STATE YOUR CASE: Who is the No. 1 team in college basketball?
GONZAGA BULLDOGS
by CURTIS LUNDSTROM
sports editor
Call me a homer, but I’m picking John Stockton’s alma mater: Gonzaga.
For starters, the 21-2 Bulldogs have more wins this season than anyone else and are tied for fewest losses.
Those two losses are by a combined 10 points to then-No. 13 Illinois – two long months ago – and then-No. 13 Butler three weeks ago.
Unlucky 13 indeed, but no one is playing as solid as Gonzaga right now.
It took a 35-point performance from Brandon Paul and a bad shooting night from Gonazaga for the Fighting Illini to top the Bulldogs and a miracle buzzer-beater for Butler in the battle of the Bulldogs.
They’ve rolled through West Coast Conference play, winning games by an average of 16 points per game – including a 20-point shellacking over that hated school down south, BYU.
Gonzaga is 2nd in the country in field goal percentage and 10th in points per game. But more importantly, the Bulldogs can play defense too, holding opponents to 61 points per game while averaging eight steals per game.
Yeah, Indiana would be favored in a head-to-head matchup, but I’ve got two words for ya: Under(rated) ‘Dogs.
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @curtislundstrom
INDIANA HOOSIERS
by MARK HOPKINS
sports senior writer
One of the things I hate most is when teams are overrated based solely on past history. See: Los Angeles Lakers, Notre Dame football.
So when I say the Indiana Hoosiers are currently the No. 1 team in America, it’s because they legitimately are. They pass every test I’ve been able to conceive.
Stats test? Even Curtis can’t deny me here. At 83.8 points per game, the Hoosiers are second in the nation while shooting .501 from the floor and ranking 15th nationally in rebounds.
Big men test? Cody Zeller, a seven-foot behemoth with Tai Wesley post moves was the preseason National Player of the Year and has backed it up on the court.
Little men test? Try Victor Oladipo, whose Michael Jordan style dunks are only compliments to his nationally-recognized defense. Besides, who didn’t love his cocky windmill at the buzzer over rival Michigan?
Eye test? No, not those classy red pinstripe pants, ladies. Watch this team play and you’ll be wondering from which angle they’ll attack you next. I almost slobbered watching them take down then No. 1 Michigan.
Mark test? This is the most important. Even as a Jayhawk fan, I still can’t deny the Hoosiers, only seven points from an undefeated season, from being number one. Now that you can’t either, let Curtis know.
– m.hop@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter:@legendarymhops