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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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 21: Makai Mason #10 of the Baylor Bears and teammate Mario Kegler #4 celebrate their 78-69 win over the Syracuse Orange in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2. Defend the Three

While Baylor’s 16 made three-pointers were its most of the season, this electrifying shooting percentage was no anomaly. The Bears have shot 34% from behind the arch this season and have four players in Makai Mason, Jared Butler, King McClure and Devonte Bandoo that have made 45 or more threes this season. All four of these players have made at least 35% of their three-point shots this season.

In their victory over Syracuse, all these players were pivotal from deep, as they combined to drain 12 three-pointers. Makai Mason, the Bears’ leading scorer, scored 22 points, a team-high, on an electric 4-10 from three. Butler was even more efficient from behind the arch, as he scored 14 points on 4-9. The team certainly had the green light, and clearly rightfully so, as McClure made three of his nine attempts from deep, while Bandoo was 2-3 from range. To add to the fun for Baylor, Kegler hit all three of his shots from three.

On the season, 34.2% of Baylor’s points come from the three-point range and 41% of all its field goal attempts are from behind the arch, according to Kenpom. Inversely, Gonzaga allows just 30.5% of its opponents’ points to come from deep and are holding them to 30.8% from three, No. 25 in the land. This is where, barring a Stephen Curry or Jimmer Fredette-like performance (the Zags have been victims to both in the NCAA Tournament), the Bulldogs may have success.

With an experienced fifth-year guard in Josh Perkins, skillful Zach Norvell Jr., and mature graduate transfer Geno Crandall coming off the bench, Few will ensure that Baylor’s threes are difficult ones. With few players on the Bears’ roster able to matchup size wise with the Zags’ daunting post players, I can comfortably assume the threes will be flying at will like they did Thursday, when they made 47.1%.

If Gonzaga can frustrate the Bears and prevent Baylor from lighting it up from deep early on, paired with the Zags’ prolific offense, a large deficit may ignite for Baylor. In two of Gonzaga’s three losses this season, the three-point line was a massive factor, as Tennessee made 12-29 threes (41.4%), including an Admiral Schofield winner, while North Carolina hit 13-25 (52%) in its home win over Gonzaga. For the Zags to push on to the next round, disciplined three-point defense will be crucial, as they will look to force the Bears to try their hand at scoring against the No. 5 two-point defensive team.