Gonzaga Basketball: Keys versus Baylor in Round of 32 game

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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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Gonzaga Bulldogs fans hold up a sign before the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament between the Bulldogs and the Brigham Young Cougars at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

For the eleventh straight NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga Basketball has won a game. The Zags will look to advance to their fifth straight Sweet 16 as they battle the Baylor Bears Saturday in Salt Lake City.

The No. 1 seed Gonzaga clearly shook off its surprise loss to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference Tournament Final, comfortably defeating No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson 87-49 Thursday night.

The Bulldogs‘ high-caliber offense, as the No. 1 team in points per game, field goal percentage and Kenpom’s offensive efficiency, were significant in their first round matchup. But, as has been a major factor as the season has continued for Mark Few’s team, the Zags’ suffocating defense helped them bury the Knights early.

The Knights mustered only 17 points on five made field goal attempts in the first half of Thursday’s meeting, eventually scoring just 30% of field goal shots for the game. FDU coughed the ball up more times, 17, than times they were succesful from the field, 15. On the other hand, Gonzaga was, to no surprise, extremely efficient in its shots, as the Bulldogs made 53.1% of shots, which included nine from behind the three-point line.

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However, Gonzaga will surely have more of a test in Saturday night’s meeting with No. 9 seed Baylor (7:10 p.m. ET on TBS). While the Knights are the No. 206 team in the nation according to Kenpom, the Bears clock in at No. 37. Baylor used a season-high 16 made three-pointers to defeat No. 8 seed Syracuse Thursday night. For the Zags to push past an upset-mined Baylor team, one key will be for Gonzaga to stick to what has been the reoccurring theme this season; strong frontcourt play.