Comments about ‘BYU basketball: High-ranked Gonzaga to visit BYU Thursday’

Coach Rose, talk to former coaches about what you might devise to defense the Zags, put a plan together after viewing what they do,surely there is a weakness that can be exploited, a way of holding off their big center, for example, make D. Stockton or another player beat you while you shut down the scorers, deny them the ball, frustrate their offensive flow...there's gotta be a way to get a win here. Remember the words of the Coach of the Miracle Olympic Hockey team, and apply, to wit, "If we play Gonzaga 10 games, they will win nine of them, but this game, this week, this game is ours, go out there and shut them down!" Something like that, come on guys, put it all together on Thursday...I'll be watching.

Hope springs eternal! The kool thing about basketball is the heavy underdog can win, just look at all the upsets in college basketball every year! BYU hasn't had a single game this year where they've played 'crazy good' even though they have the talent. Here's hoping that 'playing out-of-their minds' game comes this Thursday!

It sure would be great to pull off a miracle win and be the spoiler this week but then again playing the spoiler in next week's tournament would be even better.

Looking forward to the guys bringing their 'A' game this week.

Go Cougars!

The Y will have to play "crazy good" to down the Zags. If I could pick wins and when they happen, I would much rather have the Y down them in the tourney after dropping St. Mary's.
Not likely that the Y will win this week against the Zags, but you here's to hoping.

Actually the highest ranked team to ever play in the Marriott center was BYU, ranked #2 just two years ago.

Jumpyman

When the new rankings are released today, Gonzaga will be #2, tied with BYU for the highest ranked team ever to play in the Marriott Center, and obviously the highest ranked opponent BYU has ever played in the Marriott Center. Jerry Palm only gives BYU a 22% chance of beating the Zags on Thursday.

BYU will have to play their best game of the season just to have a chance against Gonzaga, and even that may not be enough unless the Zags have an off night.

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On a side note:

UCLA played Weber State in the 1972 NCAA West Regional in the first year the Marriott Center opened. Destroyed the Wildcats by about 32 points. Not sure what that team of Bill Walton, Henry Bibby and Jamal Wilkes was ranked at the time, but the Bruins did go on to win another of John Wooden's ten titles in twelve years in 1972. That was probably the best team ever to play in the Marriott Center.

Lived in Spokane for 7 years and this easilly the best Zags team that I have seen. They are talented and deep. If BYU plays great and catches Gonzaga on an off night, they can certainly pull the upset. I don't see it happening, but you never know. That's why they play the game.

Rockwell

"UCLA played Weber State in the 1972 NCAA West Regional in the first year the Marriott Center opened."

I attended that game. It's too bad Kresimir Cosic and his very talented team was upset by Long Beach State in the sub-regional in Pocatello that year (a game I also attended), or the Marriott Center would have been rockin' with a matchup of two Top 5 teams.

Gonzaga is going to be tough, but it should be a fun game to watch regardless of the outcome.

Gonzaga is a good team but BYU has enough to beat them at the MC. Gonzaga better win because with the Lone Peak boys on their way, BYU will sweep this series for years to come.

As expected, Gonzaga is ranked #2 in the latest AP poll. Expect the same when the Coaches poll is announced. Indiana is the overwhelming choice for #1, with 64 of 65 first-place votes. Gonzaga received the other.

It'll be fun hosting the 2nd-ranked team in the country at the Marriott Center on Thursday.

Saint Mary's is ranked #30, behind #11 Arizona and #24 Oregon, and ahead of #35 California, Utah's Thursday night opponent.

Don't see this BYU team beating Gonzaga this year on any floor. So far they are 0-fer against ranked or even good teams.

Gonzaga #2/#2 in both polls; Saint Mary's #23 in the Coaches poll this week.

BYU just doesn't seem to have the horses to keep up with those two this season - close to Saint Mary's, but dominated by Gonzaga.

The Cougars have only razor-thin chance against the Zags on Thursday, probably better than Lloyd Christmas, but not much.

"so your telling me there's a chance" Hilarious!

Zags could end up #1

If the Cougars are looking for a game to make a statement, they have one Thursday night. Do they have the heart and the horses to stay in the race. Can Coach Rose get his players to put one great game together? We will see Thursday night.