The Ship Goes Down with Morrison
Gonzaga just can't break through to the next level, can they? They always lose one or two games short of really making a statement, and they always lose in the most painful way possible.
But the reasons are also the same. In the later stages of NCAA games, when things are tightening up, the Bulldogs really start to panic. And as they panic, they lean heavily on their star player. Morrison. Turiaf. Dickau. All have been called upon to carry the team across the final few minutes. All have failed.
Morrison had two chances to push the lead back to 7 in the final minute and a half, then one more chance to make it a two-possession lead. He missed all three. He didn't look for teammates, and his teammates didn't expect the ball.
I remember Turiaf missing late shots the past couple of years, and Dickau trying and failing to do it all four years ago. The reason Gonzaga has become great has been the variety of players they've had, not these solo acts. Why didn't Morrison get the ball to Batista on the weak side when he drew triple teams?
Ultimately, the blame falls on Mark Few, who lost control of his team down the stretch, and not for the first time.
Of course, Few is the key to this run of success. And he'll keep them competitive next year, though they might dip back to a 9-seed or lower until some new star rises to bring them back into the NCAA's elite.
To be sure, I'd say that the most talented team in the game was Gonzaga, not UCLA. And that itself is progress for the tiny school in Spokane. But at the end of the year, its how far you advance in the tournament that determines your legacy. The Bulldogs played to their seed, but they didn't play to their potential. Someday I hope they do.
But the reasons are also the same. In the later stages of NCAA games, when things are tightening up, the Bulldogs really start to panic. And as they panic, they lean heavily on their star player. Morrison. Turiaf. Dickau. All have been called upon to carry the team across the final few minutes. All have failed.
Morrison had two chances to push the lead back to 7 in the final minute and a half, then one more chance to make it a two-possession lead. He missed all three. He didn't look for teammates, and his teammates didn't expect the ball.
I remember Turiaf missing late shots the past couple of years, and Dickau trying and failing to do it all four years ago. The reason Gonzaga has become great has been the variety of players they've had, not these solo acts. Why didn't Morrison get the ball to Batista on the weak side when he drew triple teams?
Ultimately, the blame falls on Mark Few, who lost control of his team down the stretch, and not for the first time.
Of course, Few is the key to this run of success. And he'll keep them competitive next year, though they might dip back to a 9-seed or lower until some new star rises to bring them back into the NCAA's elite.
To be sure, I'd say that the most talented team in the game was Gonzaga, not UCLA. And that itself is progress for the tiny school in Spokane. But at the end of the year, its how far you advance in the tournament that determines your legacy. The Bulldogs played to their seed, but they didn't play to their potential. Someday I hope they do.
posted by Prof. A at 12:33 AM
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