March 17, 2011

The turnaround can perhaps be partially cited to a rotation change. Canadian national team big man Kelly Olynyk - a good rebounder, hustler, extra passer and little things player - began to see less minutes in the front court. In his place came freshman Sam Dower, a monster of a man, with all of two moves to his credit - the trailer three (which he wildly underutilises) and the one drive to the middle lefty hook over the right shoulder (which he used on basically every possession, and which no one can stop, because he's just too big.) When combined with the offensive skill of finesse centre Robert Sacre - whose footwork is good, whose height is better, and whose turnaround jumpshot is similarly unblockable - Gonzaga could throw a scoring big man option on the floor at all times, which most of the West Coast Conference couldn't complete. Add Harris to that mix, and mismatches were opening up all over the show.

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