Print and Go Back ESPN.com: College Basketball Rumors [Print without images]

Wednesday, February 27, 2013
 Why Kelly Olynyk is so tough to stop
By Joe Kaiser

 No player in the country has improved as much as Gonzaga's big man Kelly Olynyk this season, and that's a big reason why the Zags are on the verge of landing their first No. 1 ranking in school history.

Standing 7-feet, 238-pounds and possessing a polished offensive game, Olynyk is among the biggest matchup nightmares in the country. Here's our own Seth Greenberg with more on the skilled Canadian big man.

Seth Greenberg
Olynyk's the most complete center in the nation
"Coaches preparing for the Zags have no answers for Olynyk. At 7 feet, he is one of the most skilled post players in the game. His footwork is second to none; he can shoot it out to the 3-point line (39 percent) and from the foul line (80 percent) and can score it inside and outside (averages 17.7 points per game). That versatility and skill level make it close to impossible to guard Olynyk (good luck finding someone who can defend him in the post and chase him out to the 3-point line), but to me, what makes Olynyk a nightmare matchup is his maturity. Instead of getting discouraged while playing behind Robert Sacre, he embraced his redshirt season and used it to develop into the most complete center in college basketball. In a basketball culture in which players want instant gratification, Olynyk is an anomaly."