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, NEVADA – MARCH 11: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs brings the ball up the court against the Pepperdine Waves during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament 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) /

3. More of Josh Perkins

Perhaps the most surprising factor in Gonzaga’s dismantling of Fairleigh Dickinson was the lack of contributions from the Bulldogs’ star point guard Josh Perkins. Early on, Perkins found himself in foul trouble and was not nearly as much of a factor as he tends to be for Gonzaga. The second highest assist man in the WCC and the No. 13 assister in the nation, Perkins only played 21 minutes for the Bulldogs. In these 21 minutes, Perkins scored five points on 2-3 shooting from the field, dealt two assists and snagged two steals.

Perkins is fourth on the team in points per game with 10.8 and makes 37% of his three-point attempts, but his scoring abilities are certainly not his highest importance to this Gonzaga team. This would of course be his passing ability, and with it, his experience. Perkins is the only player on this Zags team to have started in their National Championship appearance two years ago and has played in the second most NCAA Tournament games in Gonzaga history.

For the Bulldogs to advance past a streaky shooting team like Baylor, Gonzaga will need assurance from the player running the court. In that championship game, Perkins played 35 minutes, the second most of any Bulldog and scored 13 points, also the second most for a Bulldog.

Perkins averages 6.4 apg and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.2 this season. Perkins leadership was perhaps best highlighted in Gonzaga’s victory of Duke in the Maui Invitational, as the red-shirt senior played 38 of 40 minutes, assisted on seven baskets for the Zags, turned the ball over only twice and scored nine points. But like the assists and turnovers, most importantly is that Perkins only picked up two fouls in this game.

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But where success comes from setting up his teammates, struggles can also arise for the Bulldogs when Perkins is not at his best. In their loss to Tennessee, Perkins went 0-6 from the field. While Perkins did setup nine baskets for his teammates and only turned the ball over once, Perkins will need to produce somewhere near his ten-point average for a victory, like he did against Duke. With a comfortable tally near this, the Bulldogs should have enough offensive fire power to advance to the second weekend.