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Gonzaga Basketball: Brandon Clarke key player in Bulldog’s Final Four run

By Brandon Clearwaters

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs rebound the ball against Freddie Gillespie #33 of the Baylor Bears in the first half of the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs rebound the ball against Freddie Gillespie #33 of the Baylor Bears in the first half of the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Brandon Clarke has been a vital weapon for Gonzaga Basketball. Can he keep his play up and help the Bulldogs make another Final Four?

Brandon Clarke is a 6’8 forward from Phoenix, Arizona. Before coming to Gonzaga he played for the San Jose State Spartans. During his time with the Spartans, Clarke played in sixty games and started 32 of the 60 games he played in. Since transferring to Gonzaga, Clarke has played in 35 games and started in 34 of them. And is an impressive 81.2 % free throw shooter.

But what’s more impressive about Clarke is his ability to block shots when needed in crucial games. Clarke has already broken the GU single-season and with all the blocks he’s making in the NCAA tournament he’s on pace to break the NCAA record for most career blocks. Currently, this season alone Clarke has a total of 110 blocks.

On March 23rd against Baylor, Clarke became only the third player in NCAA tournament history to have five blocked shots as well as 35 points in a game.  Clarke also went 15 out of 18 from the paint against Baylor, and also set a record for most points scored by a Bulldog in an NCAA Tournament game racking up 36 points by himself.

Clarke was also named a Finalist for Naismith Defensive player of the year award for the 2018-2019 season. Clarke has been so impressive this season and has been just what Gonzaga has needed if they are going to replace the Final Four run like the 2017 team. Clarke this season so far has totaled up eight double-doubles and averages 8.0 rebounds per game.

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I believe that Clarke plays a huge role for the Zags, not only on the defensive side of the ball but also offensively. Clarke has been a huge addition to the Zags since transferring.  With his ability to block shots without committing many fouls, as well as the rest of the team playing like family and stepping up when others may be struggling both offensively and defensively, the Zags should go very far in the NCAA Tournament.