SB Nation Seattle - Washington State vs. Gonzaga: 'Battle For The Inland Northwest'https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2010-12-08T21:11:15-08:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16290842010-12-08T21:11:15-08:002010-12-08T21:11:15-08:00Washington State Vs. Gonzaga: Cougars Lead Bulldogs At The Half, 30-24
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<p>The Washington State Cougars used a lights-out shooting performance from beyond the arc to pull-away from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/gonzaga-bulldogs">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> early, taking a 30-24 lead into halftime. It was all defense, all the time early for Washington State, as Gonzaga was held scoreless for the first 7:25. The three-pointers were the difference for Washington State, as the Cougars were 6-11 from three.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124641/faisal-aden">Faisal Aden</a> led the way for Washington State, picking-up eight points despite a being hobbled by a sore knee. Freshman Patrick Simon added six and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100921/reggie-moore">Reggie Moore</a> chipped-in three. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53727/klay-thompson">Klay Thompson</a> has been cold, hitting only one shot and scoring three points in the half.</p>
<p>Gonzaga, surprisingly, was led by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101220/david-stockton">David Stockton</a>’s five points. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29773/robert-sacre">Robert Sacre</a> put-up four points with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29777/steven-gray">Steven Gray</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101222/elias-harris">Elias Harris</a> combining for five. Sacre also led the Zags with six rebounds.</p>
<p>With the second half about to tip-off, Gonzaga holds all the momentum, keeping Washington State off the board over the last 5:10 of the first half. Washington State still leads Gonzaga, however, 30-24.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/12/8/1865524/washington-state-vs-gonzaga-cougars-halftime-score-faisal-adenBrian Floyd2010-12-08T19:52:11-08:002010-12-08T19:52:11-08:00Washington State Vs. Gonzaga: Pre-Game News And Notes
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<p>A few notes to pass along from Beasley Coliseum in rainy Pullman, Washington. The Washington State Cougars and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/gonzaga-bulldogs">Gonzaga Bulldogs</a> are set to take the court in about 15 minutes and are just finishing warm-ups out on the court. The scoreboard here at Beasley is malfunctioning tonight, meaning we’ll be keeping score by hand. It’s a nice little throwback.</p>
<p>For the Cougars, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124641/faisal-aden">Faisal Aden</a> appears to be out tonight. The guard went through warmups with his knee wrapped and has yet to return to the court from the locker room. The junior college transfer apparently injured his knee earlier in the week and isn’t full strength.</p>
<p>If Aden can’t go, the Cougs would be missing a big scoring threat on the perimeter, as well as a strong spot-up shooter. Against the Gonzaga zone, Aden figured to be a key coming off the bench. With <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100921/reggie-moore">Reggie Moore</a> back in the starting lineup, Aden was to take-on the sixth man role tonight. Instead, Moore’s minutes likely go up, with ’Dre Winston Jr. and others picking-up spot minutes.</p>
<p>The Cougs and Zags tip-off at 8 p.m. on Fox Sports Northwest.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/washington-st-cougars/2010/12/8/1865384/washington-state-gonzaga-pre-game-news-notesBrian Floyd2010-12-08T17:16:16-08:002010-12-08T17:16:16-08:00Washington State vs. Gonzaga: 'Battle For The Inland Northwest'
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<p>The last battle Gonzaga University took part in didn't go so well - its 73-61 loss to Illinois in KeyArena for the Battle In Seattle on Saturday looked worse than the score suggested and resulted in high preseason expectations for the Bulldogs giving way to<a target="_blank" href="http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2010/12/6/1859228/espn-usa-today-coaches-poll"> a slide out of the national rankings</a>.</p>
<p>And as captured in raw form by Zach Bell of the Slipper Still Fits it felt even worse in the context of Gonzaga's start to the 2010-11 season.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2010/12/6/1857943/blood-in-the-water" target="_blank">Blood in the water - The Slipper Still Fits</a><br>The title of this article may seem a bit over the top and intense but Gonzaga is walking wounded. What's worse is that they are wounded and about to hit to hit the road against two teams most of us expected wins against before the season. A little under a month into the season, however, it is remarkably clear that both Washington State and Notre Dame are playing better basketball than our beloved Zags. With a 4-3 record and these two teams coming up this week, you almost have to brace yourself as a Gonzaga fan for what could be on the horizon.</p>
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<p>So now that sets up another battle for that Gonzaga fans probably didn't expect to hold as much significance as it does: a trip to play 5-1 Washington State for what<a target="_blank" href="http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2010/12/7/1862628/the-battle-for-the-inland-northwest-hopefully-it-goes-better-than-the"> Max Mandel of the Slipper Still Fits </a>has coined "the Battle For The Inland Northwest".</p>
<h4>Key statistical battleground: shooting efficiency</h4>
<p>Both teams have shot the ball extremely well, although as <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2010/12/8/1864843/gonzaga-vs-wsu-four-factors-preview">Craig Powers of CougCenter describes in his Four Factors Preview</a>, Gonzaga's efficiency thus far might hold a bit more weight coming into this matchup.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.cougcenter.com/2010/12/8/1864843/gonzaga-vs-wsu-four-factors-preview" target="_blank">GONZAGA VS. WSU: Four Factors Preview - CougCenter</a><br>Both teams have shot the ball very well. WSU has the advantage in defensive and offensive eFG%, but that can be largely attributed to their much easier schedule.</p>
<p>Both teams shot very poorly against Kansas State, but WSU did a much better job defensively. Gonzaga loves to play zone, and with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53727/klay-thompson">Klay Thompson</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100921/reggie-moore">Reggie Moore</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124641/faisal-aden">Faisal Aden</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124645/patrick-simon">Patrick Simon</a>, I like WSU's chances to make them pay on the outside.</p>
<p><b>Advantage:</b> WSU</p>
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<p>So this is obviously a huge opportunity for WSU to prove just how strong they are as a scoring team. And that will start with Klay Thompson.</p>
<h4>Key players:</h4>
<p><b>Washington State: Klay Thompson, G (6-foot-6, 202, Jr.)</b></p>
<p>As described by Powers in his preview, Thompson has been playing well this season and that 35 points he hung on Portland that helped him win <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pac-10.org/News/tabid/863/Article/216882/thompson-named-pac-10-mens-basketball-player-of-the-week.aspx">Pac-10 Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 22 - 28</a> still stands as a pretty strong example of what he's capable of. And it has Mandel frightened.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.slipperstillfits.com/2010/12/7/1862628/the-battle-for-the-inland-northwest-hopefully-it-goes-better-than-the#storyjump" target="_blank">The Battle for the Inland Northwest...Hopefully It Goes Better Than the Battle In Seattle - The Slipper Still Fits</a><br>I honestly have no idea how this team can come together and slow down Klay Thompson, especially with a healthy Reggie Moore now available for the Cougs to help complement guys like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53726/marcus-capers">Marcus Capers</a> and Faisal Aden. Frankly, it will take an actual team performance to get a win, and I have seen no proof this team is capable of coming together and delivering what is required to beat a very strong Washington State team.</p>
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<p><b>Gonzaga: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29773/robert-sacre">Robert Sacre</a>, C (7-foot-0, 260, Jr.)</b></p>
<p>One major advantage that Gonzaga has is its offensive rebounding where it has been getting over 10 percent more of the available offensive rebounds than its opponents, whereas WSU has been outplayed on the offensive glass.</p>
<p>So although <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/29777/steven-gray">Steven Gray</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101222/elias-harris">Elias Harris</a> will get a lot of attention, Sacre could be a key figure in this game if the Bulldogs are to impose their will on the boards.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2010/12/8/2326023/washington-state-vs-gonzaga-battle-for-the-inland-northwestNate P.