The Gonzaga Model

[wh]

Get ready for basketball at Mach 7 speed.

Here's the strategic shift that made Gonzaga upset-proof

"In 2018-19, a 33-win Gonzaga team averaged 14.7 seconds per offensive possession, the sixth-fastest in the nation, per KenPom. The next year, with four new starters, the Zags were still men's basketball's seventh-fastest offense. In 2020-21, with four guards surrounding Drew Timme, Gonzaga revved up to 14.4 seconds per possession, the third-fastest. This year, with slender 7-foot freshman Chet Holmgren alongside Timme in the frontcourt, the Zags are second only to St. John's at 14.6."

https://sports.yahoo.com/gonzaga-basketball-transition-offense-tempo-march-madness-191427696.html

[VULB#62]

Get ready for basketball at Mach 7 speed.

Here's the strategic shift that made Gonzaga upset-proof

"In 2018-19, a 33-win Gonzaga team averaged 14.7 seconds per offensive possession, the sixth-fastest in the nation, per KenPom. The next year, with four new starters, the Zags were still men's basketball's seventh-fastest offense. In 2020-21, with four guards surrounding Drew Timme, Gonzaga revved up to 14.4 seconds per possession, the third-fastest. This year, with slender 7-foot freshman Chet Holmgren alongside Timme in the frontcourt, the Zags are second only to St. John's at 14.6."

https://sports.yahoo.com/gonzaga-basketball-transition-offense-tempo-march-madness-191427696.html

Of course, there are two sides to this approach.  Fast-paced and efficient (i.e., The Zags) or fast-paced and horrendous (e.g., St. Johns was 6-12 in the Big East last year).  Ya know, our Beacons last year at times played this kind of ball — turning over the ball in about 14 secs or missing our first shot and not rebounding off the boards in ~14 secs.   

So what is the key to the Zags' success? Scoring on a lot of those possessions.  And what is the key to scoring? A system/approach that quickly ensures good open looks outside and inside efficiency on the boards in terms of rebounding and an inside game that can get the ball down low quickly, no?  To me, that's gonna be the fun thing to watch, and Roger knows how to make that work. Now to assemble the players who fit into it.

[JD24]

St. John's was 8-11 in 21-22 which is the season referred to. Their issue was not offense. It was defense. They led the Big East in scoring but were towards the bottom in points allowed.

Gonzaga is currently such a different animal than, not only Valpo, but most major programs. In the year referenced they shot over 40% from three point land in conference and 37% overall. Some of that is the structure of the offense but a lot of it is that the roster is full of guys who can shoot and get to their spot to take the shot quickly. It's going to take a monumental effort to get Valpo to that spot.

[4throwfan]

St. John's was 8-11 in 21-22 which is the season referred to. Their issue was not offense. It was defense. They led the Big East in scoring but were towards the bottom in points allowed.

Gonzaga is currently such a different animal than, not only Valpo, but most major programs. In the year referenced they shot over 40% from three point land in conference and 37% overall. Some of that is the structure of the offense but a lot of it is that the roster is full of guys who can shoot and get to their spot to take the shot quickly. It's going to take a monumental effort to get Valpo to that spot.

RP has experience with several 'spots' that I wouldn't mind landing on.  The spot that the Illini were in when he played there; the spot Valpo was in when he was there, and the spot Gonzaga was in when he was there. 

Maybe he could overlook the Nashville 'spot'.

[JD24]

St. John's was 8-11 in 21-22 which is the season referred to. Their issue was not offense. It was defense. They led the Big East in scoring but were towards the bottom in points allowed. Gonzaga is currently such a different animal than, not only Valpo, but most major programs. In the year referenced they shot over 40% from three point land in conference and 37% overall. Some of that is the structure of the offense but a lot of it is that the roster is full of guys who can shoot and get to their spot to take the shot quickly. It's going to take a monumental effort to get Valpo to that spot.

RP has experience with several 'spots' that I wouldn't mind landing on.  The spot that the Illini were in when he played there; the spot Valpo was in when he was there, and the spot Gonzaga was in when he was there. Maybe he could overlook the Nashville 'spot'.

The Nashville spot was hampered by losing a potential collegiate POY.

[Valpo89]

All of this is great, but as Jerome Tang said in the NCAA Tournament, "We have dudes."
Until the Beacons have some dudes, I don't care what style they are playing.
You need to have good players. And, not just players who sound good on a recruiting report.

[humbleopinion]

St. John's was 8-11 in 21-22 which is the season referred to. Their issue was not offense. It was defense. They led the Big East in scoring but were towards the bottom in points allowed.

It's clear that St. John's opponents would have had many more possessions per game than against teams who held the ball longer; therefore, it would be expected that their (St John's opponents') total would be higher.  The stat that is important isn't points per game; rather, it would be points per possession.  If the Beacons have a run and gun offense as seems to be the plan, we should keep that stat in mind.

[AlaskaCrusader19]

St. John's was 8-11 in 21-22 which is the season referred to. Their issue was not offense. It was defense. They led the Big East in scoring but were towards the bottom in points allowed.

It's clear that St. John's opponents would have had many more possessions per game than against teams who held the ball longer; therefore, it would be expected that their (St John's opponents') total would be higher.  The stat that is important isn't points per game; rather, it would be points per possession.  If the Beacons have a run and gun offense as seems to be the plan, we should keep that stat in mind.

Take us back to the run-and-gun days of Valpo basketball under Gene Bartow! Some really good players for VU back in the '60s.

[VULB#62]

Take us back to the run-and-gun days of Valpo basketball under Gene Bartow! Some really good players for VU back in the '60s.

Okay!  I was there through '66. It was so exciting. As I recall the starting lineup was:

PG - Tom Smith (5'8")
SG - Dick Jones (5'10")
Fwds- Dick Eynon (6'3")/ Vern Curtis (6'3")/ Steve Cook (6'2")
C - Ken Rakow (6'6")

All but Smitty were my fraternity bros (as was a majority of the bench  ). The pace was upbeat and the movement was constant. The team was usually smaller across the lineup than most opponents, but most opponent bigs had a hard time getting back on D.  Random observations:

>> Smitty broke presses all by himself. He made Jerry Sloan and Larry Hume (E'Ville All-As) leave their jocks around their ankles a few times. His passing was incredible - he was an assist machine who could hit the open jumper when it was necessary.  Then every now and again he'd sneak in for a penetration layup.

>> Jonesie (VU HofF BB) was deadly from outside.  In today's 3 pt. world he'd be shooting very high 40%s.  He was also a great pitcher for the BSB team.

>> The forward triad all went to the hole against bigger defenders and scored. But all could sit back and drop a jumper.  Curtis (HofF- BB and BSB) had a vertical leap of about 1' but  could rebound in a crowd. Cook (VU HofF - BB and Track high hurdles All-A) had an amazing vertical leap - close to 40" - and at the warmup's last lay up, Smitty would throw up a high pass and Steve would sky and slam it with his head at the rim.

>> Kenny was an odd center.  Quiet. An engineer.  Not too aggressive - but a sneaky rebounder who would squeeze in front of opponents who thought they had him blocked out. He also had a deadly 15' jumper.

All these guys ran all game, but it was controlled.  There was no shot clock. My guess is that for the last two seasons I saw ( 64-65 and 65-66) they probably averaged close to 80 points a game. And they played with a smile on their faces. No one wanted to miss a game at Hilltop when those guys were playing.

To be honest, it's hard to communicate the atmosphere.

BTW — and it's a big BTW, none of these guys were recruited by Bartow. They were Paul Meadows's players. Gene took what he was given and led Valpo on a 180* turn almost immediately. He was a great coach.

[Valpo Joe]

I remember those Bartow teams and the entertaining product that they brought to a packed Hill Top gym!!! Before the 3 pt game Valpo could score in the 90's 

[JD24]

St. John's was 8-11 in 21-22 which is the season referred to. Their issue was not offense. It was defense. They led the Big East in scoring but were towards the bottom in points allowed.

It's clear that St. John's opponents would have had many more possessions per game than against teams who held the ball longer; therefore, it would be expected that their (St John's opponents') total would be higher.  The stat that is important isn't points per game; rather, it would be points per possession.  If the Beacons have a run and gun offense as seems to be the plan, we should keep that stat in mind.

Powell seemed to indicate that the team would be equally as aggressive on defense as well.