Gonzaga vs. Florida State: Key storylines heading into Sweet 16 matchup
No. 1 Gonzaga will be looking for revenge against No. 4 Florida State Thursday after losing to them in the Sweet 16 in last year’s NCAA Tournament. Here are three key storylines to watch.
In this year’s NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga basketball had no problem handling the 16th seed Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the first round as the Zags won by 38 points. Rui Hachimura finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, Killian Tillie gave the Zags 17 points and four assists in 18 minutes off the bench. Zach Norvell Jr. and Brandon Clarke combined for 25 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. The Zags won the rebounding battle in that matchup 47-30 and out assisted the Knights 22-8 as well.
In the next round, the Baylor Bears gave the Zags more of a challenge as four of the Bears starters scored in double figures. They were unable to overcome Clarke’s 36 points, eight rebounds, and five block performance. Corey Kispert was the second leading scorer for the Zags with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Florida State basketball forced an early exit of the 13 seed Vermont Catamounts in the first round with a 76-69 victory behind Mfiondu Kabengele’s 21 points and 10 rebounds and Terance Mann’s 19 points and eight rebounds. Florida State did a great job of attacking Vermont’s defense inside and knocking down their free throws. They made 31-of-37 attempts from the free throw line.
In their 90-62 blowout of the 12 seed Murray State Racers, the defensive strategy of letting Ja Morant produce and stopping everyone else worked. Kabengele scored 22 points off the bench, secured seven rebounds and blocked three shots. Mann scored 18 points, pulled down eight rebounds and assisted on six baskets.
When these two teams faced one another in last year’s tournament, the Florida State basketball won by 15 to move on to the elite eight. Gonzaga basketball has a chance to turn the tide this time and move one step closer to the final four. For the Seminoles, it’s about staying undefeated against the Zags when it counts.