Former Gonzaga All-American Dan Dickau breaks down the Bulldogs' strong finish to the regular season and what to look for at the WCC Tournament
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00:00 What's happening everybody? Christian Pedersen joined as always by Dan Dickow welcoming you to
00:04 I never know if this is considered the last regular season episode or the first post season episode
00:11 We're kind of on that fence because Gonzaga now has something that I thoroughly think is made up which is called a double buy
00:17 So no games for one week as of when we are recording this until the WCC tournament gets going
00:22 So I want to do two things with you guys. Let's let's look back a little bit
00:26 Dan's gonna give us some
00:28 Entire little bow on the regular part of the season
00:29 I'm gonna look forward a little a lot a bit because this is now what we all live for the regular season
00:35 Was just the appetizer. This is what Gonzaga basketball fans live for and that is march freaking madness
00:41 So dan want to do two things with you as we look back pre-season. We had you bring us some of your
00:47 Awards or hypothesis of who you think might be x y and z player coach the year type that
00:52 Want to get to that from you also if you could
00:55 um
00:56 And just this is sound bitey and i'm trying to bait you into some content here and not actually I don't need a huge analysis
01:02 But if you could summarize Gonzaga's regular season in one word, what would it be?
01:07 Wow one word
01:10 There we go
01:13 Okay, give me give me like 10 seconds to think this one through you surprised me a little bit on the give me one word
01:21 um
01:24 Tradition
01:26 Tradition
01:28 Okay
01:29 And go with exhausting
01:31 Exhausted. Well, I think you could go either one of those, you know, I I think exhausting
01:36 Works because a lot of fans were expecting one thing
01:40 Uh had a couple interesting losses to good teams and then a couple maybe that people were questioning what was going on
01:47 Um, and so trying to figure things out could have been exhausting. The reason I say tradition is
01:53 Gonzaga plays to a certain standard
01:55 right and
01:57 this team
01:58 Through some ups and downs early in the season
02:00 Has gotten back to being at that standard and that is the last eight weeks or so
02:06 Um in conference play playing at a very high level. Yes, they didn't win the league title
02:12 Right, but they had the the two-point loss at santa clara. They had the two-point home loss to st. Mary's
02:19 But they are playing unbelievably good basketball right now historic efficiency on the offensive end the last 10 12 games or so
02:27 uh, at least in league play
02:29 And the tradition is for gonzaga to to compete for league titles conference tournament titles make runs in the nca tournament
02:36 Well, they competed for a league title other than the fact that st. Mary's was
02:40 Unbelievably good this year. I mean look gonzaga beat them in maraga
02:45 They had the longest winning streak in the country at 15 games, right?
02:49 So hats off to st. Mary's you play great this year
02:51 Now tradition is to play for conference tournament titles all signs indicate that gonzaga will do that
02:57 Granted they've got that double bye and then they play in the the semis which I think will be against san francisco
03:03 Um, they'll have to win that game to make a tournament title appearance, but I would think that is going to happen
03:10 And then they're primed and ready to make some noise in the nca tournament, you know, they've been in the elite
03:15 Uh, excuse me, the sweet 16 last eight years
03:18 This looks like a team that could get back to that same spot. And so
03:21 The word that just you know popped into my head is tradition. You know, the gonzaga tradition
03:26 is
03:28 Relevant and that's relevant in march
03:30 and I think I go with exhausting just because this was the first season that in my
03:34 Rather more limited compared to most of the people consuming this gonzaga fandom
03:39 Just felt like there was a lot of games where you had to watch till the end to know exactly there was very little
03:46 Blow the doors off of them be up 25 at halftime and then we're cruising
03:50 This was a lot of games where you had to watch all the way to the end
03:53 Granted like you said last six to eight weeks. They've been playing some of the best basketball in the nation
03:58 So the ship has largely righted and my exhausted is not a negative connotation. It's just oh this has been a long
04:04 Long season
04:06 Let's get though to some of the awards pre-season
04:08 You lined up for us some people that you thought were going to be coach freshman player all that
04:14 These are not what dan thinks are the people going to be given out as the official awards. This is just dan's
04:20 Personal note or personal record book who he is giving out awards to
04:24 Floors all yours for whatever words you would like to hand out for the regular season
04:28 Well, i'm gonna go. Uh, first off with uh player of the year in the league
04:33 I mean we had talked about this a little bit over the last couple weeks
04:37 I know adam and I talked about it on our on our talking zag show with some of our recent guests
04:42 You know, there was lots of opportunities and ways that you could go
04:45 A month ago even two weeks ago. You could talk about marcelonis. You could even talk about mahaney to a certain extent
04:52 Um, you could talk about anton watson. You could talk about mobo at san francisco
04:57 But after this weekend, you know to me the player of the year in the league is a gram ek
05:02 Granted gonzaga didn't win the league, but you're talking about the most valuable player
05:07 Many times the most dominant player gram ek has been that in particular the last end eight to ten games
05:13 Which is when you want your best players playing your best basketball, I think
05:16 Uh gram ek's got eight his last eight games 20 points or more and that's shooting at over 60 percent from the field in those games
05:24 So gram ek is my player of the year
05:26 um
05:27 freshman of the year in the league, um, you know, I I gotta go with kevin patton jr at uh,
05:34 San diego, I think steve lavin, you know
05:37 Found a gem out of the southern california area got him to
05:42 Uh sign with the terraros and he had a really nice freshman year
05:46 Um now unfortunately in the world of college basketball and the transfer portal and the ease of movement
05:53 Does he stay at san diego? I sure as heck hope he does stay at san diego
05:59 Um, it's just a it's just a comment that has to come up nowadays in the the world of division one basketball
06:05 Uh, I think there was a couple other really nice freshman league tyler harris at portland falls into that same category
06:11 Uh, I think brayden huff at phenomenal games for gonzaga. I thought dusty stromer granite
06:17 He started he I don't want to say he lost his starting role to ben greg. I think essentially
06:23 You know
06:24 They needed to do that and ben greg was inserted into the starting lineup as opposed to stromer losing
06:29 His starting role, uh, and I think stromer even though he hasn't scored it, uh, particularly
06:35 Uh at an impressive clip. He's been really good down the stretch
06:39 I mean look he's averaged over 20 minutes a game for a really good gonzaga team. I think those guys are in the conversation
06:45 Uh, but at the end of the day, they got to go kevin patton jr at san diego
06:49 defensive player of the year in the league
06:52 Uh three guys come to mind. Um, jonathan mobo from san francisco
06:57 mitchell saxon from st. Mary's and
07:01 Gonzaga's anton watson are the three guys that come to mind, uh, and the more I look at it. Um,
07:08 You got to go anton watson. I mean he's he can guard one through five
07:12 Uh, he's you know
07:14 All-time list for gonzaga steals, I believe he's second behind only john stockton now
07:21 um again he
07:23 In the assignment you give him whether it's disrupt the point guard, uh in
07:27 Transition disrupt the point guard and pick and roll play
07:30 Uh, whether it's guard the opposing team's best wing score whether it's you know
07:36 Match up with a big who's great at crashing the offensive glass. He's been able to handle that uh situation
07:42 He's been able to handle that assignment
07:45 Um, and so I think that's that's something that you know earns him the defensive player of the year
07:50 And then I think coach of the year
07:52 I think there's a couple worthy candidates. I think
07:54 Um steve lavin the job he has done. It's san diego getting them to
07:59 exceed expectations
08:02 Uh is there I think you talk about uh, randy bennett and getting
08:07 Them to be 15 and one in league at st. Mary's has to earn some consideration
08:12 And I know people are going to say well, this is a gonzaga podcast. You're a former gonzaga player
08:18 For me saying this but I think coach fuse the coach of the year and he's been that a number of times
08:24 Simply because the expectations around this program are so high
08:27 And to get them to consistently
08:30 meet or exceed expectations
08:33 Deserves credit and I think what he's done
08:36 Um in particular when a lot of outsiders were questioning gonzaga this year has been impressive
08:42 The the growth and improvement both on a lot of individual levels
08:47 Uh, but as well as on the team level, uh earns coach few the coach of the year award in my eyes in the wcc
08:52 I know like you said this is a gonzaga centric podcast, but this is also the wcc themed episode of our podcast universe
09:00 So I do want to just take a little side tangent
09:03 You brought up usd a couple of times in discussing that a freshman of the year of coach of the year
09:08 You also so said though you're scared that like hey soon as something pops up there
09:12 That talent is just going to leave usd and i'm curious your thoughts on like
09:17 Where is this is very much an ethereal sort of hypothetical question not like a tangible like x y or z answer
09:23 But where is that tipping point where a program?
09:26 Starts to actually retain those talents because we've seen it a little bit usf
09:31 Crushed it in the transfer portal this year and looks like they are on that way to retaining players
09:37 St.
09:37 Merrick like there's some of those programs where
09:39 You see that spark and it leads to a whole blown fire like is this going to be the beginning of usd starting to?
09:45 Climb up and be more of a threat
09:47 Well, I think with with ed coach steve lavin, they have that opportunity. I mean, he's got name recognition
09:53 um with
09:55 You know recruiting circles. He's got name recognition and media circles so he can help generate a certain buzz
10:01 Um to keep that program moving in the right direction
10:04 um, the hard part is is
10:10 The whole nil transfer portal the whole world has changed and it's changed in the last three years
10:15 It's changed again over the last 18 months
10:17 You know and the fact that their two-time transfers are are able to be eligible immediately has changed it again
10:23 You know in the last nine months, I think you know, unfortunately
10:27 You as a staff have to understand are we recruiting program guys guys that we think can develop and are going to be here for?
10:34 Long haul can be foundational pieces can turn us into maybe postseason contenders
10:40 and participants
10:41 That's kind of what I view is like same areas
10:44 They recruit guys that are going to be there for a long time
10:46 Then now they recruit high level guys that are going to be there and they keep them there. They're program guys
10:51 um
10:53 You know san francisco. They've had some program guys in the recent years namely jamari bouye
10:58 um, but I think they have different opportunities in the nl world based on on you know, former alumni and
11:06 People that are willing to help spend money on the business side of things in that market that are a little different than schools
11:12 in the wcc so
11:14 You you are probably I'm guessing in san francisco. You're looking for some foundational guys, but you're also looking for
11:20 um guys in the transfer portal who have
11:24 An interest in what their nil value and worth is and then when you get those guys if they perform
11:30 They're going to want to stay so you got to figure out the balance of
11:34 New guys in the portal keeping the guys that you have happy, you know
11:37 I think that's something that that every program has to go through
11:39 Um, you know the process
11:42 And it's the timeline is different for every program. I mean some schools were ahead
11:47 And prepared when nil was opened up and allowed others said we were going to take a wait and see approach and now
11:54 They've been really active for about the last year or so
11:58 others
12:00 Have still been in the wait and see approach and now they're starting to implement what they want to try to do this upcoming off
12:05 season, so
12:06 there's so many variables to
12:08 You know the to answering the question that you just asked. I think the biggest thing you
12:14 as a fan have to look at is
12:16 Is the program have
12:20 Where are their opportunities lie are their foundational pieces program guys are their
12:27 Transfer portal opportunities that require
12:30 Nil or their transfer opportunities bringing guys that just require playing time because those are two completely different
12:37 um, you know recruiting processes and so it's different for each program in this in this conference and I think
12:45 You know without it being able to answer it too directly, which I know i'm dancing
12:49 It's very much
12:51 But I think it's going to be very it's going to be very fascinating to watch
12:55 In this off season the transfer portal opens very soon. I mean we're sitting here on what march 4th
13:01 It's opening up
13:03 Very soon. I mean conference tournaments kick off in a few days
13:06 and then it's going to just open the floodgates to to to
13:10 You know names being put in the portal and then it's going to go for for a good, you know
13:14 Two month stretch where it's the focus of what we talk about
13:17 Um, but it's going to be fascinating to watch all these different programs in this conference see who leaves see who they're recruiting
13:25 See who maybe they get out of the transfer portal and then you know sifting through
13:29 Why did that player go there? Why did that player leave? It's going to be fascinating
13:34 So what i'm hearing from you if I had to distill it down is that maybe usd?
13:38 Institutionally is not quite at the tip of the spear in terms of like they've got a big amount of cash to throw around
13:46 But you're not necessarily worried that they're going to be picked dry every year by vultures coming in
13:52 um and
13:54 and just arbitrarily oh that's got a guy that's got a guy because
13:57 Like you said it's just a swirling nether of we don't know who's going to land where right out the gate. So
14:02 um, yeah, absolutely
14:04 I'm curious because I think you nailed it on the head when you said different schools have been hitting it at different strides and different
14:10 speeds
14:11 and
14:12 The what exists now might not even be the what is legal or how it's formatted in two years
14:17 so
14:18 i'm really curious because I
14:21 I as much as I it helps my employment to have gonzaga steamrolling
14:25 Everybody every single game it also to me is better for the wcc to have you know
14:30 the the rising tide lifts all boats type of vibes of
14:33 I would much rather have
14:36 usd
14:37 St. Mary's pepper knot all be tough games
14:39 All the 10 point games because that only serves to help gonzaga's resume
14:44 As they go throughout the rest of the year
14:47 So yeah, i'm with you that it'll be actually fun content
14:50 Once the offseason hits offseason is not here though
14:53 dan and i'm sure that people at this point have hit us to double speed on the talking to get to the
14:58 the postseason talking
15:00 Double by means there is too many permutations for me to just say hey, so tell me about the first matchup, but
15:06 Maybe in the broader sense
15:09 What are you watching for in the next week of the wcc tournament?
15:13 What do gonzaga fan what games do gonzaga fans need to pay attention to what scenarios do they need to be ready for?
15:18 I will remind everybody that you and cole forsman are going to continue to do your amazing work
15:23 Look, nothing can stop dan. He was in the middle of the blair witch project for the last podcast
15:29 He was running around in a poorly lit forest bringing you gonzaga news. Nobody cares the way that this man cares about this program
15:36 So dan you're gonna do that podcast with cole when we actually have a matchup
15:40 But until then give us the cliff notes on what people need to pay attention to in the wcc tournament
15:44 Well, I mean san francisco obviously a disappointing week for them
15:49 They they lost to gonzaga that's chase center and then they lost to santa clara, but they still took third
15:54 in league, um, so they
15:56 Look as if as long as I believe they play portland or should play portland
16:02 Uh san francisco should get the matchup with gonzaga if all things kind of play out as chalk
16:08 Um in the semi-finals that being said if things play out as chalk
16:12 It should be santa clara matching up with saint mary's in the other semi-final
16:16 but I I think the the big things to to quickly look at is
16:19 you know
16:22 Can pacific they went over in the uh regular season in the wcc over 16
16:29 Um, can they find a way to maybe play with?
16:33 uh, you know a little bit of
16:36 Excitement
16:38 A little bit of uh, we got nothing to lose and can they maybe throw a wrench in in somebody's plans and come up with?
16:46 An upset I believe it's pepperdine that they will play in the first round. So, um, you know that will be interesting to watch
16:52 I know it's not going to move the needle necessarily in regards to to gonzaga and what happens there, but
16:58 Excuse me
17:00 If we're just looking at you know storylines for the conference tournament
17:03 I think that's something to look at I think the other thing would be you know, san diego ended up getting fifth in league, right?
17:11 Can they maybe come up with a a surprise win or even two?
17:17 In the conference tournament, uh, you know lmu didn't play up to the level that they were hoping to portland
17:23 Didn't play up to the level that they were hoping to um, you know, can those teams maybe make a surprise run?
17:28 uh, I
17:30 I don't think that that's going to be the case. I mean the way I see it playing out is I do see
17:33 It's going to be saint mary's versus santa clara. I see it gonzaga versus usf
17:38 I think saint mary's is going to win. I think gonzaga is going to win and I think we're going to have a heck of a
17:43 Game, uh in the title game, which we can preview next week, but that's kind of the way I see it playing out
17:49 I mean those of those four have clearly been the best teams in league throughout the season
17:54 You've had a couple surprise moments from from other teams namely usd
17:59 But I don't think any any team has you know enough juice to really make a run that surprises a lot of people
18:05 but
18:07 At the same time it is march and once teams start playing with reckless abandon and they have nothing left to lose
18:13 You wind up with jim valvano running on the court
18:16 confused as hell as how to ruckers just won a major national championship game, so
18:21 Next eight or seven days for gonzaga from the time of us recording this there is no basketball to play
18:28 for them
18:29 some sports
18:31 You get that that voodoo of like a bye week is awful. You need the kids to stay in their rhythm and routine
18:37 Is that applying basketball what's going on this next week for for gonzaga?
18:41 Obviously, they're going to have to travel to vegas at some point for the tournament. So
18:45 You know, it's not like they're just sitting around not doing anything
18:49 But i'm curious your thoughts of does the double by ad detract or really just not it just doesn't translate to basketball
18:56 Well, here's the thing is is the wcc has always had this kind of structure
19:00 um
19:01 Where they've had a gap between the end of the regular season and the conference tournament and then they've had another long
19:07 Longer than most leagues gap between the conference tournament title game
19:10 And selection sunday in the tournament beginning. So gonzaga
19:13 They've understood and they've gone through this process so many times. They they know how
19:17 Uh to kind of stagger their work to get themselves ready to go
19:22 At the conference tournament and then again in the ncaa tournament, but you know that being said
19:26 you know
19:27 They just played the three most physical teams in league
19:30 Uh the last three games of the year santa clara at home and then on the road at san francisco and on that road
19:36 Uh at st. Mary's so I think you know guys are I would imagine. Um, you know are are
19:42 Looking forward to and the coaching staff will happily give them a day or two off
19:49 Um, because I think that that's that's warranted that's necessary
19:53 Um, you know guys will still get in the gym. They'll get their own shots up
19:56 On their own pace which all great players do they'll still get in the training room getting the treatment that they have
20:02 For any of the small bumps and bruises, which every player has at this time of year
20:06 They'll still get in a weight room and make sure their bodies are right. So
20:09 Um, you know, they've been in this position so many times they know how to handle it
20:14 And prepare themselves for who may their upcoming opponent. Maybe
20:20 So you answering this as a player you are not opposed right now to a couple days off this late in the season
20:26 Um dan dick out of the player is saying. Yeah, I need those couple of days mind body spirit soul
20:31 I'll be right for the tournament because
20:33 Uh, we got a little bit of rest as opposed to just saying we would like to play that first round and that second round
20:38 And that third round
20:39 Yep, 100 perfect. I love that. Um
20:42 What else I feel like at this point?
20:45 I don't really want to log the tournament hypotheticals to death and we've given out our awards
20:50 Is there anything else to put a bow?
20:52 On the end of the regular season transition into the tournament for you or can we say adios to all the gonzaga fans?
20:57 No, I mean, I think at the end of the day, you know
21:01 The
21:04 expectations of this program are so high and
21:06 You know the fact that they didn't win a league title after again
21:11 remember st. Mary's was the favorite coming in to win the league title because they had all the
21:16 Returning starters from a season ago gonzaga lost as much as they did, you know
21:20 um, so this was a unique year a different year with
21:24 outsiders perceptions of what a successful season was and then what you know
21:31 A few early season results and then a few early in conference season results
21:39 Kind of changed the dynamics of what some people thought of this basketball team
21:44 Where at the end of the day the only thing that truly really matters is the improvement of players and the team throughout the course of season
21:51 So they're ready to go to march
21:54 at their peak and
21:55 Having the chance to make another deep run and if that's what you care about with gonzaga basketball is making march opportunities
22:02 happen then you've got to be thrilled with where you're at if
22:06 If you let a few bumps in the road kind of get you down
22:09 Um in and you didn't believe in the team kind of through some of those middle stretches of the season
22:14 um, it'll be curious to see how you you know, you look at this last stretch going into uh,
22:20 March because I think this team has answered every question that was posed about them
22:25 Maybe not necessarily to them but about them
22:28 They've answered every question, uh with flying colors and they're they've improved rapidly throughout the the conference
22:34 You know season the last seven weeks or so
22:36 Um, and they're playing some darn good basketball right now. It's really going to be fascinating to watch
22:40 This wcc tournament see where they're seated and then see if they can make another sweet 16 or deeper run
22:48 For you guys that want to follow along with all of that the fan nation zag social accounts and website is going to have unrivaled
22:54 unparalleled gonzaga coverage throughout the wcc and
22:57 Ncaa tournament like I said dan will be there with cole for individual pregame previews
23:02 But dan is also like literally always in the studio
23:04 I think he just lives there now whether that's to get away from his kids or just because he likes the studio
23:09 I don't know. He won't tell me that answer. But
23:11 Dan, what else do you got coming out of the studio who is joining you guys this week?
23:14 Well adam morrison and I will be recording in about 20 minutes or so this monday morning. It'll release later this week
23:23 Uh, david stockton will be joining us this morning
23:27 So that'll be a good one to check out brian michaelson assistant coach was just in studio earlier this morning
23:32 Recording a few things in regards to this past week at usf and st
23:37 Mary's and talking about the conference tournament as well. So lots of good stuff. We'll be releasing later this week
23:43 So i'm saying this guy is always working and gonzaga nation is always working to bring you guys the best possible coverage
23:48 So make sure you check out everything follow the socials follow dan dan dick out 21 and until next time
23:53 Say go zags and see you guys soon
23:55 Good stuff.
23:56 All right.
23:57 We'll talk soon.