Watch and listen to Adam Morrison's latest episode of The Perimeter.
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01:20 [Music]
01:31 Welcome to Season 3, Episode 12 of The Perimeter, sponsored by McGillivray Environmental.
01:38 Two wins this week. Feels good saying that.
01:41 Yeah.
01:42 Not trying to be too sarcastic, but we've had the last three episodes, we've had to talk about a loss,
01:46 which is never fun because I don't want to be too critical and I don't want to sound like a jerk,
01:51 but sometimes you have to go that route.
01:52 Mm-hmm.
01:53 But a really good start to West Coast Conference play.
01:58 I think the number was 45 straight WCC Openers wins.
02:05 That's like to 1995 or something crazy like that.
02:08 Yeah.
02:08 It's insane. Like, that's really a wild number if you think about, like, just all the better teams in the past,
02:14 and then obviously Gonzaga wasn't as dominant in the earlier years,
02:19 that they win every single time in the opener.
02:22 That is...
02:23 It was a crazy stat.
02:24 That is a crazy stat.
02:24 It doesn't even make sense.
02:26 It doesn't make... I put it as like a poll thing on our stories,
02:30 because you and Huddy were talking about it and I was like, "That is freaking crazy."
02:34 Like, no...
02:35 It doesn't make sense.
02:35 I don't think any... I'd have to go through the history of, like, all sports,
02:39 but, like, that has to be, like, the longest, like, street conference.
02:43 Yeah. No, when I heard that, I was... I'm always just like,
02:47 "How would... You know, somebody hasn't dumbed into a win or, you know, knock on wood, somebody's injured,"
02:52 or you know what I'm saying?
02:53 Like, there's so many variables.
02:56 But, you know, we opened with Pepperdine, kind of a little bit different in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena,
03:04 which has actually gotten... Have you been to a concert there lately?
03:09 You know, just, like, upstairs and, like, the food and all that stuff actually looks better.
03:13 Yeah.
03:13 It used to be a dump.
03:14 Yeah, I've been...
03:15 They've actually made it a little bit better.
03:17 I've been to a couple, yeah. It's a much better venue than it used to be.
03:21 Yeah.
03:22 Yeah.
03:22 Anyway, so, you know, when you play in that arena, it's not a great shooting arena.
03:28 And I always take that stuff with a grain of salt, but I obviously played it in high school.
03:33 I ain't in college.
03:34 I shot well there, but I get... And I'm just saying that, but I get, like, the backdrop's weird.
03:42 There's gaps on each corner. You know what I'm saying?
03:44 So, like, it just... It's not the best shooting arena.
03:48 It's not the worst, but it's not, you know, it's made for hockey and, you know, concerts.
03:53 So having the opener there was a little bit nerve-wracking, especially coming off a loss to San Diego State,
03:59 going with Pepperdine.
04:00 Pepperdine's an interesting club.
04:03 There were seven and eight, but they have, like, usually always, like, two or three legitimate pro prospects.
04:08 Not just NBA guys, but guys that could play overseas, and that's a real thing.
04:12 You know, like, actually have good careers overseas.
04:16 The Porter kid, his brother is Michael Porter Jr.
04:22 And then I think his sisters are, like, played at USC.
04:25 Like, his whole family's played Division I basketball.
04:27 It's crazy. There's, like, six of them.
04:29 But he always talks about it, like, on the broadcast.
04:33 So he was... He's definitely a challenging cover.
04:38 And then the Ajayi kid out of, I think it was Tacoma, but he was going to Pierce Community College.
04:43 Just came out of nowhere.
04:45 He was averaging, like, 17, 18 points a game.
04:48 So going into this was a little bit...
04:53 We always beat Pepperdine, but if you look at the last, you know, their home games,
05:00 and then when we play them on the road, I know this was technically a home game.
05:04 They usually play us a little bit tougher at their place.
05:08 But my point is, like, when you play them, you look up and you're like,
05:13 "Man, we're controlling everything. Oh, we're only up eight with six minutes to go."
05:16 Like, that's how it is down there.
05:17 And then we win by 17, and then it looks like you just walked through it.
05:21 - Right.
05:22 - So going into that game was a little bit nerve-wracking.
05:25 Obviously, one, coming off a loss.
05:27 Two, playing in a different venue that a lot of these guys haven't shot in.
05:31 And we've talked about at length about the shooting woes that we've had this year.
05:35 And I'm tired of covering it, honestly, and people are probably tired of me talking about it.
05:40 So that was a factor in my mind going into it.
05:43 It's like, "OK, hopefully we can make some jumpers."
05:46 I mean, I'm not trying to be funny, but this is a new arena.
05:51 You know, this is a talented team that can score.
05:54 They don't play very good defense.
05:55 Millett, again, for them is fantastic as well as a come-off-screen, a thousand-point scorer.
06:01 Can score.
06:03 Can get hot is what I'm trying to say.
06:05 So, like, he's a dangerous cover.
06:09 But I really liked our energy to start the game, especially defensively.
06:15 And then obviously we started making shots there.
06:19 Went 8-19 from 3.
06:23 Nolan Hickman, 4-5.
06:25 Ryan Nembhard, 2-3.
06:27 I'm going to talk about them, too, here in a second.
06:30 But made field goals—excuse me, 3-point field goals, which really obviously spaced the floor.
06:38 Graham Ekay was fantastic.
06:40 20-point, 7 rebounds.
06:41 8-10 in only 21 minutes.
06:44 He's been super efficient.
06:45 I think the last four games he's had three at 20, 20-plus, and then one at 19.
06:50 So basically four games with 20.
06:51 I think after the—this is my best guess, and I'm pretty sure I'm right.
06:57 After the Yukon game, if you were at the Yukon game or watched it,
07:01 obviously I'm right next to the bench, just where I had our commentating station.
07:06 So I'm, like, five feet from the bench, which I love.
07:09 That's easier because I can tell the story a little bit better, too.
07:12 Me and Huddy, it's just better for our conveying what's going on to the audience.
07:18 Fuey was on Graham, like, not in a, like, "Come on, champ," like, on him.
07:23 And they kind of chirped back and forth.
07:25 And remember, Graham didn't play very good and only played, like, 12, 13 minutes.
07:29 I think there was a come-to-Jesus moment for both of them.
07:31 Like, "Hey, you transferred here.
07:34 You're playing all right, but we need a physical presence and we need an emotional presence."
07:39 And if you've noticed after that game, he's been the guy that's, like, yelling at refs.
07:44 I mean this in a good way, but, like, kind of, like, posturing.
07:47 He did that in San Diego State.
07:48 Like, they were being physical.
07:50 He was the one that kind of, like, mixed it up.
07:52 He's got a technical with hitting a guy above the head.
07:54 Not condoning it, but I'm, like, "Hey, man, I want my big guy, like, kind of, like, setting the tone."
08:00 And I think he's relishing in that role and he understood the assignment.
08:05 Like, "Hey, you know, you transfer from Wyoming, Mountain West Player of the Year.
08:09 Sat out last year.
08:12 This is a big year for you, right, if you want to go where you want to go.
08:16 And you've got to start playing with a fire and emotion."
08:18 And he's done exactly that.
08:19 And I think against Pepperdine, he really showed that.
08:22 Because he got low block touches, and I've talked about that at length.
08:26 Like, when he gets his catches at 15 to 12 feet, I bet you his percentages are cut in half.
08:32 But when he gets them 8 to 12 feet or in, he's, like, a 60% score, you know, or field goal percentage.
08:39 And he did that against Pepperdine, was really efficient, obviously, like I said, 8 to 10.
08:43 So, you know, I'll talk about the San Diego game, obviously, next.
08:47 But he's done an excellent job of kind of being that emotional leader for us and the physical leader I think we needed.
08:55 And I'm pretty sure that was probably a talk with the staff in a good way.
09:00 But, like, sometimes you got to be real with kids.
09:03 And they got to take it, too.
09:05 He's like, "Yeah, man, you know, I transferred from a pretty good situation.
09:09 And for me, I'm coming here.
09:12 Like, I need to get it in gear."
09:13 Not that he was playing bad, but I need to, like, show emotion.
09:16 And we need that as a group.
09:18 So I was really impressed with that in the Pepperdine game.
09:22 Like I said, obviously, only played 21 minutes, but 20 points, super efficient.
09:26 I love the shooting as a group.
09:28 Braden Huff was fantastic, 11 points, 5 of 7.
09:31 I mentioned Nolan Hickman, 5 of 7, 4 of 5, 14 points, 3 assists, only one turnover.
09:39 Nemhard, 3 of 7, 2 of 3 at downtown, though, which was fantastic.
09:43 Anton's been great all year.
09:45 It's 15.6 rebounds, 6 of 12.
09:48 He's just been kind of a quiet, you know, he showed that last year.
09:54 He's just quiet and gets his numbers and does everything right.
09:57 You know, he's just a great addition to--
10:00 He's the guy that--
10:03 You know, I have this question posed to me a few times,
10:06 like, "What player could play on every Gonzaga era?"
10:11 Or whatever, you know, like, "Oh, there's so many good groups."
10:13 He's one of them that--
10:16 He wouldn't be the superstar in any of the groups,
10:18 but he could fit in every single one of them.
10:20 -Totally, yeah. -You know what I'm saying?
10:21 Like, "Defend, yeah, check.
10:23 Defend every spot, check.
10:25 Rebound, check. Shoot it, good enough, check.
10:28 Score it, good enough, check."
10:29 You know what I mean?
10:30 Like, if you just go down the list, you're like,
10:32 "Man, he could fit into every single team."
10:33 Not every guy could say that.
10:35 And that's not a knock on some players, but, like, you know,
10:38 Jeremy Pargo was great, but could he fit on some of the teams
10:41 where--because he couldn't shoot it as good when he was at Gonzaga.
10:44 Probably not, but he was good when he could come off,
10:46 pick a roll, and dunk on your face.
10:48 -Right. -But we weren't running that type of stuff.
10:50 You know what I mean? Like, it's a little bit different now.
10:53 You know, so, obviously, Anton's been great.
10:56 I'm happy for his success.
10:59 Hopefully, he continues. That was a great senior season.
11:01 It was best for him to come back.
11:03 I'm glad he did the combine thing, but, like,
11:05 just went down there and got the right advice and internalized.
11:09 I think he legitimately has a chance to be an NBA player,
11:11 and I know people look at the numbers,
11:15 and they don't jump off the paper at you,
11:16 but, like, if you can defend,
11:19 and you can be a knockdown shooter,
11:21 like, you can find a place in that league to do that
11:25 because you've got to be able to guard multiple spots.
11:27 -Yeah. -And then if you can be
11:30 where you can be, like, a comparable 40% three-point shooter,
11:33 and you probably take three a night, maybe, four,
11:36 and make two of them, you know what I'm saying?
11:38 I know that's over 40, but you get what I'm saying?
11:40 Like, go two for four, and then play defense.
11:42 Like, you can get on a roster and survive,
11:45 and I think he has that type of game.
11:47 Obviously, he'd have to tighten things up.
11:50 Everybody does. When you make the next level,
11:52 you tighten your body up, and, you know,
11:54 your handle's got to get -- all that stuff.
11:56 But I think he has a legitimate chance.
11:58 I'm glad he's having a great season
12:00 because when he first started,
12:02 those injuries really impacted, like, how he looked on the floor.
12:05 You know, remember he had that shoulder --
12:07 weird shoulder deal, kept slipping out.
12:09 So I think people were kind of puzzled,
12:11 but it's like, well, if you're trying to, like,
12:13 chug and be physical,
12:16 and you always think your shoulder's going to slip out of line,
12:19 like, it's hard to play like normal,
12:20 even though they're like, "You're cleared."
12:22 You know what I'm saying? Like, you've really got to trust it.
12:23 It's like a knee.
12:25 -Yeah, I've never been injured, like, where I had to, like --
12:28 -Trust it. -Trust an injury or trust, like --
12:30 -It's hard. -So I imagine it is hard,
12:32 especially at an elite level. -Yeah, exactly.
12:35 Like, you can't, like, you know, pussyfoot around
12:38 or whatever the term is and kind of go half speed
12:41 because you'll get exposed.
12:42 And so, again, really impressed with our debut.
12:47 It was the 25th anniversary of the '99 team.
12:52 It was cool. They did something at halftime.
12:54 -Yeah. -I'm going to make one complaint,
12:56 and I think it's valid,
12:58 and this is not a knock on our video team or whatever,
13:01 but, like, as they're walking on the court,
13:04 like, play the Gus Johnson cavalry tip with the audio
13:10 and let everybody in the stands go fucking crazy.
13:12 Like, it doesn't make any sense.
13:13 Like, they just walked on the court, and it was, like, silent,
13:16 and then they just announced their names.
13:17 Like, dude, as they're walking, like,
13:19 "Calvary, the slippers still --"
13:22 Like, play that. Like, you know what I'm saying?
13:24 -Totally, yeah. -'Cause, like,
13:26 I had some people text me, and this is not --
13:28 You know, they're just like, "Who are those people?"
13:30 'Cause they're newer fans, but, like,
13:32 "Well, that's the '99 team." Like, oh, cool, you know?
13:34 But, like, remind everybody, like, that was an easy layup.
13:38 -That is. That is so true. -It's like a 30-second clip,
13:41 and it's an all-time classic 'cause Gus Johnson,
13:44 he's, like, one of the best of all time, but, like,
13:46 "The slippers still fits."
13:47 Like, everybody had been hyped.
13:49 -You know what I'm saying? -Yeah, absolutely.
13:51 But it was cool that they, you know,
13:53 obviously honored him as Alumni Weekend,
13:55 but it was the 25th year, and it was cool they did that thing
13:58 with Jeremy Eaton's son, who -- he passed away,
14:00 I think it was a couple years ago or at least last year.
14:03 I'm not -- I can't remember.
14:05 A big, integral part of that team.
14:07 So I was happy for those guys.
14:09 We got to interview a couple.
14:11 Axel Dentsch was cool from Australia.
14:12 I haven't talked to him in forever.
14:14 And then Matt Cetangelo came on, and it's just nice
14:17 to see the old guys 'cause I looked up to them.
14:19 I remember, like, being in high school
14:22 and seeing that team go on the run,
14:24 and you're like, "Who the hell?"
14:25 'Cause I was a ball boy, but then I --
14:27 you know, I was a ball boy, like, I think,
14:29 fifth and sixth grade, and then I didn't do it seventh,
14:31 eighth, ninth, you know, but I'm like, "All right.
14:33 I'm not driving you down." You know what I mean?
14:35 Like, it's just -- you can only do so much.
14:37 And then it was just, like, all of a sudden,
14:38 you're like, "Holy crap."
14:41 But, like, I remember we used to go to games
14:43 'cause I was kind of getting recruited.
14:45 And it's when you had to go to the Martin Center,
14:48 and then they would do their pregame, like, shoot-around.
14:51 They would walk to the field house.
14:53 So, like, if you're out in the foyer,
14:55 they'd all walk by you in their uniforms and stuff.
14:57 -Totally. -And it was like the Gladiators.
14:59 It was, like, just a cool, like, "Oh, yeah, there's Mark Spink."
15:02 Like, "There's Cetangelo." You know what I mean?
15:05 And you'd be like, "Yeah." You know?
15:06 And it was kind of a different feel 'cause, like,
15:09 there's no way anymore that you would ever get that type of access.
15:12 -No, yeah. -But it was just new Gonzaga goods.
15:15 So, like, people were just --
15:17 fans were just literally standing right there,
15:18 and you could walk through.
15:20 Like, that was no cell phone era.
15:22 So then there was no, like, "Hey, can you take a quick picture?"
15:25 Like, that wouldn't -- it wouldn't fly today, obviously.
15:27 But it was neat to -- you know, 'cause I played
15:31 against some of those guys in theory, like,
15:34 when they'd come back in the summers.
15:35 -Mm. Right. -You know what I mean?
15:37 So you develop a relationship then, too, as well.
15:40 But I also said it on air.
15:42 I know they got to go to the next game, San Diego.
15:45 But I was like, "Isn't it weird that you guys, like, walk out
15:48 and you have to do it in the arena?"
15:50 -In front of, like, no student section again. -No student section, yeah.
15:54 And I was kind of being a hater.
15:55 And I don't think, like, Cetangelo and Axel Dentsch likes that question
16:00 'cause I put him on the spot.
16:01 And, like, Huddy was looking at me sideways like,
16:03 "Why would you say that?"
16:04 I don't know. Like, this is weird that we're doing this ceremony at the arena.
16:09 -Yeah. -But whatever, man.
16:11 I don't know anything. Who cares?
16:13 So, yeah. All in all, good start.
16:15 -Totally. -Like I mentioned, the 8-19 from downtown,
16:19 it was a great precursor to what was coming Saturday.
16:25 But this team has enough talent to shoot it well.
16:29 Guys get their reps.
16:32 We don't have any people that are, you know, like,
16:35 that just simply can't shoot that are playing.
16:39 And sometimes that's the case, but it's rare in Gonzaga uniforms now.
16:43 I mean, we don't have any people that can't shoot the ball on the perimeter.
16:47 So it's nice for it to turn the corner now.
16:51 It's easy for somebody to be like, "Well, look at the competition."
16:53 Like, that's true. It's a fair.
16:55 But also, like, we were getting wide open shots against better teams, too,
16:58 -and they're just not making them. -Right.
17:00 You need to start making them against whoever you're playing against,
17:03 and then the basket gets bigger.
17:06 So it was fantastic, and I was really impressed.
17:11 Good way to start the West Coast Conference.
17:14 Absolutely. I was going to say, like, when Nimhard,
17:16 he made his first three in the end of the first half,
17:19 and he visibly breathed, like, a sigh of relief.
17:23 -You saw it. -It's a good point.
17:25 You could just tell, like, he knows that he's, like, shooting poorly this year,
17:32 and I feel like that probably helped out a lot to make the first one of the game.
17:38 But yeah, it was a fun atmosphere. I do agree.
17:42 The perimeter will be right back after a word from our sponsor.
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18:04 So, you headed over to the dealership now?
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