Could you see Gonzaga becoming a Duke like program?

[HoptownCat93]

I think with a title, Gonzaga could be the Duke of this era like Duke was in the 80's when they were getting started. Granted, Duke had some AMAZING teams in the 90's when they started those back to back runs to the title. I think a title would give them a bump in credability and increase their recruiting level.

I think if they win, they'll get the media love and everyone will begin to hate them on a yearly basis. Like Duke, they have a similar system and it seems like they have players that just slip into the same roles every year. I could see people viewing them as the westcoast USA version of the Dukies with a title. Guys like Sabonis, Olynyk, Morrison, and Karnowski just fit that "Gonzaga guy" mold of players.

Yes there are differences with talent level and conference, but I could seem them being something like it in the modern era.

 

[Bluegrass79]

Mark Few is the next duke coach after Coach K. Bank on it if he wins the title over UNC this year. I think he would be a good replacement. He is the safest bet for Duke.
His run with Gonzaga is almost over imo for real.

Honestly if Few wins it this year I think he is also on the Kentucky job shortlist after Cal.
Duke or KY will be his job in the future.

 

[mj2k10]

No. Location works against them, and, while I'm sure Gonzaga is a fine school, it doesn't have a nationally elite academic reputation to exploit the way that Duke does.

 

[marshalfan]

They will have to move to a tougher conference to be a legit contender every year.

 

[ThroughBlue]

How many regular season Gonzaga games have any of you ever seen?

 

[CELTICAT]

The ACC was an established league once K took over Duke, and Duke had program success prior to K.

So not really apples to apples. Closest comparison would be what if Cal had stayed at UMass or Memphis. Sorry conference plus no one will play you out of conference means you're gonna win 30 games a year even when you're nothing more than a round of 32 or sweet 16 quality club.

 

[HoptownCat93]

And I think the weak schedule could lead to them being hated more and getting high seeds every year...add a title to that and the love fest will be on every season.

And I will say, in 2015 they had a great team that lost to a top notch Duke team in the elite 8, so they've had some decent teams and I think are a title away from being considered a power.

 

[Nuke99m]

Don't know if they flop or trip enough to ever be like Duke

 

[Brando Mac]

I could see them becoming a darling and they already benefited from some questionable officiating earlier in the tournament, but it's hard to ever envision them getting the Duke or UNC treatment.

 

[brian5562]

I think they are more comparable to the next Villanova. A final four contender every 3 to 4 years. Solid teams year in and year out.

 

[YourPublicEnemy]

Isn't it odd that Dan Monson was the one who put Gonzaga on the map and Mark Few was just an assistant? Monson made the mistake of jumping to a big school the first chance he got (Minnesota) and failed and ended up at Long Beach State where he has only went to the NCAA Tourney one time.

Who beats that's why Few never left Gonzaga? He saw what happened to Monson.

 

[CATSrock]

Few is a west coast guy and benefits from little competition and a weak conference. He's 54 yrs old so not sure if Dukies would go for a guy that's 55+ or not. Seems like a good guy though so I would hate Duke less...

 

[UKGrad93]

I don't see them ever reaching Dukes level of success.

First, they are in a weak conference. The ACC (even though they left the tournament early) has a lot of good teams. Duke has the 2 games every year with UNC that get pumped up, Gonzaga will never have that.

Next, Coach K has coached the Olympic team for several years, giving him a more national appeal. Mark Few is nationally known, but mostly known for being the little guy.

Third is location. Zags being out west means their games are on after a lot of the country has gone to bed.

I will be surprised if Mark Few ever leaves that program. He just doesn't seem like a spotlight kinda guy.

 

[brian5562]

Few is not the next Duke coach. Chris Collins is.

 

[Bobcat94]

Yeah I agree with the conference keeping him from being more than he is currently. He can coach though and I would like to see what he could do with the right recruiting base.

 

[Calsthebomb]

I think with a title, Gonzaga could be the Duke of this era like Duke was in the 80's when they were getting started. Granted, Duke had some AMAZING teams in the 90's when they started those back to back runs to the title. I think a title would give them a bump in credability and increase their recruiting level.

I think if they win, they'll get the media love and everyone will begin to hate them on a yearly basis. Like Duke, they have a similar system and it seems like they have players that just slip into the same roles every year. I could see people viewing them as the westcoast USA version of the Dukies with a title. Guys like Sabonis, Olynyk, Morrison, and Karnowski just fit that "Gonzaga guy" mold of players.

Yes there are differences with talent level and conference, but I could seem them being something like it in the modern era.

They have one final four in their history. I don't think so.

 

[Brando Mac]

No. Location works against them, and, while I'm sure Gonzaga is a fine school, it doesn't have a nationally elite academic reputation to exploit the way that Duke does.

The most famous Duke alum over the past year have been the Nazi guy that got punched and Kyrie "Flat Earth" Irving. I think it's time for their "elite" academic reputation to face some serious scrutiny.

 

[d2atTech]

Mark Few is the next duke coach after Coach K. Bank on it if he wins the title over UNC this year. I think he would be a good replacement. He is the safest bet for Duke.
His run with Gonzaga is almost over imo for real.

Honestly if Few wins it this year I think he is also on the Kentucky job shortlist after Cal.
Duke or KY will be his job in the future.

he looks too much like kevin bacon, bad choice for us

 

[Deli owl]

Did they move east? Then no.

 

[cats#1again]

I think with a title, Gonzaga could be the Duke of this era like Duke was in the 80's when they were getting started. Granted, Duke had some AMAZING teams in the 90's when they started those back to back runs to the title. I think a title would give them a bump in credability and increase their recruiting level.

I think if they win, they'll get the media love and everyone will begin to hate them on a yearly basis. Like Duke, they have a similar system and it seems like they have players that just slip into the same roles every year. I could see people viewing them as the westcoast USA version of the Dukies with a title. Guys like Sabonis, Olynyk, Morrison, and Karnowski just fit that "Gonzaga guy" mold of players.

Yes there are differences with talent level and conference, but I could seem them being something like it in the modern era.

I'm not sure his recruiting can get any better than it is now. He currently has 2 McDonald's all americans on his team

 

[KYExtemper]

Honestly if Few wins it this year I think he is also on the Kentucky job shortlist after Cal.
Duke or KY will be his job in the future.

Wasn't Few on the shortlist after we ditched Tubby? I remember it being reported that he ruled out coming here but that may have just been random speculation and obviously, who wasn't taking their name out of consideration when we whiffed on Donovan?

 

[ubtrapper]

They will have to move to a tougher conference to be a legit contender every year.

My thoughts exactly. They will never become another Duke. The competition will prevent that

 

[502 Wildcat]

Few is not the next Duke coach. Chris Collins is.

This is probably correct. Zero chance they don't stay in the Kyzyzewski coaching-tree when the job opens up. Collins or Wojo will get the gig, in my opinion. Outside chance that Mike Brey may get a look as well.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Location works against them QUOTE]


Not necessarily. There is a much lower density of major program universities in that area per capita, so they aren't fighting as fiercely to draw in recruits from the region that east coast teams do.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

No, not gonna happen and certainly not at UK. Few likes the life he has and he is unprepared for recruiting at the level of Duke and UK.

 

[UKUGA]

About 10 years ago, I had similar thoughts.

My assertion was that ESPN helped make Duke by promoting a team with a non-geographic name, making it somewhat easier to gain a large following for a school, due to this neutrality.

The benefit using Duke, of course, was that they were an east coast school, playing in a top conference, and had strong rivalries that the network(s) could tap into.

Gonzaga has the neutral name. And it's kind of a cool one, at that.
Because they play in a weak conference, it is in some ways up to the networks (ESPN) to help them get marquee games out of conference to help build the brand.

But outside of those OOC games, there is very little interest in Gonzaga's conference play.

So, it's not easy to make them another Duke, as part of what makes them Duke is the interest (love/hate) in the program, which is easier to build due to the already built in rivalries.

 

[Smashcat]

I think with a title, Gonzaga could be the Duke of this era like Duke was in the 80's when they were getting started. Granted, Duke had some AMAZING teams in the 90's when they started those back to back runs to the title. I think a title would give them a bump in credability and increase their recruiting level.

I think if they win, they'll get the media love and everyone will begin to hate them on a yearly basis. Like Duke, they have a similar system and it seems like they have players that just slip into the same roles every year. I could see people viewing them as the westcoast USA version of the Dukies with a title. Guys like Sabonis, Olynyk, Morrison, and Karnowski just fit that "Gonzaga guy" mold of players.

Yes there are differences with talent level and conference, but I could seem them being something like it in the modern era.

Nope. Gonzaga plays in a mid-major league with some high-school size gyms. Gonzaga relies on international players and transfers. Not even in the same galaxy as Duke.

 

[UKCatWoman]

Have any of you ever been to Spokane??? Seriously? I lived there and near there for two years... It is literally in the middle of nowhere!!! Few is a Big Fish in a Little Pond out there. Gonzaga only attracts a certain type of player. Even though it seems they have all the pieces this year (we'll see?) I don't see Gonzaga attracting many 5 stars ever! As previously mentioned on this thread - Gonzaga plays in a mid-major league; they would have to get themselves into the Pac-12 Conference (and win, mind you) to gain ANY credibility.

 

[UKCatWoman]

I could see them becoming a darling and they already benefited from some questionable officiating earlier in the tournament, but it's hard to ever envision them getting the Duke or UNC treatment.

You are right - get the Duke or UNC Treatment - Not gonna happen!!!

 

[westcoast_sooner]

I like the Zags and coach Few a lot. They are my second favorite team, after UK, of course. I've watched them for several years and see them already as a good program. They regularly dominate the regular season in the WCC, and their closest competitor is St. Mary's, most seasons. Everyone else is pretty meh, or even just plain awful. Coach Few good coach and gets some good talent in there. I do think he does more with less, but the level of the competition isn't as good.

But, the WCC is not the ACC. If most of the WCC teams go against top tiered teams like Kentucky, Duke or NC, they'd get killed. I think the Zags compare favorably, and since they can go deep from their bench, they could prove themselves this year to be the real contender those of us that follow them hope they are.

If the Cats can't win it, then Go Zags!! Why not?

 

[Bluegrass79]

Think if he wins the title this year his recruiting will increase to a level to where he could be considered for the Kentucky or Duke job? Im convinced he will

 

[NewHock15]

Duke was a good program before K arrived which is in contrast from Gonzaga under Few.

 

[Johnfarrel]

Beating Carolina in the Championship game this year would be a good start. Duke beat them twice this year.

 

[UKcatXXXL]

the title game better not have UNC in it..................

Go DUCKS