Gonzaga opens WCC play with the Santa Clara Broncos. The biggest storyline will be the potential return of an All-WCC forward in Killian Tillie.
TV schedule: Saturday, January 5, 9:00 pm ET. Check Local Listings
Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington
After going 13-2 through the non-conference of the 2018-19 season, Gonzaga Basketball heads into WCC play as the No. 7 ranked team in the country. They have several power conference victories, including over then No. 1 ranked Duke in the Maui Invitational.
The Bulldogs are led offensively by a high scoring trio of Rui Hachimura (21.2 ppg), Brandon Clarke (17.1 ppg) and Zach Norvell Jr. (16.9 ppg), with senior point guard Josh Perkins (7.1 apg) facilitating the second-highest scoring offense at 93.7 ppg. What should make future opposing teams even more worried is that the team isn’t even 100% full health – but they will be soon.
After missing all of the non-conference with a leg injury, forward Killian Tillie is set to make his season-debut for Gonzaga. He was the second-leading scorer (12.9 ppg) and rebounder (5.9 rpg) in 26 mpg. The junior is arguably the best individual defender on the team and shot nearly 50% from three-point range a year ago. The 6’10 stretch forward adds even another dimension to the Bulldogs with his versatile game.
More help is reportedly on the way with backup grad transfer guard Geno Crandall. He broke his hand in practice after the Maui Invitational and has missed over a month in game time. Although he shot just 30% from the field in the first six games, the former 18 ppg scorer at North Dakota provides needed guard depth for Gonzaga and a proven ball handler when Perkins needs a break.
Assuming those two are back for this upcoming game, Gonzaga will be at full strength for the first time this season, ready to take on a WCC that may be the strongest it’s been overall from top to bottom in recent memory.
Their first test will be Santa Clara 9-6 (1-0), coming off their WCC opening win over San Diego. After a 3-6 start to the season, the Broncos have won six straight, including wins over Pac-12 programs USC and Washington State.
Sophomore guard Tahj Eaddy has been huge in the absence of former leading scorer KJ Feagin, leading Santa Clara with 16.7 ppg and 4.0 apg. He’s coming off of a career-high performance of 30 points to beat the Toreros, going 12/12 from the free throw line.
Eaddy is one of four Broncos averaging in double-figure scoring, with freshmen guards Trey Wertz and Keshawn Justice providing unexpected offensive outputs for the team. Herb Sendek’s club is riding high on momentum and has the confidence to beat Gonzaga.
But what they don’t have is the size, scoring, and athleticism to compete with the Bulldogs for 40 minutes on the road. And now with Tillie and Crandall set to return, the home crowd will get an added boost as well. Santa Clara will put up a fight but ultimately the story will be the same as the previous bouts between the two.