Busting Brackets
Fansided

Gonzaga Basketball: Keys for Bulldogs to beat BYU on senior night

By Brayley Crowe

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 09: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs cheer for their team against the Saint Mary's Gaels at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 9, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Saint Mary's 94-46. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 09: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs cheer for their team against the Saint Mary's Gaels at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 9, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Saint Mary's 94-46. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 15, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 15, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

1. Hachimura vs. Childs, Round Two

Three weeks ago, the Zags strolled into Provo and wiped the floor with the Cougars. Hachimura, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer and Wooden hopeful, scored 20 points while snagging nine rebounds. Childs, on the other hand, scored just 12 points with seven rebounds. Hachimura shot 8-13 from the field, while Childs was just 3-11.

Hachimura and Childs, along with BYU’s Jordan Ford, are the only WCC players averaging more than 20 points per game. Childs, the No. 2 scorer in the conference, averages 21.1 ppg, while shooting 51.5% from the field. Hachimura, the primary defender of Childs, with help from Brandon Clarke, kept Childs in check, as he scored nine fewer points than his average and nearly 25% below his shooting average. Childs also failed to reach his conference-best average rebounds, of 9.6 rpg, against Gonzaga.

On the other hand, Hachimura had just another day at the office, as he matched his season average in points of 20.3 ppg, while beating his season average in field goal percentage (60.1%) and rebounds (6.5 rpg).

However, the previous game should not be taken as an indication of how the two should matchup come Saturday night. Childs’ play can vary widely, and on any given night, he can have an extremely notable outing. In the five outings since the thrashing from Gonzaga, Childs has averaged 17.4 ppg and 9.8 rpg. His performances have significantly varied in these five matches, as he scored just six against Loyola Marymount, his season low and the only time he failed to score double digits, while he dropped 27 against a very improved San Diego last week.

As for Hachimura, he has not skipped a beat since the trip to Provo, and frankly, for weeks before that. In the same five game span, Hachimura has averaged 22.2 ppg, including a dominant 11-15, 32-point performance against the same San Diego squad. Likewise, Hachimura has at least eclipsed his rebounding average in all but one game, including a 10-rebound, 22-point game at San Diego last Saturday.

Both players have tremendous abilities to rack up points, so a double factor in this game will be Hachimura both limiting his opposing matchup while scoring like he truly is capable of.