The Gonzaga Bulldogs are in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row, and they face a tough Sweet 16 opponent in the Florida State Seminoles. What must the Zags do to pull out a win in Los Angeles?
For the fourth straight season, Gonzaga finds itself in the Sweet 16, after surviving close games with UNC Greensboro and Ohio State in the first weekend. These games have thrown doubt on Gonzaga’s ability to win their Sweet 16 game and continue on to the Elite Eight.
Their opponent for this Sweet 16 matchup is the very athletic Florida State Seminoles, led by senior forward Phil Cofer. The Seminoles, who upset the No. 1-seed Xavier Musketeers will be a tough matchup for the Zags with their athleticism and pace of play.
If the Zags aim to beat the Seminoles, they will have to control the pace of play, limit turnovers and prevent transition opportunities. In the first two games, Florida State’s defense disrupted their opponents and caused a combined 33 turnovers.
Because of this, Gonzaga’s guards, specifically Josh Perkins, will need to efficiently advance and distribute the ball without giving it away. The Zags do not have the athleticism to run the floor the Seminoles for a full 40 minutes, but their efficiency and consistency will give them an edge.
On the defensive end, the Zags need to prevent Florida State from attacking the basket. In their game against Ohio State, four Zags had at least four fouls, and they can’t afford to have the same trouble against the deep Florida State team. If Gonzaga can force the Noles to shoot from deep, not only will they limit fouls, they will also be forcing their opponent into one of their weaker aspects.
Next: Keys for Gonzaga to beating Florida State
In the end, the Zags should be able to handle Florida State rather easily if they can control the pace and force the game to be played in the half court. If they can keep all their players on the floor, and Josh Perkins steps up again as the main floor general, Gonzaga will play their way into the Elite Eight.