I Wish I Knew How To Quit You, Adam Morrison

Last night, Wooden Award candidate Adam Morrison dropped 34 points on a stingy Stanford squad to carry the Zags to their 36^th straight victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center (known also as The Kennel). Morrison torched Stanford in the final three minutes, scoring 12 of his 34 and hitting a key three pointer to put the Zags in the drivers’ seat to finish the game.

Readers of the Parkdale blog know of how keen I am on Adam Morrison. With his flowing locks, striped socks, and killer J, Adam Morrison is my pick for college hoops player of the year. I know there is much basketball yet to be played, but it seems like most analysts have whittled down the field to Morrison and J.J. Redick, and I’m on the Morrison train all the way. (Not to mention he does it all while coping with diabetes, often checking his blood sugar on the bench). Though I respect Redick’s on court talents, he writes horrible poetry, and that is enough of a reason for me to despise him. Oh yeah, he play for Duke and Duke hoops = Satan's minions.

With Morrison leading the Zags (along with a nice game from J.P. Batsista), the 36th win at the Kennel puts his team more than 15 games ahead of the next closest home winning streak. While statistically impressive, AND while I love Gonzaga, I'm not especially impressed with the streak. I mean, who do they really ever play up there in Spokane? With such woeful inter-conference foes as Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount, this win over Stanford (an odd non-conference game in the middle of the conference season) was especially huge because it was over a real team and a real program with some semblance of a tradition. Morrison came up big on 10 for 18 shooting, and he seems to be readying his team for a Final Four run. And with chants like "Brooookeback Mountian" directed at opposing players, the Kennel Club seem to be developing a swagger that matches the confidence of the players on the court. I'm excited to watch the Zags' NCAA Tournament develop and to see them play some stiff competition after a regular season of cream puff pushovers.

So here's to you, once again Adam Morrison and Gonzaga. May you met the Fighting Illini in the championship game this year...