Gonzaga and BYU have one of the more unique “rivalries” in college basketball. How does that impact this upcoming game?
TV schedule: Saturday, February 3, 10:00 p.m. ET. ESPN2
Arena: McCartney Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington
After already getting swept in the regular season by Saint Mary’s, BYU was in desperate need of a big win to get back in the bubble picture. That leaves two games against Gonzaga, including one happening this weekend. Yet, the team is coming off a shaky performance. In a game much harder than it should have been, the Cougars lost to an LMU team that had just one conference win coming into the game.
Despite suffering a tough injury to the head in the first half, Elijah Bryant still finished with 24 points. Yoeli Childs had another double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, but there was very little help elsewhere. The team went 5/24 from three-point range and the Cougars coughed it up 16 times. The Lions took complete advantage. Whatever hopes BYU had at getting an at-large all but went up in flames.
That being said, there’s something else Dave Rose’s team does really well – win at Gonzaga. They’ve done it in each of the past three seasons, including ending the nation’s longest winning streak at the time for the Bulldogs the first time before last season ending the Zags perfect season at the regular season finale.
This Gonzaga team, led by Mark Few, is different this year, with six players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Johnathan Williams and Josh Perkins. The Bulldogs are coming off of a hard-fought game with San Diego, trailing in the second half before pulling away with a 69-59 victory. Williams had 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way.
Gonzaga can’t afford to drop this game, as they’re one game behind Saint Mary’s for the WCC lead with a return trip to Moraga coming next week.
Key individual battles
While T.J. Haws can at times be a threat to go off, BYU has mainly Bryant and Childs as the team’s offensive weapons. Gonzaga has two of the conference’s best defenders in Williams and senior guard Silas Melson. Williams was the team’s best defender in last year’s National Championship runner-up run, guarding the opposing teams best forwards and wings. He had no chance against Jock Landale of the Gaels but with Childs at 6’8, I like Williams to slow him down.
Bryant, on the other hand, could have a nice game, with his size potentially being too much for Melson to deal with. Look for freshmen Zach Norvell Jr. or Corey Kisert to guard him.
The big question for BYU will be who guards Rui Hachimura of Gonzaga. At 6’8 and extremely athletic, he could terrorize BYU, who has no answers for him on the roster.
Regardless of the matchups and rankings, BYU has shown that they can come into the Kennel and win. And after the humiliating loss on Thursday, they’ll be extra motivated to play well. But I like an equally motivated Gonzaga team to use their size advantage on the perimeter to give the Cougars their third straight loss.
Prediction: Gonzaga 78 – BYU 71