I have for played for 18 years, but I took a 4 year break from the game in there.
When on my game I am a 5.0 (I played in college, am still relatively young, and my height gets me an insane amount of easy points from my serve.), With that said, I have pretty rough ankle issues that can hamper my court movement back down to 4.5.
I coach for the high school that I am a teacher at, so I get out on the court at least 4 times a week. I always hit with my assistant for about an hour before each practice, since actual practice does not see me exerting myself much.
My current set up is the Head Graphene 360+ Prestige Pro strung with Babolat RPM Blast @ 56. Not a lot of power in this racquet, but the feel and control are addicting. As someone who has never had issues creating power, this is a lovely stick but certainly not for everyone. The racquet is unforgiving to swings that are mistimed or people with messed up mechanics.
Gonzaga is where I did my undergrad, so I have watched every single game they have played this year. As always people will have their doubts no matter what because it is a locked into a weaker conference due to location and luthier non-existent football team.
That said, it is easily their best team they have ever had. They are on a whole different level than I ever seen from them. For context, team is built differently than the 2013 squad that competed in the national championship game, but everyone in the Gonzaga community agrees this team would blow that team out of the gym.
There are a few things that stand out to me. The first is that this is the offense is a machine, with elite ball movement that is the closest resemblance to the 2013-2104 Spurs I have ever seen at the college level. The ball never sticks and they seem to get open shots at will against any team, and any play style. They shoot well, but they are so proficient at getting open looks anywhere on the floor they want that it almost becomes scoring at will. Even if you stop 1 or 2 of their All-Americans, they have a 3rd ready and two more NBA level players in the starting 5. (Say what you want about competition but they dropped 98 on UVA without even breaking a sweat and putting branch warmers in midway through the 2nd half)
The other big difference this year is Jalen Suggs. Obviously the Michigan community loves Hunter Dickinson and what he has brought as a freshman. Suggs has been that and more at times for GU. He has played himself into an easily top 5 draft pick, and depending on the rest of the season maybe more. When I watch him I am reminded of a Jason Kidd/Chauncey Billups hybrid. The only thing that could slow him is foul trouble, so that is something Michigan should look to take advantage of. He is so big and strong that he can get called for charges at a decent clip. If I was Juwan I would look to try to take advantage of that, but easier said than done.
Their biggest weakness is the lack of elite rim protection, which they try to cover for with their general length on the perimeter, forcing turnovers, and their knowledge that they will just out score you if push comes to shove. I think GU is the best team in the country, but of course Michigan can beat them in the tourney, it is college basketball. That is what makes March Madness so great, anything can happen.
I went to Gonzaga for undergrad and was good friends with the team manager so I constantly got the inside scoop. You are about to get way more info than you probably want, but I figure if you are curious this would help.
Their success has long been predicated on team culture and player development. That starts with coaching. Mark Few is an ELITE coach, to the point where LeBron has called him out as such, but he also has one of the best assistant coaches in the country in Tommy Lloyd. Lloyd has been approached numerous times by schools looking for a coach, because he is easily ready to be a head coach and is an amazing recruiter. He specializes in international recruiting, to the point that international coaches know him just as well as Coach K or Cal. Lloyd actually has it in writing in his contract that he will be the next coach when Few retires. That helps assure recruits no matter what, and it is basically like having two amazing head coaches with no infighting.
They started off with a focus on recruiting underrated players, and as they have become more renowned those recruits have slowly shifted from 3 stars to low 4 stars, to higher 4 stars, and now they are starting to sprinkle in 5 stars such as Suggs or probably Chet Holmgrem. (My GU sources are confident that as long as he goes the college route he is currently a heavy GU lean).
However, Few knew that they couldn’t compete with Duke or UK when it came to recruits (plus Few was always listed along with Beilein as clean) so Gonzaga hits the transfer market and international player market probably better than any other college program. They are really great at getting transfers that fit their scheme and contribute. The players they bring in know their role, but most importantly they become better players. Players such as Kyle Wiltjer, Brandon Clarke, and Nigel Williams-Goss all came in, became All-Americans, and developed their games immensely. This has resulted in transfer players always eyeing Gonzaga for both a way to win and become better.
Ona international level, Gonzaga has a reputation on par with Duke or Kansas. If you go to places such as Brazil or France, people are likely to know Gonzaga. That is because for 20 years they have taken international players and turned them into elite players. That started with Ronny Turiaf and continued with players such as Domontas Sabonis and Rui Hachimura.
No matter who they bring in, they always have a specific plan for that player that they communicate clearly. For example, Rui Hachimura was always on a 3-4 year plan, The coaches had told him his first year would be spent learning the offense and defense, getting better at English, and developing his body. They told hum his second year he would be a role player, and his next year or two they would use him as the focal point of the offense with an emphasis on using his athleticism and length to create mismatches. They sell all their players on specific plans like this, and they key is they make most of them become true.
Finally but most importantly is the program culture. Few has developed a family atmosphere to the extreme, and combine that with the extraordinarily close knit Gonzaga community (I have toured over 70 colleges, Gonzaga’s family atmosphere on campus stands out among all) and there is a sense of belonging and support for the players. Former players happily come back and play pick up games against the players in the summer, or join the staff as assistants to launch their coaching career. Few’s kids come to practice, and players have said it makes them feel like a family and helps them realize how many kids look up to them. The team knows they are there to be no just athletes, and as such they get involved in campus and academics are stressed, to the point student-assistants are told to make sure players are in class daily. The players are often an extremely close knit group, which becomes important for an offense predicated on movement and sharing the ball.
The team knows their conference is easy, but with no football team since WWII, there is not much they can do about that. Joint the Big East was briefly discussed but it just was not feasible. They will play anyone in no conference who is willing to play them, but the team takes the idea that people discredit them as a constant chip on their shoulder.
Anyways, between that player development and team culture they have created a juggernaut that is only missing one important mark on the resume, one that Gonzaga fans feel will happen someday but for now we are just happy to be a great program that pounces above the weight of a 5,000 person Jesuit school in the Northwest.
My family got tired of being too full too truly enjoy the desserts after the meal.
In response we shifted about 10 years ago to have desserts for lunch around 12. Around 5:30 or so we eat the main meal and don’t have to worry about leaving room for dessert. We enjoy it even if it is pretty untraditional.
Wouldn't say OSU has an easy road. Especailly when Gonzaga wiped the floor with them earlier this year. Obviously both teams have changed and improved since then, but hard to call it an easy road when OSU already lost by 27 to the Zags once.
I mean, I agree we don't bat an eyelash when Gonzaga pulls a 5 star. Mainly because they never have had a 5 star recruit in their history according to the 247 composite
Went to high school with the young man, even had a class with him. Everyone from the community is in shock, he really did seem like a nice, hard working guy growing up. Just another example a few bad choices and decisions ruining lives.
That would be a great hire in my opinion, but time after time Mark Few has turned down big money jobs to stay in Spokane. He loves it there, his family loves it there, and he has made it clear he will retire at Gonzaga. Considering there were once rumors he turned down UCLA, he's willing to say no to any blue blood school.
There are policies that pay out if a player drops below a certain round. One that spings to mind is Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the Oregon CB from a few years ago. He was considered a first round talent till he blew out his knee senior year, and Oregon had a policy that paid $3 million if he fell below the third round. He's still in the NFL, but obviosuly lost a lot of money.
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I have for played for 18 years, but I took a 4 year break from the game in there.
When on my game I am a 5.0 (I played in college, am still relatively young, and my height gets me an insane amount of easy points from my serve.), With that said, I have pretty rough ankle issues that can hamper my court movement back down to 4.5.
I coach for the high school that I am a teacher at, so I get out on the court at least 4 times a week. I always hit with my assistant for about an hour before each practice, since actual practice does not see me exerting myself much.
My current set up is the Head Graphene 360+ Prestige Pro strung with Babolat RPM Blast @ 56. Not a lot of power in this racquet, but the feel and control are addicting. As someone who has never had issues creating power, this is a lovely stick but certainly not for everyone. The racquet is unforgiving to swings that are mistimed or people with messed up mechanics.
Gonzaga is where I did my undergrad, so I have watched every single game they have played this year. As always people will have their doubts no matter what because it is a locked into a weaker conference due to location and luthier non-existent football team.
That said, it is easily their best team they have ever had. They are on a whole different level than I ever seen from them. For context, team is built differently than the 2013 squad that competed in the national championship game, but everyone in the Gonzaga community agrees this team would blow that team out of the gym.
There are a few things that stand out to me. The first is that this is the offense is a machine, with elite ball movement that is the closest resemblance to the 2013-2104 Spurs I have ever seen at the college level. The ball never sticks and they seem to get open shots at will against any team, and any play style. They shoot well, but they are so proficient at getting open looks anywhere on the floor they want that it almost becomes scoring at will. Even if you stop 1 or 2 of their All-Americans, they have a 3rd ready and two more NBA level players in the starting 5. (Say what you want about competition but they dropped 98 on UVA without even breaking a sweat and putting branch warmers in midway through the 2nd half)
The other big difference this year is Jalen Suggs. Obviously the Michigan community loves Hunter Dickinson and what he has brought as a freshman. Suggs has been that and more at times for GU. He has played himself into an easily top 5 draft pick, and depending on the rest of the season maybe more. When I watch him I am reminded of a Jason Kidd/Chauncey Billups hybrid. The only thing that could slow him is foul trouble, so that is something Michigan should look to take advantage of. He is so big and strong that he can get called for charges at a decent clip. If I was Juwan I would look to try to take advantage of that, but easier said than done.
Their biggest weakness is the lack of elite rim protection, which they try to cover for with their general length on the perimeter, forcing turnovers, and their knowledge that they will just out score you if push comes to shove. I think GU is the best team in the country, but of course Michigan can beat them in the tourney, it is college basketball. That is what makes March Madness so great, anything can happen.
I went to Gonzaga for undergrad and was good friends with the team manager so I constantly got the inside scoop. You are about to get way more info than you probably want, but I figure if you are curious this would help.
Their success has long been predicated on team culture and player development. That starts with coaching. Mark Few is an ELITE coach, to the point where LeBron has called him out as such, but he also has one of the best assistant coaches in the country in Tommy Lloyd. Lloyd has been approached numerous times by schools looking for a coach, because he is easily ready to be a head coach and is an amazing recruiter. He specializes in international recruiting, to the point that international coaches know him just as well as Coach K or Cal. Lloyd actually has it in writing in his contract that he will be the next coach when Few retires. That helps assure recruits no matter what, and it is basically like having two amazing head coaches with no infighting.
They started off with a focus on recruiting underrated players, and as they have become more renowned those recruits have slowly shifted from 3 stars to low 4 stars, to higher 4 stars, and now they are starting to sprinkle in 5 stars such as Suggs or probably Chet Holmgrem. (My GU sources are confident that as long as he goes the college route he is currently a heavy GU lean).
However, Few knew that they couldn’t compete with Duke or UK when it came to recruits (plus Few was always listed along with Beilein as clean) so Gonzaga hits the transfer market and international player market probably better than any other college program. They are really great at getting transfers that fit their scheme and contribute. The players they bring in know their role, but most importantly they become better players. Players such as Kyle Wiltjer, Brandon Clarke, and Nigel Williams-Goss all came in, became All-Americans, and developed their games immensely. This has resulted in transfer players always eyeing Gonzaga for both a way to win and become better.
Ona international level, Gonzaga has a reputation on par with Duke or Kansas. If you go to places such as Brazil or France, people are likely to know Gonzaga. That is because for 20 years they have taken international players and turned them into elite players. That started with Ronny Turiaf and continued with players such as Domontas Sabonis and Rui Hachimura.
No matter who they bring in, they always have a specific plan for that player that they communicate clearly. For example, Rui Hachimura was always on a 3-4 year plan, The coaches had told him his first year would be spent learning the offense and defense, getting better at English, and developing his body. They told hum his second year he would be a role player, and his next year or two they would use him as the focal point of the offense with an emphasis on using his athleticism and length to create mismatches. They sell all their players on specific plans like this, and they key is they make most of them become true.
Finally but most importantly is the program culture. Few has developed a family atmosphere to the extreme, and combine that with the extraordinarily close knit Gonzaga community (I have toured over 70 colleges, Gonzaga’s family atmosphere on campus stands out among all) and there is a sense of belonging and support for the players. Former players happily come back and play pick up games against the players in the summer, or join the staff as assistants to launch their coaching career. Few’s kids come to practice, and players have said it makes them feel like a family and helps them realize how many kids look up to them. The team knows they are there to be no just athletes, and as such they get involved in campus and academics are stressed, to the point student-assistants are told to make sure players are in class daily. The players are often an extremely close knit group, which becomes important for an offense predicated on movement and sharing the ball.
The team knows their conference is easy, but with no football team since WWII, there is not much they can do about that. Joint the Big East was briefly discussed but it just was not feasible. They will play anyone in no conference who is willing to play them, but the team takes the idea that people discredit them as a constant chip on their shoulder.
Anyways, between that player development and team culture they have created a juggernaut that is only missing one important mark on the resume, one that Gonzaga fans feel will happen someday but for now we are just happy to be a great program that pounces above the weight of a 5,000 person Jesuit school in the Northwest.
My family got tired of being too full too truly enjoy the desserts after the meal.
In response we shifted about 10 years ago to have desserts for lunch around 12. Around 5:30 or so we eat the main meal and don’t have to worry about leaving room for dessert. We enjoy it even if it is pretty untraditional.
You are aware a shorthanded Gonzaga already beat Duke earlier this year right?
My two alma maters. I guess I know how to pick a basketball school!
As a Gonzaga and Michigan alum, I'm really excited. However, I'd be very conflicted if they were to play each other.
Wouldn't say OSU has an easy road. Especailly when Gonzaga wiped the floor with them earlier this year. Obviously both teams have changed and improved since then, but hard to call it an easy road when OSU already lost by 27 to the Zags once.
I mean, I agree we don't bat an eyelash when Gonzaga pulls a 5 star. Mainly because they never have had a 5 star recruit in their history according to the 247 composite
Went to high school with the young man, even had a class with him. Everyone from the community is in shock, he really did seem like a nice, hard working guy growing up. Just another example a few bad choices and decisions ruining lives.
There had been some trash talk leading up to the game by some of the SC players, saying Gonzaga were "really nervous."
Some of the Gonzaga players talked in the postgame presser about how that kinda irked them and they used it as motivation.
Props to Mark Few. His first year on staff at Gonzaga the team won 4 divsion one games. The program has come a long way to making the Final Four.
Gonzaga has been missing their offense since the tournament started, good to see it has returned.
This is finally the year they make their final four. I hope, fingers crossed.
That would be a great hire in my opinion, but time after time Mark Few has turned down big money jobs to stay in Spokane. He loves it there, his family loves it there, and he has made it clear he will retire at Gonzaga. Considering there were once rumors he turned down UCLA, he's willing to say no to any blue blood school.
If you're going to rock the Duke Starting 5 haircut, you've got to rock the visor as the hat doesn't fit. Clealy DPJ didn't get that memo...
Pretty sure prep school is bascially a 5th year of high school, not college.
According to this article, Oregon helped him pay for the policy.
"Ekpre-Olomu reportedly paid a good deal of his premium, though Oregon did help with the cost."
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/10/19/cleveland-browns-ifo-ekpre-olomu-three-million-insurance-policy
Here is a good read on player insurance: http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/leonard-fournettes-10m-policies-and-the-unregulated-world-of-player-protection/
There are policies that pay out if a player drops below a certain round. One that spings to mind is Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the Oregon CB from a few years ago. He was considered a first round talent till he blew out his knee senior year, and Oregon had a policy that paid $3 million if he fell below the third round. He's still in the NFL, but obviosuly lost a lot of money.