Gonzaga Basketball: 3 keys for the Bulldogs against North Alabama

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs moves the ball past Grant Williams #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of the game 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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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 21: Zach Norvell /

3. Zach Norvell Jr. needs to contribute

Norvell is the third player (Tillie will likely make four once he returns) on this Zags squad that has his name in the hat for the Wooden Award. The Chicago native erupted onto national attention with his phenomenal performances in the NCAA Tournament last season, and has continued to impress voters and NBA scouts alike. The redshirt sophomore is averaging 16.8 ppg, but has occasionally fell from the dominant figure he can be this season.

Best described as an explosive shooter that can get hot with just one clean shot, Norvell can light up the scoreboard quickly. For the season, he is averaging 43.9% from the field, quite an impressive figure for a guard, especially when one considers that he frequently opts for the three-point shot, where he is shooting 36.8%. However, when he is not at his peak ability, the Zags as a whole seem to take a step back.

In their first loss this season against Tennessee, Norvell accounted for 13 points, which is actually a respectable tally, but did so on a rough shooting percentage, with 38.5%, and only 3-9 from his expertise of the three-point line. Likewise, in the meeting at Chapel Hill, Norvell had a team-high 21 points, shooting 41.2% from the field, but struggled from deep, only hitting 2-8 attempts. In comparison, against Creighton, Norvell matched his career high 28 points, lighting up the court with 9-21 and 6-17 from deep.

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For the Zags to have success throughout this meeting, the rest of the season and the NCAA Tournament, Norvell will need to get hot and stay hot. He is a player that feeds off momentum, and seeing one shot flow through the net is all it takes for one of the nation’s best players to do what he does best.