NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Nov. 14—UMass Lowell coach Pat Duquette, watching Gonzaga-Baylor on television, had a similar reaction to the Zags’ 101-63 season-opening rout as many of the 12,000 at the Arena and those tuned into ESPN2.
“Whoa,” Duquette said. “And it happened so fast at the end (referring to GU’s 27-6 burst in a 6-minute span that created a 34-point lead.) That’s not a bad Baylor team.
“What struck me is how big they are. I’ve been in the Big East, ACC and man, they’re big at every position and so deep in the frontcourt. It’s just a nightmare. If you don’t double (team), it’s lights out. If you double them, they’re all capable and willing passers.”
Duquette joked he’ll probably resolve the dilemma by flipping a coin before his squad faces Gonzaga on Friday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
UMass Lowell’s tallest and heaviest players are 6-foot-8 and in the 210- to 215-pound range, Duquette said. Gonzaga’s frontcourt options are Graham Ike (6-9, 250), Braden Huff (6-10, 250), Ben Gregg (6-10, 230) and Michael Ajayi (6-7, 228).
“Max Brooks is first-team all-league, a conference player of the year candidate, elite shot blocker and he’s gotten better offensively,” Duquette said. “But it’s all relative what we’ll be able to do against them. My only hope is we stay out of foul trouble.”
No. 4 Gonzaga (2-0) is heavily favored in the matchup, which falls between GU’s 88-80 win over Arizona State and Monday’s road test against San Diego State. UMass Lowell was picked second in the America East preseason poll and welcomed back eight returners, including three starters, and added three transfers.
The River Hawks (2-0) are tied for fourth nationally with 10 seniors/fifth-year players. The starting five of Brooks, Quinton Mincey, Cam Morris III, Yuri Covington and Quincy Clark have played in 490 career games. The Zags’ starting unit against Arizona State, all seniors/fifth-year players, boasts 500 career games.
Another similarity: GU has scored 78 bench points, led by Huff, who tops the team at 17.5…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-4-gonzagas-frontcourt-presents-030200917.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-11-15 03:02:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
