The BulleTin • Tuesday, March 30, 2021 A7
NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT | ELITE 8 PREVIEW
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I am a woman
in my late 30s. “Tim” and I
have been best friends for
more than 10 years. Over the
last few years, he has strug-
gled with depression and ad-
diction, and I have done my
best to help him.
A few weeks back, Tim
called me crying and said he
was planning to end his life.
It wasn’t the first time he has
spoken this way, but it was
the first time he described a
plan of action. Because I was
alarmed, I called the police
to do a welfare check. They
went to Tim’s home, which
is across the country from
mine, and took him to a psy-
chiatric facility for several
days. Now that he’s out, he’s
furious with me for notifying
the police and says I betrayed
him. He said he doesn’t know
if we can continue to be
friends.
I feel terrible, like I per-
haps made a mistake by call-
ing reinforcements, but I was
more worried about the con-
sequences of not calling. My
family is telling me I should
step away from the friendship
altogether, but I can’t imagine
doing that. Please help.
— Takes Friendship Seriously
Dear Takes: Your family’s
advice to step away seems
sensible. You did NOT make
a mistake by calling to see
that Tim got help after he
told you he had a plan in
place to take his own life. You
were trying to help him and
prevent a tragedy, and that’s a
good thing.
Tim is clearly very ill and,
unfortunately, there is lit-
tle you can do to fix what’s
wrong with him (which is
plenty). If you know his fam-
ily, inform them about what
has been going on. And be-
cause he doesn’t know if he
can continue being friends
with you, leave it up to him
to decide.
Dear Abby: My brother’s
wife is pregnant, and there
is talk about their moving
to the state where her fam-
ily lives. There are only three
people in my sister-in-law’s
family (one is elderly and two
others work full time) who
may provide her with sup-
port during her transition
into motherhood. On the
other hand, there are 10 of us
who could help them emo-
tionally and physically if they
stay here.
My sister-in-law plans on
being a stay-at-home mom,
which I wholeheartedly sup-
port. My brother would
move to the state where her
family resides only in order
to appease her. Our family is
closer than her family. I feel
we can provide them with
more love and support than
her family. What can I say or
do to show them that living
near our family is the best de-
cision?
— Near is Better
Dear Near: I’m sure you
mean well, but do not make
the mistake of trying to “sell”
your sister-in-law on staying.
It appears her mind is made
up. If she feels she would be
more comfortable with her
own family as she approaches
this milestone, not much you
can say will dissuade her. Of
course, nothing prevents you
from telling your brother
how you feel, if you haven’t
already.
You might also suggest
they consider renting for a
year rather than buying a
home right away, to see how
they like it. That way, once
the baby arrives and reality
hits, she may realize she won’t
have the support she may
need, and they may decide to
return.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC |
POSITIVE |
AVERAGE |
SO-SO |
DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021: Bold,
quick and physical, accept help from others and success will be yours. This
year, you sharpen your listening skills, making you a better friend, colleague
and family member. Clear up debt during the months ahead, and you’ll have
funds to spare in time for the holidays. If single, keep your eyes open for
people whose interests you share. If attached, mark off date nights on your
calendar. VIRGO grounds you.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Discuss long-term financial plans with a partner. Talk over all your
options. If you disagree and reach an impasse, come back to it another day.
A financial adviser or knowledgeable friend may provide answers. Tonight:
Step up your exercise routine.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Give someone you love the upper hand. Hold back on what you really
want to say. Avoid an argument, and your relationship will take a romantic
turn. Share a secret with someone you trust. Tonight: Tidy up and relax.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Work to the best of your ability. Meet deadlines, and you will never
go wrong. It never hurts to look at other opportunities for which you qualify.
Socialize after hours with co-workers or fellow volunteers. Tonight: Time for
a serious discussion.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Revive a creative project that stalled. Fresh ideas and inspired
conversations give it the green light. People are attracted to your spirited
personality. Do something out of character, which ensures you will have fun.
Tonight: Make music or listen to it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Continue to delve into your family tree. Online research is only part
of the effort. Connect with relatives who can fill in gaps and supply memora-
bilia. Trace people you never met but heard about. Searching occupies spare
time. Tonight: Date night.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Someone in your extended family could use your advice. You are
bursting with ideas that you want to express. Journaling will keep you busy.
If you want to share your thoughts, explore social media platforms. Tonight:
Maintain a positive outlook.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Expenses you did not count on emerge. Pass on items that make
you happy in the short term. Use your initiative to find additional income
streams. Business ideas that start small are the answer. Tonight: Night out
with close friends.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Your stress level is on overdrive. Stay silent rather than say something
you regret. Walk or run on a steeper path than usual. Work up a sweat, but
don’t push yourself beyond where your body wants to go. Tonight: Home
spa treatment.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Don’t let sad news ruin your day. Dwell on happy memories and future
successes. Make giving back a reality. Donate time or money to a group or or-
ganization whose ideals you share. Tonight: Come up with a workable plan B.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Speak up at a lecture, group or meeting you attend. People may be
surprised but will listen intently to what you have to say. Friends are powerful
influences. Ask for opinions, but think for yourself. Tonight: Relax in the tub.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You may be asked to take a leadership position or make a presentation.
These requests may be challenging, but you are capable of high marks.
People you love are always your greatest support system. Tonight: Keep the
remote to yourself.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
An enticing travel offer may arise unexpectedly. If it does not fit into
your schedule, say no and move on. There will be other opportunities. Men-
tor an eager student who will benefit from your knowledge. Tonight: Watch
a sporting event.
Not just offense: Gonzaga trusts
defense entering USC game
BY AARON BEARD
AP Basketball Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Gon-
zaga has spent its entire sea-
son pushing tempo, knocking
down shots and rolling to com-
fortable wins with one of the
best offenses college basketball
has seen in two decades.
The Zags’ push for perfec-
tion hasn’t ignored the other
end of the court, either.
The No. 1 overall seed in
the NCAA Tournament enters
Tuesday’s West Region final
against Southern California as
one of the national leaders in
defensive efficiency. And the
Zags are coming off a strong
performance against Creigh-
ton’s outside shooters.
Do they get enough credit
for their work on the defensive
end?
“I don’t think they do,” coach
Mark Few said of his players.
“I think we’ve had some excel-
lent, I mean, off-the-chart per-
formances and some terrific
halves.”
The Bulldogs (29-0) rank
seventh in KenPom’s adjusted
efficiency by allowing 88.6
points per 100 possessions.
They’ve held opponents be-
low their scoring average in 20
games, including the past six,
despite playing a fast tempo.
“We play a lot of really
high-possession games so our
totals or total points given up
is a lot higher than some of the
other elite defensive teams in
the country,” senior Associated
Press first-team all-Ameri-
can Corey Kispert said Mon-
day. “But we think we’re just
as good and can go toe-to-toe
with any defensive team out
there.”
Sunday’s 83-65 win against
Creighton — which shot 41%
and made 5 of 23 3-pointers —
marked the seventh time the
Zags held an opponent at least
10 points below their average.
“This is not a one-trick
pony,” Bluejays coach Greg
McDermott said. “These guys
can play on both ends of the
floor.”
Few credited his players’
attention to each scouting
report. He also pointed out
their perimeter size to go with
bigs Drew Timme and Anton
Mariners
Continued from A5
Utility player Dylan Moore
led the team in WAR last
year despite playing in just 38
games. Outfielder Mitch Hani-
ger is finally healthy three years
after his All-Star season, as
is catcher Tom Murphy, who
missed all of 2020. There are
also Gold Glovers in shortstop
J.P. Crawford and first baseman
Evan White, who are 26 and 24,
respectively.
It’s not as though there aren’t
prized minor-leaguers who will
likely find their way into the
majors this year, either. Twenty-
one-year-old outfielder Jarred
Kelenic, who found himself at
the center of the service-time
debate in February, is consid-
ered one of the top five pros-
pects in baseball. Pitcher Logan
Gilbert, 23, is among the top 40
prospects and could add depth
to the rotation. And though he
is hardly a prospect or young
(by baseball standards, at least)
former ace James Paxton re-
turns to the M’s rotation after
an injury-riddled 2020.
All of these facts are reasons
for optimism. Each of these
players has the ability to shine.
But the odds of them collec-
tively outpacing expectations
and ending the longest postsea-
son drought in major Ameri-
can professional sports? It still
seems slim.
The fact is, the M’s didn’t
land any major free agents this
offseason. Talented as some of
the youngsters may be, they
won’t be joined by a bevy of
proven vets with All-Star po-
tential. This isn’t necessarily
a shot at an ownership group
that may still be waiting for the
right time to empty its wallet.
It’s simply an acknowledgment
of the reality of the Mariners’
situation.
In December I asked Mar-
iners manager Scott Servais
AP photo/Michael Conroy
Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert (24) and Drew Timme (2) congratulate each other in the second half of a
Sweet 16 game against Creighton at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Sunday. Gonzaga won 83-65.
Watson being nimble enough
to allow effective defensive
switches.
The sixth-seeded Trojans
(25-7) will test that unit. USC
has shot 54.8% in NCAA Tour-
nament wins against Drake,
Kansas and Oregon to reach
its first Elite Eight in 20 years,
including making 21 of 35
3-pointers (60%) against the
Jayhawks and Ducks. The
matchup of USC’s Mobley
brothers against the Gonzaga
big men will be one to watch.
“All I know is they’re ranked
No. 1 in the nation, they’re un-
defeated,” USC coach Andy
Enfield said of Gonzaga’s de-
fense. “I don’t see how you’re
being overlooked. We just
know they’re an exceptional
team at both ends of the floor.”
NBA prospects
There’s NBA talent in this
one.
USC freshman big man
Evan Mobley (16.3 points, 8.8
rebounds) and Gonzaga fresh-
man guard Jalen Suggs (13.9
points) are potential top-3
picks if they decide to enter the
draft, while Kispert (19 points)
has developed into a potential
lottery prospect.
All three made the AP
all-America teams earlier this
month.
what his expectations for the
2021 season were. He said he
thought the team could be
competitive throughout the
year but admitted that “we still
have a long ways to go” and
added that “we need to be real-
istic around where we’re at.”
Three and a half months
later, that still seems like the
most accurate assessment. This
offseason was a whirlwind for
the Mariners, but not because
of endless transactions and the
beefing up of a roster.
Does the team have talent?
No doubt. But there’s little
proof they have enough.
Zoned up
USC has gotten big tourna-
ment results with its zone de-
fense.
Enfield said the team had
played man defense about 90%
of the season even after in-
stalling zone looks in presea-
son. But the Trojans have used
more zone here to keep size in
the lineup against teams that
spread the court, drive and
kick for 3s.
The Trojans have allowed
32% shooting in three NCAA
wins.
“You need a basketball IQ
and I think our players have
developed a comfort level of
switching defenses on the fly,”
Enfield said, adding: “I think
this group has really grown
into a cohesive defensive unit
where they can make the ad-
justments quickly.”
Hello again
Facing Gonzaga won’t be
new for USC graduate transfer
Tahj Eaddy.
The 6-2 guard previously
played at Santa Clara and
faced the Zags four times, av-
eraging 6.8 points in those
losses in 2019 and 2020. He’s
averaging 13.7 points for the
Trojans.
“Kind of in a position where
we’re excited to play anybody,
prepared to play anybody,”
Eaddy said. “But just the fact
that it’s Gonzaga, obviously
having that history of being in
the West Coast Conference, it’s
exciting to have the opportu-
nity to play them again.”
Milestones
Gonzaga is in the Elite Eight
for the fourth time in six tour-
naments and looking for the
program’s second trip to the
Final Four, the other coming
in a 2017 title-game loss to
North Carolina.
USC last reached a regional
final in 2001, losing to even-
tual national champion Duke.
The Trojans are chasing their
third trip to the Final Four and
first since 1954.
Perfection watch
Gonzaga became the 14th
team to stay at No. 1 from
start-to-finish in the AP Top
25 this season. The previous 13
made it at least to the national
semifinals, with seven going on
to win national title — most re-
cently Duke in 1991-92.
UNLV in 1990-91 and Ken-
tucky in 2014-15 were among
the six that didn’t, going un-
beaten until falling in the Fi-
nal Four. Indiana in 1975-76
remains the last unbeaten na-
tional champion.
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