BULLDOGS

I'm just throwing this out for discussion.

Right now, if you stop Sean Mallon, you stop the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

If you spit out your coffee, I'm sorry. But I've got the numbers to back it up.

Let's look at the 6-foot-9 senior's West Coast Conference stats by game:
Loyola-Marymount (97-62 GU win)
Points: 23 Rebounds: 9 FGA: 10 FG: 9 Minutes: 21
Pepperdine (69-52 GU)
Points: 17 Rebounds: 10 FGA: 15 FG: 5 Minutes: 29
Santa Clara (77-69 GU)
Points: 10 Rebounds: 5 FGA: 4 FG: 3 Minutes: 25
Portland (80-68 GU)
Points: 17 Rebounds: 6 FGA: 10 FG: 7 Minutes: 30

Mallon's averages in wins …
Points: 16.8 Rebounds: 7.5 FG percentage: 61.5 Minutes: 25.1

Contrast that with Mallon's line in the Zags' lone WCC loss:
Saint Mary's (75-80 GU loss)
Points: 1 Rebounds: 1 FGA: 2 FG: 0 Minutes: 15

Stop Sean Mallon, stop the Zags.

OK, OK, I know I'm being a little flippant here. I'm sure Mallon could have a Saint Mary's type game and GU could still win. Though it wouldn't be easy.

And, when the senior plays well on the offensive end, it gives the Zags that other weapon, that third option to go with Derek Raivio's outside shooting and Josh Heytvelt's post threat. It doesn't have to be Mallon that supplies it, and sometimes even if he does he becomes the second option, because Heytvelt is in foul trouble or disappeared for some other reason (Raivio has been pretty consistent in the five WCC games, though he was off-target at Saint Mary's).

And with three options, GU is that much tougher to defend in the half court. With the main goal of most WCC teams to stymie the Zags' fast break, another threat in their half-court is almost essential.

What do you think? Is Mallon a key for the Bulldogs or just another cog? Let me know.

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