At the very top, let’s turn the conference over to Geno Crandall, whose vision and perspective may be the only things that the Gonzaga Bulldogs haven’t replaced in their lineup since they left in 2019.
But, hey, he can still weigh in on social media.
Crandall plays in England today, but he’s a happy spectator wherever a Zags game can be broadcast – and Zags viewers couldn’t have been happier with the 98-75 licking that their guys put in Virginia the afternoon of Saturday.
That was basically Corey Kispert Extravaganza, except for those moments that became Drew Timme Spectacular.
But it was Kispert who paved the way for the record book Gonzaga, where publishers may want to include this footnote.
“Watching Corey Kispert throw a basketball is like watching Denzel Washington perform,” Crandall offered on Twitter from his position across the lake. “It always looks the same. You know there is a big chance that it is good, and an occasional failure is excused because it is Denzel Washington. “
So, what shift of star Denzel were we watching on Saturday?
“Man on fire?” “Unstoppable?”
Two thumbs up, regardless.
Now Gonzaga’s senior sniper with 32 points is not out of this world, whether it is the highlight of his career or not. Kispert averaged 20.8 in the first six games of the Zags, and his 3-point shot was so accurate (45.9%) that an especially hot exit was easily imagined.
In addition, his teammates do not play in the goalkeeper. This is important.
But the opponent was Virginia, the biggest stingies in college basketball.
They are not the Cavs national championship of two years ago, but it is certain that their coach, Tony Bennett, will not grant a single ball possession at the defensive end, even if he is forced into a lineup of five folding chairs.
That was how it appeared on several occasions.
“We had no vacancy in that game today,” said Bennett, who once won 47 points for a Gonzaga team while training in Washington State – and never has a team from Virginia allowed an opponent to throw 60%.
Calamity for the Cavs was suggested early on, when they turned the ball three times in a row to open the game. In the middle of this, Kispert spun open high above the key, received a pass from freshman Jalen Suggs and hit the net for the first of his nine 3-point points.
Nine.
His first four – all aided by Suggs – basically had the Cavs destroy their defense plan. After seven consecutive points in Virginia reduced the deficit to 44-31 in the interval, Kispert blew any notion of return with three more in the first 3:37 of the second half.
“There is an old saying that you are never more open than when you first hit the ball,” said Kispert. “They’ll close in on you the longer you hold on, so many of my shots haven’t touched my hands in a long time.”
Bennett also did not maintain an approach. Sam Hauser, the Cavs’ 6-foot-8 protractor, tried to check on Kispert initially, and Bennett later got smaller with Casey Morsell and even smaller with 5-9 Kihei Clark. The only thing that worked was Kispert getting a third foul and staying on the bench for a long time.
“They have a difficult action,” explained Bennett. “They roll Timme to the edge and there’s a lot of pressure on that. You have Suggs coming out of the ball screen, so you have to stop the ball. You have to help in the process. And then Kispert – they call him a shaker – he’s recovering. You have to stop quickly and recover. If you are too close to Kispert, they will throw you in the air. If you don’t stop the ball, they will turn the corner. If you stay too long, they will play for Kispert. “
And sometimes the Zags improvise.
“He has some very selfless teammates,” noted Gonzaga coach Mark Few. “They literally know where he is on the ground at all times. These guards are looking for him – and are doing things outside of our set to free him. “
And Kispert is wanting to deliver.
“He is hunting his shots and firing some well-kept shots,” said Few. “He’s big, athletic and has a big pocket (kick), so he doesn’t have to change his kick. It’s fun to see him show everyone what he’s capable of. “
How to set records – or tie them up anyway.
Dan Dickau hit nine 3s twice – the first time, 20 years ago, against Santa Clara, and a year later against Loyola Marymount. Kevin Pangos drew against WSU in 2011. Zag legends, both.
“They are,” few agreed. “But Corey is a legendary Gonzaga player. Not only did he do it on the ground, but you literally couldn’t have a better leader or representative on your show than Corey Kispert. He’s a walking poster boy, not just for Gonzaga basketball, but for the reason we have college sports. “
And he also has something in common with Denzel Washington.
He has the game.