Thanks Austin for your coverage.
http://cjonline.com/sports/football/2010-11-21/cats_want_to_muscle_up_vs_zagsCats want to muscle up vs. Zags
| EMAIL | PRINT | COMMENT | SHARE
By Austin Meek
November 21, 2010 - 5:08pm
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It doesn't take exhaustive film study to identify the primary issue for Gonzaga coach Mark Few heading into Monday's matchup against Kansas State at the CBE Classic.
"The first thing we're going to have to do is shore up our rebounding," Few said.
The impetus is two-fold: K-State pounds the glass like few teams in college basketball, and the Zags yielded 18 offensive rebounds in a 79-76 loss to San Diego State last week.
"That's something we take pride in," Few said, "and we got it handed to us pretty good the other night."
The 11th-ranked Zags face No. 3 K-State at 8:30 p.m. Monday at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., and Few is bracing for a physical onslaught.
Defense and rebounding, K-State's calling cards under coach Frank Martin, will be paramount.
"The thing that jumps out at you with Kansas State is just how hard they play, which is a talent and a skill in itself," Few said. "I can't think of a team that plays harder than Kansas State in college basketball. Frank and his staff deserve a lot of credit for that.
"It's kind of a crusade to score against them."
At its most basic level, the game will pit K-State's physical presence against the Zags' precision. Gonzaga plays a more cerebral game, shifting defenses and creating space on offense.
"They're never in the same defense," Martin said. "They're always changing defenses, so it keeps you off balance. They don't let you get in rhythm."
The Zags lost point guard Matt Bouldin from last year's 27-win team, but senior Steven Gray has emerged as a go-to scorer, averaging 25.7 points in Gonzaga's first three games.
Gonzaga also has a surplus of size, with two 7-footers — Robert Sacre and Kelly Olynyk — listed in the starting lineup. Elias Harris, a 6-foot-8 starting forward, could play Monday after an Achilles scare against San Diego State.
"Offensively, they probably do the best job in country as far as spacing the floor on offense and attacking," Martin said.
Gonzaga will present a significant test for the Wildcats, who got a scare from Presbyterian in their CBE tuneup.
K-State's frontcourt has struggled without senior forward Curtis Kelly, whose status for the CBE Classic remains uncertain, and Martin is still waiting for this year's team to live up to its physical reputation.
Right now, Martin said, K-State isn't even the most physical team in the CBE field.
"Marquette is the hardest-playing team in the country," Martin said. "We got that reputation off of last year's team, but we don't play as hard as Marquette."
Marquette or Duke will await K-State in either the championship or the consolation games, played Tuesday.
K-State does have the advantage of being the hometown favorite, as Wildcat fans will dominate the sellout crowds expected Monday and Tuesday.
"We play games there every year in the regular season," Martin said. "We play our conference tournament there. When we played Kansas there last year for the Big 12 championship, there was 19,000 in the stands, which creates an unbelievable atmosphere.
"I'm ecstatic to be part of this event, because I know it's a great venue, and I know it's a great city for college basketball."
NO. 11 GONZAGA VS. NO. 3 KANSAS STATE
Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.
Radio: KTOP-FM (102.9)
TV: ESPN2
Series: K-State leads 1-0
Gonzaga (2-1)
C Robert Sacre 7-0 Jr. 11.7 7.3
F Elias Harris 6-7 S0. 7.7 3.0
F Kelly Olynyk 7-0 So. 9.3 5.7
G Steven Gray 6-5 Sr. 25.7 6.0
G Demetri Goodson 6-0 Jr. 6.3 1.3
K-State (3-0)
F Freddy Asprilla 6-10 Jr. 2.7 3.0
F Wally Judge 6-9 So. 5.0 3.7
G Rodney McGruder 6-5 So. 11.7 6.7
G Nick Russell 6-4 So. 8.0 2.0
G Jacob Pullen 6-1 Sr. 16.0 4.0*
*assists
