This year's Zags still a tough out

To a degree, you could understand those who thought the Zags might be down a little this year, given the talent they lost.

But some of the returning folks just needed a chance to play.

Sophomore forward Killian Tillie showed glimpses of greatness last year. This year, he’s done even more with more playing time.

So has senior guard Silas Melson and, to a lesser degree, sophomore forward Rui Hachimura.

AND A couple of their veteran returnees have been nearly unstoppable.

Josh Perkins, a fourth-year junior, has picked up the scoring slack at guard following the departure of Nigel Williams-Goss and Jordan Mathews. His range is now ... just inside the mid-court line. Melson’s is a little closer, but not much.

And how do you defend Johnathan Williams, the spindly 6-9 fifth-year senior forward with the Sam Perkins-type long arms?

Early on, some people were silly enough to try to run him off the 3-point line. He just went around them and dunked. If he gets the ball in the post, he can back down the defender and pretty much score on anybody one-on-one, particularly with that lefty jump hook. If you send a second guy to double-team him, he can simply kick it out to any number of guys waiting to bury the 3.

I guess your best bet is to sag off and hope he shoots 3s, but it seems like he’s even gotten better at that.

And the newbie, freshman guard Corey Kispert, looks and plays like a more-seasoned college player.

Zach Norvell Jr., a highly touted redshirt freshman guard, has a hard time getting playing time, there is so much other talent around. Then, when he does get to play, he pours in 21 points in a half.

Opposing coaches have to be scratching their heads trying to figure out who to key on with the Zags.

THOSE WHO picked Saint Mary’s to win the West Coast Conference ahead of Gonzaga likely did so because the Gaels had more returning players from a squad that made it to the second round of the NCAAs last year, so they might have looked like this year’s Flavor of the Month.

True, Saint Mary’s is experienced, plays within its abilities, and is one of the few teams that can challenge Gonzaga on a consistent basis. But the Gaels are limited athletically, while the Zags are talented and athletic. And, Gonzaga has pretty much owned Saint Mary’s in recent years. That’s not to take anything away from Saint Mary’s. Gonzaga is just a little bit better these days.

Are the Zags a Final Four contender again?

Sure, why not.

The Florida game looked like a Maui Invitational game, it was played so well — even for November. That team the Zags play on Tuesday in Madison Square Garden — the team currently ranked fourth in the country — will be a pretty good indicator.

No. 25 Creighton was a nice measuring stick game the other night — at least compared to the previous teams ushered into the McCarthey Athletic Center to take a whoopin’ from the Zags this season. Still, Gonzaga’s team defense is often excellent, and once the Zags got that part dialed in for the second half, the Bluejays were just another MAC victim.

Sure, Gonzaga could fall victim early in the NCAA tourney to a team that goes crazy behind the arc, like Florida did. But the Zags could just as easily plow through everybody into early April.

AS EXCITING as college basketball still is, it’s watered down a little bit these days because of the one-and-dones. You seldom get to see how good a team can become when the core sticks together for 3-4 years.

Gonzaga isn’t affected by that quite as much, though the Zags lost a couple early (Williams-Goss, a fourth-year junior, and freshman Zach Collins) after last season, and one the year before (Domantas Sabonis, who left after his sophomore year). But by and large, the Zags stick around, and get better while some of the bluebloods have to retool each year.

Meanwhile, the talent level has risen at Gonzaga — top players are willing to become a Zag even if it means accepting something less than a starring role, as long as it means winning and playing for championships.

So as long as that continues, the Zags should always be among the nation’s best teams.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.