Zags Pregame articles
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thanks for posting, as usual.
FYI - I think your links for the daily news articles direct to the seattle articles.
NY Daily News on the Midwest Bracket
QUOTE:
The team that made Cinderella its job for so long, had been playing among the higher seeds the last few seasons until faltering a little this season. The Zags were thankful to get off the NCAA bubble by winning the West Coast tournament. The Bulldogs return the entire frontcout — Kyle Wiltjer, Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski – from a team that held a second-half lead in the Elite Eight against eventual national champion Duke. Gonzaga’s guard play has improved. And this is a rough matchup for Seton Hall, so eerily similar to St. John’s return to the tournament in 2011 in Steve Lavin’s first year when the Johnnies earned a 6-seed and lost to tourney savvy Gonzaga in the first round.
QUOTE:
The team that made Cinderella its job for so long, had been playing among the higher seeds the last few seasons until faltering a little this season. The Zags were thankful to get off the NCAA bubble by winning the West Coast tournament. The Bulldogs return the entire frontcout — Kyle Wiltjer, Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski – from a team that held a second-half lead in the Elite Eight against eventual national champion Duke. Gonzaga’s guard play has improved. And this is a rough matchup for Seton Hall, so eerily similar to St. John’s return to the tournament in 2011 in Steve Lavin’s first year when the Johnnies earned a 6-seed and lost to tourney savvy Gonzaga in the first round.
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Newsday on MW bracket
Best guard: Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall
Seton Hall advanced to its first NCAA tournament since 2006 largely on the back of Whitehead, a Brooklyn native. He's scored at least 20 points in six straight games and was at his very best in the Big East tournament.
In the final against Villanova on Saturday night, Whitehead dropped 26 on the Wildcats and went strong to the rim for the game-winning three-point play with 18 seconds to play. His heroics gave the Pirates the tournament title and likely cost Villanova a 1 seed.
Best coaching matchup: Kevin Willard vs. Mark Few
Gonzaga, once on the fringes of the bubble, eliminated all doubt by winning the WCC tournament title. Mark Few made the tournament with the Bulldogs 17 straight seasons and has the pieces at his disposal that could potentially cool off the streaking Pirates. Seton Hall has some excellent rebounders in Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez, but Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer is the type of floor-stretching big man that could overextend Kevin Willard's aggressive defense. It will be a fun X's-and-O's matchup in the round of 64.
Best guard: Isaiah Whitehead, Seton Hall
Seton Hall advanced to its first NCAA tournament since 2006 largely on the back of Whitehead, a Brooklyn native. He's scored at least 20 points in six straight games and was at his very best in the Big East tournament.
In the final against Villanova on Saturday night, Whitehead dropped 26 on the Wildcats and went strong to the rim for the game-winning three-point play with 18 seconds to play. His heroics gave the Pirates the tournament title and likely cost Villanova a 1 seed.
Best coaching matchup: Kevin Willard vs. Mark Few
Gonzaga, once on the fringes of the bubble, eliminated all doubt by winning the WCC tournament title. Mark Few made the tournament with the Bulldogs 17 straight seasons and has the pieces at his disposal that could potentially cool off the streaking Pirates. Seton Hall has some excellent rebounders in Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez, but Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer is the type of floor-stretching big man that could overextend Kevin Willard's aggressive defense. It will be a fun X's-and-O's matchup in the round of 64.
USA Today:
No. 11 seeds Wichita State, Northern Iowa and Gonzaga reach the Sweet 16
As for Gonzaga, this was a preseason Final Four team for some experts with Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis in the frontcourt. The 'Zags will get an opportunity to make up for an underachieving season against a red-hot Seton Hall team and then likely Utah in the round of 32 if they won.
No. 11 seeds Wichita State, Northern Iowa and Gonzaga reach the Sweet 16
As for Gonzaga, this was a preseason Final Four team for some experts with Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis in the frontcourt. The 'Zags will get an opportunity to make up for an underachieving season against a red-hot Seton Hall team and then likely Utah in the round of 32 if they won.
DeCourcy TSN on Midwest bracket
Quote:
Best potential player matchup: Utah C Jakob Poeltl vs. Gonzaga C Domantas Sabonis (possible second round). Seton Hall is a lovely story and certainly earned its position in the field and its No. 6 seed, but goodness, wouldn’t you want to see these two gifted young bigs battle in the low post? Poeltl is an excellent space-eater and shot-blocker, and Sabonis has a varied game that includes a variety of low-post moves and the ability to hit from 16 feet. Poeltl is from Austria and Sabonis from Lithuania; isn’t it great that they chose to develop their games here? Wouldn’t it be greater if they could aim those talents at each other?
Sleeper team: Gonzaga. The Zags are back in underdog mode, and maybe that’s a good thing for the program. Instead of getting beaten up for alleged underachievement in March — yep, lotta people forgot that this is Gonzaga, not UCLA — people can sit back and marvel again if the program makes one of its early-2000s-style runs.
Quote:
Best potential player matchup: Utah C Jakob Poeltl vs. Gonzaga C Domantas Sabonis (possible second round). Seton Hall is a lovely story and certainly earned its position in the field and its No. 6 seed, but goodness, wouldn’t you want to see these two gifted young bigs battle in the low post? Poeltl is an excellent space-eater and shot-blocker, and Sabonis has a varied game that includes a variety of low-post moves and the ability to hit from 16 feet. Poeltl is from Austria and Sabonis from Lithuania; isn’t it great that they chose to develop their games here? Wouldn’t it be greater if they could aim those talents at each other?
Sleeper team: Gonzaga. The Zags are back in underdog mode, and maybe that’s a good thing for the program. Instead of getting beaten up for alleged underachievement in March — yep, lotta people forgot that this is Gonzaga, not UCLA — people can sit back and marvel again if the program makes one of its early-2000s-style runs.
CBSsports
The lowest-seeded school to make the Sweet 16 will be ... Seton Hall. I wanted to pull the trigger on Little Rock or Iona here but think if either team pulls off the upset in the first round it won't be able to repeat the feat over the weekend.
1. The star power is absolutely insane in this region
Michigan State's Denzel Valentine might be the National Player of the Year. Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon and Utah's Jakob Poeltl are worthy picks for first-team All-American. Georges Niang has been one of the best players in the Big 12 for several years now and Isaiah Whitehead has not only powered Seton Hall to a Big East Tournament but made a name for himself as one of the most electrifying players in college baskeball.
Best in the region:
4. Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall): Is there anything better than a Brooklyn native playing in the Big East with an absolutely fearless attitude on the court? Whitehead is already averaging 26.0 points per game in the month of March and led the Pirates to back-to-back wins against Xavier and Villanova on the way to a program-defining conference tournament title. Watch Whitehead from the moment that first round game tips, trust me.
The lowest-seeded school to make the Sweet 16 will be ... Seton Hall. I wanted to pull the trigger on Little Rock or Iona here but think if either team pulls off the upset in the first round it won't be able to repeat the feat over the weekend.
1. The star power is absolutely insane in this region
Michigan State's Denzel Valentine might be the National Player of the Year. Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon and Utah's Jakob Poeltl are worthy picks for first-team All-American. Georges Niang has been one of the best players in the Big 12 for several years now and Isaiah Whitehead has not only powered Seton Hall to a Big East Tournament but made a name for himself as one of the most electrifying players in college baskeball.
Best in the region:
4. Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall): Is there anything better than a Brooklyn native playing in the Big East with an absolutely fearless attitude on the court? Whitehead is already averaging 26.0 points per game in the month of March and led the Pirates to back-to-back wins against Xavier and Villanova on the way to a program-defining conference tournament title. Watch Whitehead from the moment that first round game tips, trust me.
CBS Sports Sunday
2. Seton Hall is the team no one should want to face in the NCAA Tournament
Seton Hall won its first Big East title in 23 years, capping a tremendous bounce-back season for Kevin Willard and the Pirates after backsliding out of the tournament picture a year ago. The Pirates are going to enter the NCAA Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation with just one loss in the past month. There's not a team in the field that should feel comfortable eyeing a matchup with Isaiah Whitehead and Co.; look for the Pirates around the No. 4 or No. 5 seed line, and don't feel bad picking them to knock off a contender.
2. Seton Hall is the team no one should want to face in the NCAA Tournament
Seton Hall won its first Big East title in 23 years, capping a tremendous bounce-back season for Kevin Willard and the Pirates after backsliding out of the tournament picture a year ago. The Pirates are going to enter the NCAA Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation with just one loss in the past month. There's not a team in the field that should feel comfortable eyeing a matchup with Isaiah Whitehead and Co.; look for the Pirates around the No. 4 or No. 5 seed line, and don't feel bad picking them to knock off a contender.
NCAAcom thanks to SHUmash
Seton Hall just beat two No. 2 seeds in Xavier and Villanova in consecutive days, and it has one of the best players in the field that not many people are talking about in Isaiah Whitehead.
If you haven’t watched Whitehead yet, you’re in for a treat. The 6-foot-4 point guard does it all for the Pirates – he shoots, he drives, he defends, he gets his teammates involved and to top it all off, he’s one of the toughest players in college basketball.
Here are Whitehead’s numbers in his last seven games: 25.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 5.8 apg. Whitehead has a sound supporting cast led by Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez, and the Hall’s potential road sets up favorably. Gonzaga and Utah, who would likely be Seton Hall’s first two opponents, are good teams. They’re also very beatable teams. Watch out for the Pirates.
Seton Hall just beat two No. 2 seeds in Xavier and Villanova in consecutive days, and it has one of the best players in the field that not many people are talking about in Isaiah Whitehead.
If you haven’t watched Whitehead yet, you’re in for a treat. The 6-foot-4 point guard does it all for the Pirates – he shoots, he drives, he defends, he gets his teammates involved and to top it all off, he’s one of the toughest players in college basketball.
Here are Whitehead’s numbers in his last seven games: 25.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 5.8 apg. Whitehead has a sound supporting cast led by Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez, and the Hall’s potential road sets up favorably. Gonzaga and Utah, who would likely be Seton Hall’s first two opponents, are good teams. They’re also very beatable teams. Watch out for the Pirates.
SBnation2
Seton Hall
First round opponent : Gonzaga Bulldogs
Life was good for the Seton Hall Pirates. They were one of the top "underdog" teams in the country this year, beating the likes of Wichita State, Xavier, and Villanova, who they beat to win the Big East tournament. Kevin Williard's team has played fantastic and many thought they would be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament if they got the right bracket.
They got exactly the opposite.
Seton Hall got the Gonzaga Bulldogs as their first round opponent, and that is a team they don't want to face. Although Seton Hall has the way better guards, Gonzaga will have the advantage inside and that could be the deciding factor. Controlling the boards will be important in this game and it will be tough for the Pirates.
A potential matchup against Utah, who have won nine of their last ten games. Two games against two tough western teams? Couldn't have gotten much worse for Seton Hall. But if the Pirates get big play like they did in the Big East tournament, a Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan State is definitely in play.
How far will they go: Round of 32
Seton Hall
First round opponent : Gonzaga Bulldogs
Life was good for the Seton Hall Pirates. They were one of the top "underdog" teams in the country this year, beating the likes of Wichita State, Xavier, and Villanova, who they beat to win the Big East tournament. Kevin Williard's team has played fantastic and many thought they would be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament if they got the right bracket.
They got exactly the opposite.
Seton Hall got the Gonzaga Bulldogs as their first round opponent, and that is a team they don't want to face. Although Seton Hall has the way better guards, Gonzaga will have the advantage inside and that could be the deciding factor. Controlling the boards will be important in this game and it will be tough for the Pirates.
A potential matchup against Utah, who have won nine of their last ten games. Two games against two tough western teams? Couldn't have gotten much worse for Seton Hall. But if the Pirates get big play like they did in the Big East tournament, a Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan State is definitely in play.
How far will they go: Round of 32
WashPost
No. 11 Gonzaga over No. 6 Seton Hall
Gonzaga has two factors in its favor when it takes on the Big East Tournament champs. The first is that Kevin Willard, the coach of Seton Hall, has never coached in the NCAA tournament. Rookie head coaches tend to lose almost a half of a game more (minus-0.40) than an average team with the same seed. giving Gonzaga an edge. Mark Few, in comparison, will be coaching his 17th tournament team.
Plus, Gonzaga has outscored opponents by 13.5 points per game, which is historically more in line with what we have seen from the average No. 2 seed (plus-12.4 net points per game) than a No. 11 (plus-7.6 net points per game).
No. 11 Gonzaga over No. 6 Seton Hall
Gonzaga has two factors in its favor when it takes on the Big East Tournament champs. The first is that Kevin Willard, the coach of Seton Hall, has never coached in the NCAA tournament. Rookie head coaches tend to lose almost a half of a game more (minus-0.40) than an average team with the same seed. giving Gonzaga an edge. Mark Few, in comparison, will be coaching his 17th tournament team.
Plus, Gonzaga has outscored opponents by 13.5 points per game, which is historically more in line with what we have seen from the average No. 2 seed (plus-12.4 net points per game) than a No. 11 (plus-7.6 net points per game).
USAtoday all first round 34 games
Seton Hall PG Isaiah Whitehead has been one of the best guards in the country over the last few weeks and is capable of carrying the Pirates to the second weekend. They aren’t a great shooting team, so Whitehead is almost required to get his teammates easy looks in order for the team to play well as a whole. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Pirates struggled to keep up with a high-scoring ‘Zags team. Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis can be matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
Seton Hall PG Isaiah Whitehead has been one of the best guards in the country over the last few weeks and is capable of carrying the Pirates to the second weekend. They aren’t a great shooting team, so Whitehead is almost required to get his teammates easy looks in order for the team to play well as a whole. It wouldn’t be a shock if the Pirates struggled to keep up with a high-scoring ‘Zags team. Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis can be matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
SportsIllustrated
Few players had better conference tournament weeks than Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead. He played all week with a composed and focused scowl, drilling pull-up jumpers and step-back three-pointers as Seton Hall rocked Madison Square Garden. The Pirates won their first Big East tournament since 1993. Whitehead finished with 26 points in the upset of No. 3 seed Villanova in the final, including the old-fashioned three-point play in the waning seconds that proved the game-winner.
The Hall starts five sophomores and appeared to grow up in New York. The Pirates also have a sniper off the bench, senior Derrick Gordon, who brought a blur of shooting, energy and defense. Few teams in college basketball are hotter than Seton Hall, which has lost just twice since Jan. 27. (both to Butler). Don’t be surprised if that continues.
Few players had better conference tournament weeks than Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead. He played all week with a composed and focused scowl, drilling pull-up jumpers and step-back three-pointers as Seton Hall rocked Madison Square Garden. The Pirates won their first Big East tournament since 1993. Whitehead finished with 26 points in the upset of No. 3 seed Villanova in the final, including the old-fashioned three-point play in the waning seconds that proved the game-winner.
The Hall starts five sophomores and appeared to grow up in New York. The Pirates also have a sniper off the bench, senior Derrick Gordon, who brought a blur of shooting, energy and defense. Few teams in college basketball are hotter than Seton Hall, which has lost just twice since Jan. 27. (both to Butler). Don’t be surprised if that continues.
