THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Those Zags collapses late in games? It's more than 'tharn'

Yes, I’ve heard all the questions. 

Zags fans have never been shy. 

Everyone wants to know the same thing: Why has Gonzaga collapsed late in games? 

Poor second-half lack shooting coupled with disjointed offense — and even what looked like a hint of panic — has cost Mark Few’s team in losses to West Virginia and Kentucky. 

The Zags led WVU 39-31 at halftime, and astonishingly, were still up by five with 18 seconds remaining. 

They couldn’t close the deal though. 

In terms of numbers, falling into the abyss against Kentucky was even more eye-watering. 

Gonzaga was up 50-34 at halftime while playing like a team auditioning for the NBA. 

But the talented Wildcats kept coming, even without injured point guard Lamont Butler and backup Kerr Kriisa, who got hurt midway through the second half. 

Have you ever read the novel “Watership Down”? 

It’s the fascinating tale of a group of rabbits, and I recommend it. 

The point here, though, is that author Richard Adams introduces readers to “lapine,” which is the rabbits’ amazing and colorful language. 

My favorite (and very useful) word to come from lapine is “tharn” — the description of a rabbit becoming frightened, thus going paralyzed and staring straight ahead. 

Without seeing anything. 

YOU NOW should think of “tharn” whenever you see that sort of reaction — or lack of one — in the world of sports. 

For instance, when the Zags needed only to get the ball across half-court with a two-point lead against West Virginia. 

Around nine seconds later, the ball would up with Nolan Hickman, who somehow was straddling the line. 

WVU’s Tucker DeVries hounded Hickman, who briefly seemed to be staring into space. 

He’d gone “tharn.” 

DeVries eventually stole the ball, was fouled on the ensuing layup, and his free throws sent the game into overtime.  

Becoming momentarily hypnotized, however, hasn’t really been either of the Zags’ two main failures down the stretch in games. 

They’ve merely been a quick couple of seconds, like that shocking moment (“Oh, nooo!”) you see in a horror film. 

So, how have the Zags gotten themselves into these second-half woes, such that they can no longer shoot (zero-for-13 from 3-point range against West Virgina and Kentucky combined)? 

This team should be 9-0 instead of 7-2, and ranked near the very top of every poll instead of No. 8 in the AP rankings. 

Does Few have an answer? 

That will become important when we get to the NCAA tournament and, in fact, I’m wondering if things have been fixed (at least in part) before Saturday’s night bout against back-to-back national champion UConn at Madison Square Garden. 

So. 

What’s going on? 

Why do the Zags become the gang that couldn’t shoot straight, or defend properly, or manage to keep up their rhythm when opponents punch them in the nose. 

With Kentucky, it was a zone defense that slowed Gonzaga to a walk. 

West Virginia changed the game by draining a bundle of 3-point shots, seemingly yanking the Zags out of any natural flow. 

IT WAS stunning in both cases. 

The Zags became a different team. 

Kentucky’s zone forced the Zags into playing as though they were strolling through an over-70 league. 

Their energy seemed to drain away, and when they did take a 3-point shot, it came with no conviction. 

It’s clear that the Zags must continue to attack at breakneck pace. 

They do everything better when they’re going up-tempo, including on the defensive end. 

On the boards. 

My question is simple: Are they losing energy and rhythm because they’re tired? 

I’m almost certain that’s part of the problem. 

They almost seem satisfied to have point guard Ryan Nembhard endlessly bouncing the ball 25-30 feet from the basket, with the possession eventually ending with a hurried shot. 

Bottom line: Few has to use the depth, here in one of the rare seasons that he can get serious help from way down on the bench. 

Dusty Stromer is a savvy, court-wise sophomore who should probably be getting more minutes (particularly as he’s shooting 52 percent from deep, on a team that’s whiffed a zillion of them when it mattered). 

Few likewise doesn’t seem to trust fellow sophomore Braden Huff, who is terrific natural shooter and plays taller than 6-10. 

A couple of missed shots and he’s out, which means Graham Ike — who gets visibly gassed at the finish — has to play too many minutes. 

This team needs to use all its weapons, and deploy them at wicked pace. 

Khalif Battle and Michael Ajayi are far better in the open court, and slow games seem to expose trouble with assignments on defense for everybody. 

That’s how Saint Mary’s troubles the Zags every year. 

Play more guys. 

Speed them up. 

It’s the Zag formula, this year and others. 

They need to find it again. 

Email: [email protected] 

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens. 

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”