Gonzaga Basketball: 3 keys to the game versus Washington

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogshangs in the air before shooting over Javin DeLaurier #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second half of the game at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

3. Brandon Clarke will have the biggest impact

As a preseason All-American candidate, Rui Hachimura has been as good as promised, leading Gonzaga with 21.9 ppg. But an argument could be made that the most valuable player from the team’s first eight games has been Brandon Clarke, the transfer from San Jose State.

His numbers have been even more impressing, averaging 17.3 ppg and 8.6 rpg, while making 77% of his shots. He’s been just as effective on the defensive end, blocking four shots a game, good for second in the country. With Killian Tillie out with an ankle injury until January, Clarke has been the perfect frontcourt piece to fill in after redshirting last season.

While Jaylen Nowell is the star guard for Washington, Noah Dickerson is the key frontcourt piece for the team. The 6’8 senior is averaging 17.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg and loves to get to the free throw line. Already Dickerson has three games of at least 13 attempts from the charity stripe. Clarke will get the primary responsibilities on him and be tasked to not only slow him down, but avoid foul trouble in the process.

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But it’s not just the defensive end where the former Spartan could have a big impact. Washington’s frontcourt struggles at times against athletic big men, and both Clarke and Hachimura has the advantage against Dickerson and the other starter Sam Timmins. The junior forward Clarke had 27 points and 10 rebounds in his last game, and could very well have that good an outing on Wednesday night.