Busting Brackets
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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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SPOKANE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 31, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated CSU Bakersfield 89-54. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 31, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated CSU Bakersfield 89-54. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

3. Zach Norvell Jr. Performing Well

Zach Norvell Jr. may be one of the best players in the country that has *somewhat* been forgotten about. With one of the most elite frontcourts in the nation, even without Killian Tillie, and Perkins performing as phenomenally as he has thus far, the average fan may forget about the Bulldogs’ explosive shooting guard. But don’t be foolish, Norvell is an extraordinary shooter and incredibly athletic player that can burst to the rim in a flash.

Norvell is third in scoring for the Bulldogs at 15.6 ppg and combined with Hachimura, Clarke and Perkins, the four alone combine for 63.1 ppg. While Hachimura and Clarke can leave frontcourt players shaking and Perkins excels dishing and scoring, Norvell is most noteworthy for his crisp three-point shooting. Norvell makes nearly three-point attempts per game for a season average of 38.8%. Nearly two-thirds of his shot attempts and over half of his made shots have come from behind the arc.

This is what enables Norvell to be such a well-rounded athlete. Once one shot finds the bottom of the net, it’s almost guaranteed another few will shortly follow, so defenders must stay true to the shooter. But with extreme quickness, Norvell can easily blow by his defenders to the rim and convert easy buckets.

Norvell has scored 20 or more points seven times this season, including his (tied) career high 28 against Creighton where he drained six three-pointers. The other time he dropped 28? Against Ohio St. in the round of 32 in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Norvell feeds off energy and high stakes games, as he dropped 18 points, with four made threes, and added three steals in the Zags’ win over then No. 1 Duke.

Next. Perkins solidifies spot in history with assist record. dark

Despite the Zags’ blowout win over the Cougars in January, Norvell accounted for only 12 points while hitting only two of seven three-point shots. With the roar of the Kennel behind him, expect Norvell to shoot closer to, if not more than, his season average.