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2017 NCAA Tournament: Gonzaga vs South Dakota State preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Connor Hope

Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) gets a rebound against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) gets a rebound against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Gonzaga Bulldogs enter their 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament, looking to dispatch the South Dakota St. Jackrabbits and avoid becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed.

TV Schedule: Thursday, Mar. 16, 2:00 p.m. ET, TBS

Arena: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are on a mission to finally silence their critics by reaching their first Final Four. With the elite talent they bring and Coach Mark Few at the helm, they have a great shot at actually accomplishing their lofty goal.

Their first game will be against the South Dakota St. Jackrabbits, the Summit League Champions. The Jackrabbits finished with an 18-16 record on the year, and their 8-8 conference record was tied for fourth.

While South Dakota St. brings an above-average offense, they do not have the size, skill or athleticism to compete with the Bulldogs.

Gonzaga ranks 13th in scoring offense, 8th in scoring defense, 9th in rebounds, and 34th in assists. The Bulldogs are quite possibly the most balanced team in the country, running an eight-man rotation, with three more players who can provide minutes if needed.

The two players to watch for the Bulldogs are junior guard Nigel Williams-Goss and senior center Przemek Karnowski.

Williams-Goss is a Wooden Award Finalist and First Team All-American candidate, who leads the 33-1 Zags in scoring, assists, and steals. He is also a great player when trying to hold a late lead, shooting .910 from the line.

Karnowski is the Zags 7 foot, 300-pound, fifth-year senior, who is a nightmare for teams in the paint. While not an incredible shot blocker, Karnowski provides an obstacle that many great players have trouble scoring around. He is also great on the offensive end, with a deadly left-handed hook and incredible passing awareness.

The Jackrabbits have a great player of their own in sophomore forward Mike Daum. Daum leads the team in points, rebounds, and is the second leading scorer in the nation. He can shoot from virtually anywhere on the floor and converts at a high rate from the stripe.

Johnathan Williams, the Zags junior forward, will most likely be charged with guarding Daum. Williams possesses the defensive skill set to guard a stretch forward that Karnowski lacks. This is the most intriguing matchup of the game, pitting the best defender on the floor against the best scorer.

Next: Final Four staff predictions

While the Jackrabbits will hang relatively close to the Zags for the first half, the Zags will pull away in the last ten minutes, as they have all year. The Zags just have too many scoring options for the Jackrabbits’ weak defense, and Daum will not be able to score at the same rate with Williams defending him.

Prediction: Gonzaga 85, South Dakota St. 66

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