Akron vs. Gonzaga

[UAZip0510]

The scouting report from USAToday.com:"Gonzaga's strength is its defense, and the Bulldogs cause problems at that end because they can switch at nearly every position and because they are so long, making it difficult to get open looks at the basket. Teams will try to be physical with Gonzaga, particularly Austin Daye, who can get frustrated if he gets bumped around and misses a few shots. Micah Downs has shot extremely well since returning to the starting lineup, and Steven Gray, whom he replaced, hinted in the WCC title game he is may be out of his shooting slump. Matt Bouldin is the team's most versatile and most consistent player. He can pass, rebound, defend and score in a variety of ways. Any defense should focus on containing him first. Bouldin can shoot well enough to be a perimeter threat, and he is strong enough to post up smaller defenders. Josh Heytvelt, at 6-foot-11, is an improved post defender, and he adds a dimension because he can go outside and make 3-pointers."

[zagsfan]

The scouting report from USAToday.com:"Gonzaga's strength is its defense, and the Bulldogs cause problems at that end because they can switch at nearly every position and because they are so long, making it difficult to get open looks at the basket. Teams will try to be physical with Gonzaga, particularly Austin Daye, who can get frustrated if he gets bumped around and misses a few shots. Micah Downs has shot extremely well since returning to the starting lineup, and Steven Gray, whom he replaced, hinted in the WCC title game he is may be out of his shooting slump. Matt Bouldin is the team's most versatile and most consistent player. He can pass, rebound, defend and score in a variety of ways. Any defense should focus on containing him first. Bouldin can shoot well enough to be a perimeter threat, and he is strong enough to post up smaller defenders. Josh Heytvelt, at 6-foot-11, is an improved post defender, and he adds a dimension because he can go outside and make 3-pointers."

Gonzaga fan here, just wanted to congratulate you on your ncaa bid. I watched you championship game vs. Buffalo and your a strong team.Just wanted to say good luck, and im sure it will be a great game!

[bigham78]

The scouting report from USAToday.com:"Gonzaga's strength is its defense, and the Bulldogs cause problems at that end because they can switch at nearly every position and because they are so long, making it difficult to get open looks at the basket. Teams will try to be physical with Gonzaga, particularly Austin Daye, who can get frustrated if he gets bumped around and misses a few shots. Micah Downs has shot extremely well since returning to the starting lineup, and Steven Gray, whom he replaced, hinted in the WCC title game he is may be out of his shooting slump. Matt Bouldin is the team's most versatile and most consistent player. He can pass, rebound, defend and score in a variety of ways. Any defense should focus on containing him first. Bouldin can shoot well enough to be a perimeter threat, and he is strong enough to post up smaller defenders. Josh Heytvelt, at 6-foot-11, is an improved post defender, and he adds a dimension because he can go outside and make 3-pointers."

Good write-up on the Zags except for Micah Downs/Gray part.Was Gray talking about himself or Downs?Downs is shooting .417 for season. He been up and down all season. He'll shoot 5-16 one game and next game 7-9. I see no indication he's been in slump. I do see very inconsistent play.Gray is shooting .459 for the season. He's been all over the map. He'll shoot 0-6 one game 6-8 the next game and then 2-9. It's no wonder Downs got his starting job back as he's been very inconsistent. I see no slump either. I just see inconsistent as too why he couldn't hold the starting job.Outside of that part a pretty good write-up on the Zags.

[ZachTheZip]

We're the "Giant-killer of the day"

[Dave in Green]

Gonzaga fan here, just wanted to congratulate you on your ncaa bid. I watched you championship game vs. Buffalo and your a strong team.Just wanted to say good luck, and im sure it will be a great game!

It's always great to have a civil, non-trash-talking visitor from an upcoming Zips opponent visit this forum. You wouldn't know unless you've followed these forums that many forum members here have spoken about wanting Akron to become the "Gonzaga of the East." So we obviously have a great deal of respect for what Gonzaga has accomplished. We really thought our run might begin when the highly recruited 7-foot Zeke Marshall arrives next year, but Zeke's soon-to-be teammates over-achieved and made the Big Dance a year earlier than most anticipated.It appears that Akron and Gonzaga have similar philosophies with the focus on tough defense. From all I hear the Zags play tough but clean, and the Zips are the same. So it should be a great game.Will be interesting to see how much the media plays name games with the Zips vs. Zags thing. ;)Stop back and visit again, and feel free to ask questions.

[gozags09]

Good luck to the Zips. We welcome any and all of you to our board as well at http://www.guboards.com/You'll find us a fanatical but friendly bunch.

[MDZip]

I'm actually mildly disappointed to draw Gonzaga. I like them and their program and I almost (almost ) hate to root against them. I'd much rather have squared off against a BCS school and taken them out. Ah well, can't control that and we'll do what we must.

[zagsfan]

Gonzaga fan here, just wanted to congratulate you on your ncaa bid. I watched you championship game vs. Buffalo and your a strong team.Just wanted to say good luck, and im sure it will be a great game!

It's always great to have a civil, non-trash-talking visitor from an upcoming Zips opponent visit this forum. You wouldn't know unless you've followed these forums that many forum members here have spoken about wanting Akron to become the "Gonzaga of the East." So we obviously have a great deal of respect for what Gonzaga has accomplished. We really thought our run might begin when the highly recruited 7-foot Zeke Marshall arrives next year, but Zeke's soon-to-be teammates over-achieved and made the Big Dance a year earlier than most anticipated.It appears that Akron and Gonzaga have similar philosophies with the focus on tough defense. From all I hear the Zags play tough but clean, and the Zips are the same. So it should be a great game.Will be interesting to see how much the media plays name games with the Zips vs. Zags thing. ;)Stop back and visit again, and feel free to ask questions.

Thanks so much Dave in Green, i also encourage you visit our teams forum. It will give you a lot of information as we have a great community there with a lot of topics you may be interested in. I suggest you scroll through the last fews weeks as we have been doing player reports throughout the WCC tourney. The link is here http://www.guboards.spokesmanreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2As for the above topic of Downs/Gray questions above. Downs is our new starter, has been for the past 5 games or so. Gray is a GREAT shooter who is battling a confidence issue right now. When he is on, he is ON. He can come into a game and score 12 straight points and be the best player on both sides of the court. Or he can struggle and not get the looks to snap out of it. Downs is an ex Kansas Jayhawk who transfered over to us 3 seasons ago. He had very high potential coming into kansas and they did not have space for him so he transferred to GU. He underachieved as until this upcoming season where he showed signs of greatness. Saying this, he is on fire right now, the confidence is there, he is attacking the rim for ally-oops and playing smart defense. He won WCC tournament MVP and he is a great guy in the dressing room. You will see Downs starting with Gray coming off the bench. We have a very deep starting 5 which you will see play a lot of minutes. You will see Gray come in for Downs and Goodson come in for Pargo. You may not see Heysvelt, Bouldin and Daye come off the floor very much.

[Quickzips]

I know a lot of people aren't really down with this matchup, particularly flying across the country to the Zags back yard. I kind of like it. Look, I hate that it is in Portland, but this is the kind of game that we can use as a benchmark for the program. I have no delusions about us making some Cinderella Elite 8/Final 4 run or anything like that, although after last night I don't know what to expect out of this team anymore. I would just like to see how we can respond to the big dance against a team that we so often say that we want to be like. If the Zips can make a game out of this one I will be feeling pretty good about the next few years. Even if they can't, this is a great stepping stone for this program.

[kitzbuel]

Seems to happen a lot to the Zags. Valpo, Winthrop, Davidson, now Akron. Regardless, look forward to the matchup and creating new fans on both sides.Go Zags!

[bigham78]

I know a lot of people aren't really down with this matchup, particularly flying across the country to the Zags back yard. I kind of like it. Look, I hate that it is in Portland, but this is the kind of game that we can use as a benchmark for the program. I have no delusions about us making some Cinderella Elite 8/Final 4 run or anything like that, although after last night I don't know what to expect out of this team anymore. I would just like to see how we can respond to the big dance against a team that we so often say that we want to be like. If the Zips can make a game out of this one I will be feeling pretty good about the next few years. Even if they can't, this is a great stepping stone for this program.

Anything is possible come Big Dance time.The Zags fans who are posting here would sure like to forget 2002.They felt they were Number 1 Seed with a 28-2 record.The camera picked up what was clearly an upset Zags team when they found out they were 6 Seed.I'll never forget the comment of once they see us play they'll know what a mistake they made.11 Seed 21-7 Wyoming 73 Gonzaga 66That's one of many reasons why we call it March Madness.

[UADavid]

I'm actually mildly disappointed to draw Gonzaga. I like them and their program and I almost (almost ) hate to root against them. I'd much rather have squared off against a BCS school and taken them out. Ah well, can't control that and we'll do what we must.

That's why they match up mid-majors. Don't want to upset the BCS hierarchy and team.

[Big Zip]

When I saw the draw today I immediately thought about the many conversations we've had hear regarding how we could become the next Gonzaga...well it appears our questions have been answered and it starts with beating them. As they say you've got beat the man to be the man.Regardless of what happens I too have much respect for what Gonzaga has accomplished and I hope this is our first step in gaining respect.

[MotoZag]

Another Zag fan here, just coming to send another Congrats! your way and best of luck in the matchup. I haven't watched ANY of your guys' games this year, but I plan to watch what I can through ESPN360 or justintv. Keeping it friendly...

[skip-zip]

I have to admit, I would have liked many, many other matchups much better. To me, this is like matching two wanna-be-majors against each other (I know...Gonzaga really isn't a "mid" anymore). I would have rather had the chance to knock off one of the majors who would NEVER schedule us to play them on a neutral court. But my biggest disappointment is in having to play them in a place where they will be able to bring thousands of their fans. It will be pretty darn close to a home game for them. But once again, I am going to enjoy an experience that I have not had in 23 years....and hope for a good performance.