Zags getting ready to open against Mississippi Valley
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Gonzaga's Robert Sacre insists the Bulldogs are not looking past Mississippi Valley State, their opponent in the season opener on Saturday.
But with a game at No. 2 Michigan State on Tuesday, it's hard to believe the Zags are focused on the Delta Devils, who finished 7-25 last year.
"I think we need to focus on Mississippi Valley," Sacre said. "Then focus on Michigan State."
Sacre, a 7-foot post player who missed most of last season with a foot injury, is expected to be a key contributor for a Gonzaga team that is much rawer than usual. Four starters are gone from last year, leaving veterans Sacre, Matt Bouldin, Steven Gray and Demitri Goodson as the main returners from last year's Sweet 16 team.
Most of the rest of the players have never played a minute of college basketball.
"They are going to be thrown into the fire here pretty quick," said Bouldin, an All-West Coast Conference selection who scored 13.6 points and dished out 3.4 assists per game last year.
With such a young team, Gonzaga's non-conference schedule that includes No. 9 Duke, No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 23 Illinois, plus Wake Forest, Memphis and Washington State, might look a tad ambitious.
"We have to prepare them for adversity," coach Mark Few said.
The Zags played only one exhibition game, crushing the University of Alberta. But as has become more common across the country, the Zags traveled to Denver recently to play a scrimmage against Texas. Such scrimmages are not publicized and generally not open to the public, but several players expressed satisfaction with how the Zags competed.
"We showed well," Bouldin said.
Newcomers expected to get playing time include Mangisto Arop, Sam Dower, Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris.
"We're really excited to show everybody what we can do," said Olynyk.
But with a game at No. 2 Michigan State on Tuesday, it's hard to believe the Zags are focused on the Delta Devils, who finished 7-25 last year.
"I think we need to focus on Mississippi Valley," Sacre said. "Then focus on Michigan State."
Sacre, a 7-foot post player who missed most of last season with a foot injury, is expected to be a key contributor for a Gonzaga team that is much rawer than usual. Four starters are gone from last year, leaving veterans Sacre, Matt Bouldin, Steven Gray and Demitri Goodson as the main returners from last year's Sweet 16 team.
Most of the rest of the players have never played a minute of college basketball.
"They are going to be thrown into the fire here pretty quick," said Bouldin, an All-West Coast Conference selection who scored 13.6 points and dished out 3.4 assists per game last year.
With such a young team, Gonzaga's non-conference schedule that includes No. 9 Duke, No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 23 Illinois, plus Wake Forest, Memphis and Washington State, might look a tad ambitious.
"We have to prepare them for adversity," coach Mark Few said.
The Zags played only one exhibition game, crushing the University of Alberta. But as has become more common across the country, the Zags traveled to Denver recently to play a scrimmage against Texas. Such scrimmages are not publicized and generally not open to the public, but several players expressed satisfaction with how the Zags competed.
"We showed well," Bouldin said.
Newcomers expected to get playing time include Mangisto Arop, Sam Dower, Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris.
"We're really excited to show everybody what we can do," said Olynyk.