Busting Brackets
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Gonzaga Basketball: 3 keys for the Bulldogs against North Carolina

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts with teammates Josh Perkins #13 and Corey Kispert #24 during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts with teammates Josh Perkins #13 and Corey Kispert #24 during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images
Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images /

3. Overwhelm the Tar Heels backcourt

The Bulldogs have quite an experienced backcourt coming into this game with Zach Norvell Jr. and Josh Perkins. Both will be facing off against freshman guard Coby White and senior guard Kenny Williams.

White is the Tar Heels’ second-leading scorer this season, registering 15.3 points and 3.6 assists per game. He’s shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point range. Williams leads the team in assists per game with 4.9 and is also scoring 7.6 points per contest.

On the Gonzaga side, Norvell is producing 17.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per contest through 2018-19. Perkins, a senior guard, is averaging 10.2 points, 8.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest. H’s shooting 37.8 percent from behind the arc as well.

Norvell and Perkins will need to do a good job of overwhelming the Tar Heels backcourt on both ends. Without White and Williams, there aren’t many other playmakers for North Carolina to rely on. If they can limit their ability to make plays and turn that into offense on the other end, the Bulldogs could find themselves on the positive end of a road trip this weekend.