Well Seasoned...

Now that football season is officially over, it is time for us to get excited about the next sport. Are you an NBA fan whose sport is starting to show signs of life after the lockout was settled in early December? Is NCAA basketball what you favor most? Is it Gonzaga or WSU that demands your attention? Another thing that may draw your attention is Seattle Mariners baseball that is getting an early start.

Whatever your fancy, it is always fun when tournaments get close and spring training means everyone gets a fresh start. The Mariners are young and may be a couple of years away from battling the upper echelon teams. But there is good news as Manager Eric Wedge seems to have gotten the young position players to buy in to a good work ethic by showing up with the pitchers and catchers a week earlier than normal.

Will this translate into more wins? A lot of that depends on how well the bats produce this year and of course if the team can stay healthy. One other thing, Chone Figgins has to at least earn a higher percentage of the big contract he signed a couple of years ago. No matter what, I will still tough it out and root for the M’s no matter what. I’m stubborn that way, I guess.

WSU basketball has probably done a better job this year, after losing Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto, than most would have believed. If they could only improve their play on the road it would help their tournament seeding. Brock Motum has had a great season which Cougar fans should appreciate. I’m not sure most of the WSU faithful saw that coming, but they should all be happy about it.

Gonzaga basketball has been rolling along with a few bumps in the road. That can happen when new young faces become starters. When the Zags lost to St. Mary’s and BYU by double digits, it was unsettling for many because it is so difficult to imagine Gonzaga not running over the competition. But the other teams in the league are getting better and that helps the Zags in the long run.

The league added a quality BYU team which really strengthens the league and makes it more attractive for young recruits.

Speaking of young recruits, have you been watching Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell, Jr.? These two kids are great recruits and fit in so well in the tight-knit Gonzaga team and community. Coach Mark Few has gotten some tough kids in the last few years and watching the new kids play is exciting. It seems like the quality of athlete only gets better and that is fun.

When Demetri Goodson left the Gonzaga campus prior to his senior year to play football in Texas, I’m sure many thought it was going to be tough to replace that speed and experience. As I see it, Meech would have had trouble finding minutes with this lineup.

I like Kevin Pangos but I really like Gary Bell, Jr. He makes a big impression on the defensive side of the court. He is very athletic and when the Zags need a score, Bell doesn’t hesitate and has hit some big shots. The thing that impresses me as much as anything is his ability to knock down free throws at any point in the game. These kids are definitely well-seasoned for freshmen.

When the Zags lost those games to St. Mary’s and BYU it seemed like a lot of wind had been taken out of the Bulldog sails. But they came back strong last weekend and picked up two huge victories. The wins left the Zags with a 20-4 record after the weekend was over which is nothing to sneeze at.

Gonzaga is fairly young this year and has a lot to feel good about. There are four games left in the season and then the WCC tournament begins in Las Vegas. This team can keep improving but the older guys are going to have to step up in these games. That would make this team very tough to beat.