzaga game. I'll be happy for X if they win, but as a Gonzaga fan since that 1999 matchup, I hope the top seed takes home the W just like UConn did back in 1999.