Single game next week, Saturday @ Pacific. Critical for the Broncos to win that one…have the win the games we should win and not lose to teams expected to finish below us in the standings if we want to get to 10-6 or dare I say, 11-5.
Plus the following week will be a tough one with games vs. BYU at home and SMC in Moraga. The schedule then gets a little easier after that.
Don’t forget Podz completely missing a pass (that sailed out of bounds behind him) because he was trying to petition the ref mid-play.
Or Braun’s attempt to posterize Timme (charge call) when a Euro step would have gotten the layup.
Those aren’t major criticisms of the players–though I do hope Podz doesn’t try to argue with refs during the play again. Just more of the sort of stuff that leads to you losing versus winning a tight one in a game with low margin for error.
Yep, all great examples…didn’t want to pile on :).
Braun has had charge calls on plays very similar to that what seems like a half dozen times this season. While I like Braun’s mentality and desire to finish strong at the rim, Timme was in position well in advance. Braun needs to prioritize simply making the shot rather than posterizing someone…again, it’s happened too often this season, he needs to learn, adjust and simply make a better decision in the heat of the moment.
1 Like
Not sure about easier, 92, since two of the three games right after BYU are @Gonzaga, and @USF.
USF did Santa Clara a favor last night by beating LMU. So LMU has lost to Pacific and USF (but beat BYU). USF lost to Santa Clara and San Diego. Pacific is a shocking 3-1, so they should not be taken lightly, especially given that they have the easiest road to a high finish due to their low standing from last year.
Portland got blitzed by SMC–halftime score was 41-14. That’s a Terry Porter Portland score, not what we expect from Legans. Portland, at 0-3 and not having played the Zags yet, looks like an also-ran barring a miracle.
So it’s BYU and SCU competing for 3rd right now with lots of basketball to play. Rest up, play the Tigers tough on Saturday. Then the following 2.5 week stretch will be where SCU really decides its destiny.
Should have been more clear…the schedule gets easier the rest of the way over the final 9 games after that 2nd SMC game. 1st 7 games includes 2 vs. SMC, 1 each vs. BYU, GU and USF…5 of 7 difficult games. Final 9 games…just 3 games against those 4 teams.
Obviously, we can’t overlook anyone…LMU and Pacific are the surprises so far and certainly aren’t gimme wins. Pepp has great talent but plays below their ability, Portland looks like a mess right now, but who knows, maybe they’ll start to figure things out. Ultimately, we really can’t afford to lose more than 1 game to those teams we expect to finish below us.
The difference between an 8 or 9 win season and 10 or 11 win season will come down to both beating the middle of the pack and teams below us AND logging 1 or 2 wins vs. some combination of BYU/USF/SMC.
1 Like
My issue with the officiating is that they blow the whistle on SHOOTINg fouls for Zags and all of our 4 were on the floor. As a former official - thats one way to control the game.
1 Like
Yes I can. It similar as to why SC is requiring Covid testing and masks in January 2023 
Might have something to do with SCU mostly fouling inside the key (they fouled a lot more than they were called for, and that’s a good thing). Gonzaga for the most part fouled on the perimeter (trying to slow Podz). Gonzaga was much more passive on D when SCU got the ball in the key.
I guess there was no hope that the ref would call an offensive foul when Carlos was pushed away in Jordanesque style (see Bulls vs Utah, of course) making the final dagger three.
We get the ball, they don’t get the three, and we are in heaven. But not yet.
I agree with Bets, we fouled more because they have Timme. He’s physically quite unimpressive, buts he’s extremely clever and crafty in the post. Great footwork, uses both hands, knows the angles and uses his body. Our only chance in slowing him down was to foul him…and that’s what we did. OUR bigs are very deliberate and predictable in the post, so they’re much easier to defend without fouling. If you remember Vrankic, he was always putting his defenders in foul trouble because they couldn’t figure him out (he was actually left handed, but he shot with his right hand).
1 Like
I will add that I think the Broncos are on a solid trajectory and if we get the Zags in Vegas, I think we’ll beat’em.
1 Like
Yes, that was a pivotal 3 by Hickman and certainly could have been called for an offensive foul. A miss or a whistle on that might have secured a Bronco victory.
1 Like
For the first time in a long time I find that quite plausible.
I believe 92bronc mentioned this in an earlier post as it relates to Carlos Marshall returning in January. Does anyone have an update as it relates to his return? Pacific game?
Our bench has played well, albeit the Gonzaga game, but really young as we all know. I believe Marshall’s return can make a difference in reducing starter minutes, but becomes another consistent scoring threat that we lack right now.
I know there will be some rust but I think when healthy, he justs gives us another spark in addition to his experience and court presence as a 5th year senior.
Announcer said during the tv broadcast that Marshall Jr. is out for the season. No idea if this is an accurate report on Marshall Jr but they did mention it.
3 Likes
During the broadcast, they said that Marshall was out for the year…however, I remember someone (BBallFemme maybe?) said that he would be back this month. So, not really sure what his status is…
3 Likes
If Marshall is out for the year, I wonder if he would be eligible for a medical redshirt? IIRC, a player can qualify if he/she doesn’t play in more than 30% of the team’s games that season (excluding scrimmages). But not sure how that works with the 5th year eligibility.
My guess is they are going to medical redshirt him. If it wasn’t an option, I would think they might at least try and test it out, rather than just watch his last year of eligibility disappear. These fifth years are uncharted territories, but I think the NCAA would treat it no different than any other year of eligibility. The '20-'21 season didn’t count against eligibility, but had it counted and he was injured he could have medical redshirted that year. I would think he could do the same with this season.
If Bediako, Braun, and Marshall all did come back it might create an interesting scenario. I think the NCAA is allowing teams to go over the scholarship limits so long as the school or athletic department is willing to pay, and we could end up being a couple over that limit. I realize the portal changes this, but as it stands we’d graduate Justice but bring in two freshmen into the fold, Giordon and Marshall would be back off their medical redshirts, Ensminger would be off his redshirt year, and BBallFemme informed us that Bediako and Braun would also both use their Covid year of eligibility. That’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen!
1 Like
It would be nice to have all that returning experience next year! I wonder how much pressure Parker feels given that his brother plays in the NBA. He could definitely use another year to improve his game, perhaps add some Vrankic-like moves to his repertoire.
2 Likes
They indeed said “out for the season” while B’Ball femme indicated he was coming back on the 12th as I recall. I tend to believe her. I found myself wishing we were listening to Belluomini(sp?) since those guys were such Gonzaga homers especially re violations called or not called.
4 Likes