Gonzaga Basketball: Keys for advancing to Final Four over Texas Tech

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 23: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives with the ball against Makai Mason #10 of the Baylor Bears during their game in 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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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after making a basket and drawing a foul against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

2. Contain Jarrett Culver

The headliner all season for this surprising Texas Tech team has been guard Jarrett Culver. Culver, a sophomore, was voted Player of the Year in the Big 12 conference this season, the first ever Red Raider to receive the award. The second and third-team All American has led the Red Raiders to their second straight, and second ever, Elite Eight appearance with 18.9 ppg and 3.7 apg on a 48.4% field goal percentage.

Through the Red Raiders’ three games of the tournament, Culver is averaging 22.3 ppg, 5 apg and 2 spg with 2.3 topg. As a shooting guard, Culver will find himself being guarded by Norvell primarily throughout the match, with assistance from Geno Crandall off the bench. Between the two Zags, they are averaging 2.4 spg. Perkins, an experienced fifth-year player who may very well switch onto Culver as well, is averaging 1.4 spg.

With a 31.9% three-point average this year, Culver is not a phenomenal shooter from deep and has hit four of 14 threes in the tournament this year. Eight of his nine made field goals in the defeat of Michigan Thursday night were shots inside the paint. With one of the country’s best shot blockers in Clarke patrolling the paint, he will most definitely be forced to change his game plan. Clarke averages 3.2 bpg and Hachimura and Tillie both contribute nicely with 0.7 bpg each.

Norvell and Culver matchup extremely similarly, with both players being 6’5″ but the Bulldog taking the advantage in the weight department at 205 lbs as opposed to 195 lbs for the Red Raider. Considering only two other Texas Tech players average 10 or more ppg in guards Davide Moretti (11.6 ppg) and Matt Mooney (10.9 ppg), the Zags will clamp down on the Red Raiders’ star player.

When Kansas defeated Texas Tech by 16 in early February, the Jayhawks held Culver comfortably in check. Culver made just five of 17 field goal attempts and missed all six of those from behind the arc. As a similarly strong two-point defense team with the No. 27 mark, the Jayhawks performed like the Bulldogs will look to in forcing Culver to taking uncomfortable shots instead of those in the lane, where he will face the impenetrable force that is Clarke.