Busting Brackets
Fansided

Gonzaga Basketball: Why Bulldogs can reach the Final Four in 2019

By Brayley Crowe

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 25: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs cuts down the net after their 83 to 59 win over the Xavier Musketeers during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at SAP Center on March 25, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 25: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs cuts down the net after their 83 to 59 win over the Xavier Musketeers during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at SAP Center on March 25, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
SPOKANE, WA – FEBRUARY 21: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate for Josh Perkins in breaking Gonzaga’s the all time assist record with 669 in the game against the Pepperdine Waves at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 21, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 92-64. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA – FEBRUARY 21: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate for Josh Perkins in breaking Gonzaga’s the all time assist record with 669 in the game against the Pepperdine Waves at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 21, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 92-64. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

2. Elite Guard Play

With every elite team that contends for a national title, a strong, sure handed backcourt is needed. To pair with their nationally recognized frontcourt, Gonzaga is anchored by fifth-year senior Josh Perkins and Simeon High School graduate Zach Norvell Jr.

The career leader in assists at Gonzaga University has 690. However, this individual is not the famed John Stockton. Its none other than Perkins, and with 212 for the 2018-19 season, he has a very good chance of breaking the Gonzaga single-season record as well, at 225. Two years ago, when Gonzaga battled North Carolina for the National Championship, much of the focus on the Zags was towards players like Williams-Goss, Karnowski, Williams and Zach Collins. A forgotten factor of that team two years later may be Perkins himself, who started in that title game, scored 13 points, the second most for a Bulldog, drained three threes and dished three assists.

This season, Perkins has performed wonderfully as the leader of this Gonzaga team, as it eyes another Final Four. The six-foot-three-inch guard is one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in college basketball. Perkins is tied for No. 10 in the nation in assists this season, averages 6.5 apg, while notching an assist-to-turnover rate of 3.16, No. 3 of the top-40 assisters. However, Perkins is not just a smooth passer, as he is well-balanced in all aspects of the game. Averaging 11 ppg, Perkins is fourth for the Zags in scoring, snags 1.4 spg, shoots 45.4% from the field, with 36.8% from behind the arch. His 83.8% from free-throw only add to his reliability in guiding this team.

Just like the complementary play of their two star big men, the Bulldogs receive immense success from both starting guards. As promised, Zach Norvell Jr. will receive the attention he deserves. Norvell joined the Zags in 2016 as a four-star, No. 83 ranked recruit. Norvell quickly made his presence known for Gonzaga in his first season last year, as he notched ten games with 15 or more points and was third on the team in scoring at 12.7. However, Norvell became a well-known name nationally when he dropped 28 points, his career high along with a 6-17 from three mark at Creighton this season, in the round of 32 against Ohio St. After this stellar performance, the nation saw that the now redshirt sophomore can light up the score board with ease from behind the arch, as he drained six of 11 attempts.

This season, Norvell has built on these numbers even more, again being third on the team in points per game with 15.3. Like Perkins, Norvell can also set up his teammates nicely, ranking second in assists per game with three. On the season, he has nailed 87 three-point shots for a 37.7% on the season. Overall, Norvell is shooting 44.8% from the field, which signifies his skill close to the rim. With exceptional speed and favorable ball control, Norvell keeps defenders true and can blow past them in a flash. With a highly competitive nature and a killer instinct, the NCAA Tournament is a likely place for Norvell to explode for another thunderous performance.

Despite the ability for both Perkins and Norvell to log loads of minutes, 31.1 and 30.5 respectively, a strong option for relief is key for a National Title contender. This is where graduate-transfer Geno Crandall enters the picture. In three years at North Dakota, Crandall averaged 14.3 ppg. This season, Crandall’s numbers and minutes have decreased, but his importance to his new team certainly has not. Averaging 5.3 ppg and 2.4 apg in 19.3 mpg, Crandall is a reliable third hand to help propel the Zags to Minneapolis. While he only averages about two made shots per game, Crandall, like the entire Gonzaga team, shoots very well from the floor at 43.9%.