Busting Brackets
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Gonzaga Basketball: What makes the Bulldogs a national title favorite?

By Lukas Harkins

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 11: Rui Hachimura #21 and Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Pepperdine Waves at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Waves 100-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 11: Rui Hachimura #21 and Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament against the Pepperdine Waves at the Orleans Arena on March 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Waves 100-74. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Norvell Jr.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 22: Norvell Jr. /

3. How many teams can really slow down this offense?

I know that Gonzaga just got absolutely clamped up by Saint Mary’s in the WCC final but we need to talk about why this shouldn’t dissuade folks from talking about Zaga’s offense as the best in the nation. First, Randy Bennett is one heckuva head coach at Saint Mary’s. He might not be as well-known on the national stage as perhaps he should be but everyone knows that he is one of the best in the business. With that said, he has been coaching against Mark Few for several years and had even faced off against Gonzaga twice already earlier in the year prior to the WCC final.

Saint Mary’s, in general, has typically one of the better defenses in the nation under Coach Bennett. His gameplan was certainly excellent but it is one that not many others can really replicate because they have not seen/played the Zags as often. This is especially true when you consider that Gonzaga probably wins that WCC title if Zach Norvell (or anyone else for that matter) was able to knock down any of his strong looks. SMC’s defense certainly deserves plenty of credit but that was also Gonzaga’s worst offensive performance of the season and it wasn’t close. No one should expect them to lay a massive egg like that again in the Big Dance.

Gonzaga, despite that performance, still owns the top spot in adjusted offensive efficiency and by a relatively wide margin. In fact, their AdjO this season (125.2) is the fifth-best in the KenPom era. When it comes to the NCAA Tournament, I do not think there are many teams that will be able to slow this team down. Their offense is that darn good and will carry them deep in the Big Dance.