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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BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrates during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID – MARCH 17: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrates during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Josh Perkins as the Facilitator

Josh Perkins has become arguably the most vital piece of this No. 2 Gonzaga team. The red-shirt senior truly does it all for a Mark Few team eyeing its first National Title. Perkins, a four-star recruit from the class of 2014, is one of four players on the Bulldogs’ roster to average at least 10 ppg, with 10.5. The six-foot-three-inch point guard shoots at an extremely impressive 45% from the field and 36% from deep. Perkins shoots at such a high rate despite the fact that nearly half of his field goal attempts this season have come from three-point range.

However, ask any Gonzaga fan what Perkins most important factor is to this team and every single one will say his ability to lead the Zags. As the primary ball-handler, Perkins orchestrates the success for the No. 1 scoring offense in Division One. Perkins has recorded 670 career assists as a Bulldog, the most in Gonzaga school history.

But Perkins’ passing ability is not just a factor in Gonzaga history, but nationwide as well. The Bulldogs’ guard ranks No. 7 nationally in assists per game with 6.8 apg. Not only can Perkins dish the ball with ease, but he is extremely sure-handed. He is averaging just 1.9 topg, landing him an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.52, the highest of the top 40 passers.

To top it off, Perkins is a smooth free-throw shooter as well. On the season, Perkins is shooting 83.9% from the charity stripe, a massive improvement on his previous mark on the past season of 75.3%. There’s clearly so many reasons why he was named to the Bob Cousy Award final ten.

With a BYU team looking for revenge and another massive upset of a top-two Gonzaga team, Mark Few will be well equipped to battle the Cougars, especially junior guard TJ Haws, Perkins’ counter-part.