Busting Brackets
Fansided

Gonzaga Basketball: Three keys for the Zags’ trip to Creighton

By Brayley Crowe

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs holds up the tournament MVP trophy after the 2018 Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 20: Ty-Shon Alexander #5 of the Creighton Bluejays reacts. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 20: Ty-Shon Alexander #5 of the Creighton Bluejays reacts. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Shut down Ty-Shon Alexander

The 2017 graduate of famed Oak Hill Academy is already having a spectacular sophomore season. Alexander’s minutes per game have nearly doubled since last season, with 32.7 this season as opposed to 17.7 last season. With this increased playing time, Alexander has wasted no time asserting himself as a key player for Greg McDermott’s squad. He has increased his points per game from 5.5 last season to a team-leading 18.3 so far.

Alexander can make defenses pay from near and far alike, averaging 51.8% from the floor and a striking 47.2% from 3-point range. His prolific 36-point performance against Clemson highlighted Alexander’s ability to get hot and stay hot, as he went 9-for-16 from the floor with 7 baskets from deep. The Zags, specifically Perkins and Norvell, will need to stay true while guarding the explosive sophomore. If they can force Alexander to pursue the basket more frequently than opting for a jumper, the swatting ability of Clarke could help keep him in check.

Next. Power Rankings after Feast Week. dark

Clemson did, however, succeed in limiting Alexander’s assists and instead forced the sophomore to turn the ball over three times, which could be one of Few’s key plans for containing him. With the maturity of Perkins, Few may look to exploit the youth of Alexander and frazzle him.

Final prediction – Gonzaga 86 – Creighton 77