Helluva game against Sparty last night. 9 (!) freshman on the team, 16(!) players overall, left some home because not all are on the traveling squad (including John Stockton's kid). More interestingly, 3 agile 7+ footers, including one 7'5 guy who can actually walk and chew gum. So apparently, the big guys are out there and going to a Jesuit University, it just happens to be the one in Spokane.
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I thought the same thing as I watched the game. how the heck can he get some much talent and size to come to a small school in such a god-forsaken place. Spokane is a long way from Nowhere.
Gonzaga/Spokane is one of those white person myths....like Colorado.
I found myself contemplating how COT and Yous would look guarding some of the Gonzaga bigs. Yous vs that 7'5 kid would have been interesting. I think the other Gonzaga bigs are more mobile, and even though CO would have played more minutes, I think Butler and JMay would have eventually had to guard the more mobile ones.
Quote from: elephantraker on November 18, 2009, 11:53:38 AM
I thought the same thing as I watched the game. how the heck can he get some much talent and size to come to a small school in such a god-forsaken place. Spokane is a long way from Nowhere.
Few is a great coach and players love him. Gonzaga is small, but not that much smaller than MU.
Quote from: elephantraker on November 18, 2009, 11:53:38 AM
I thought the same thing as I watched the game. how the heck can he get some much talent and size to come to a small school in such a god-forsaken place. Spokane is a long way from Nowhere.
Don't diss Spokane. Spokane is a great place. Beautiful country. People there are friendly. Gonzaga has a beautiful campus located near downtown and right on the Spokane River with about 8,000 students. A hidden gem. Attracts lots of west coasters.
Quote from: classof70 on November 19, 2009, 06:54:09 AM
Don't diss Spokane. Spokane is a great place. Beautiful country. People there are friendly. Gonzaga has a beautiful campus located near downtown and right on the Spokane River with about 8,000 students. A hidden gem. Attracts lots of west coasters.
Okay, I don't mean to upset anyone, but people living in Milwaukee are criticizing Spokane? I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Dad still lives in Tosa, 4 siblings in metro area. I love it because it's home. But let's face it, it's not "all that."
Quote from: classof70 on November 19, 2009, 06:54:09 AM
Don't diss Spokane. Spokane is a great place. Beautiful country. People there are friendly. Gonzaga has a beautiful campus located near downtown and right on the Spokane River with about 8,000 students. A hidden gem. Attracts lots of west coasters.
It attracted my brother when we lived in Colorado. I hate that my brother went to unknown Gonzaga, and I went to mighty Marquette, but since that time his school's basketball program gets more love than my school's.
Quote from: classof70 on November 19, 2009, 06:54:09 AM
Don't diss Spokane. Spokane is a great place. Beautiful country. People there are friendly. Gonzaga has a beautiful campus located near downtown and right on the Spokane River with about 8,000 students. A hidden gem. Attracts lots of west coasters.
I think when somone talks regarding recruiting you need to put in respect to the type of kids you recruit. People need to compare it on that level... not whether they like it or not. Right now, Marquette has a Spanish speaker, an African, and a majority of black Americans. Marquette fits the mold since it is an urban school with a relatively diverse city in Milwaukee.
Spokane, on the other hand, is not very diverse (at least accoring to census numbers). Thus, the fact they can recruit non-whites to go there I find pretty impressive. Yes, it is pretty country and good for outdoors types... that may attract some non-white kids but I think many would prefer an urban environment with more diversity.
In that sense it makes the recruiting impressive.
Quote from: classof70 on November 19, 2009, 06:54:09 AM
Don't diss Spokane. Spokane is a great place. Beautiful country. People there are friendly. Gonzaga has a beautiful campus located near downtown and right on the Spokane River with about 8,000 students. A hidden gem. Attracts lots of west coasters.
+1 Spokane is a beautiful place
Dude it was 29 there the other day (i'll admit I'm in So Cal) and I have been there many times on business. It has a good small town feel but not the vibe of a Milwaukee or even a Boise. My brother-in-law and his wife lasted months there and just moved back.
Quote from: elephantraker on November 19, 2009, 08:41:59 AM
Dude it was 29 there the other day (i'll admit I'm in So Cal) and I have been there many times on business. It has a good small town feel but not the vibe of a Milwaukee or even a Boise. My brother-in-law and his wife lasted months there and just moved back.
Certainly, Spokane isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'd take it over Souther Cal any day. My own preference. I lived there for 3 years and loved it. That's where I'd retire if I could get my wife to move far away from the kids!! :'(
Quote from: elephantraker on November 19, 2009, 08:41:59 AM
Dude it was 29 there the other day (i'll admit I'm in So Cal) and I have been there many times on business. It has a good small town feel but not the vibe of a Milwaukee or even a Boise. My brother-in-law and his wife lasted months there and just moved back.
My god, can you imagine if it got that cold in Milwaukee!!!
Quote from: classof70 on November 20, 2009, 07:52:20 AM
Certainly, Spokane isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I'd take it over Souther Cal any day. My own preference. I lived there for 3 years and loved it. That's where I'd retire if I could get my wife to move far away from the kids!! :'(
I don't think anyone argues your point, it's just what you're looking for in a retirement location is much different than what a college kid often looks for. When I was 18, I'd have taken Milwaukee over Spokane.
Guys, many kids don't decide where to play basketball based upon the weather or how beautiful a city it is. Otherwise, we'd never get a prospect to come here much less Syracuse, UConn, Michigan State, etc. etc. etc.
Gonzaga has a good reputation in the west, and Few is a fantastic coach. They recruit decently, but more important they really coach them up when they get there.
Quote from: mviale on November 19, 2009, 08:34:56 AM
+1 Spokane is a beautiful place
+2 Grew up in Spokane. The whole Great Northwest is a beautiful area.
Quote from: mwbauer7 on November 20, 2009, 11:50:57 AM
+2 Grew up in Spokane. The whole Great Northwest is a beautiful area.
You did? When did that happen?
About the same time he was sleepless in Seattle.
Watching 2nd half of Gonzaga-Colorado at Maui. The Zags have a 7 foot Canadian who is really good. It makes me think of what could have been with Liam.