Busting Brackets
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Gonzaga Basketball: Keys to success against Eastern Washington

By Lukas Harkins

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: Gonzaga Bulldogs t-shirts are draped over stadium seats prior to the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 18, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: Gonzaga Bulldogs t-shirts are draped over stadium seats prior to the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 18, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 18: Players warm up. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 18: Players warm up. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga basketball is fresh off three consecutive monster wins. What should the Bulldogs prioritize to keep their winning streak against Eastern Washington?

Did people really think that Gonzaga basketball was going to take a major step back this season? Apparently so, but all of those naysayers should already be changing their tune this season. Even without the likes of Josh Perkins, Brandon Clarke, and Rui Hachimura (among others) roaming the floor in Spokane, the Bulldogs are once again one of the best teams in the entire country. After just the first month and a half of this season, Gonzaga holds a 12-1 record that includes wins over five high-major opponents (four away from home).

Head coach Mark Few is already a proven star on the sidelines but he has once again shown his abilities so far this season. Gonzaga, even without those aforementioned former stars, looks the part of being an offensive juggernaut with the ability to fill it up from both inside and out. The Bulldogs currently hold the third-best adjusted offensive efficiency rating in the country thanks to shooting 56.1% on twos (15th nationally) and 39.1% from three (22nd). Free-throw shooting has been a bit inconsistent but this team is dominant in transition and in the halfcourt.

While several players have already stepped up in this young season, the biggest difference-makers have been Filip Petrusev and Joel Ayayi. After seeing minor reserve roles a season ago, the two sophomores are experiencing major breakout campaigns into stardom this time around. Petrusev is currently leading the team in scoring (16.2) and rebounding (8.1) while Ayayi’s all-around contributions as a stat-sheet-stuffer (10.5p/6.8r/4.2a/1.4s) are well-documented.

With all of this said, though, Gonzaga’s quest for the title is only just beginning. The team cannot rest on its early-season laurels that have recently included three straight high-major wins. Eastern Washington represents the next challenger approaching “The Kennel” and the team will need to be prepared on Dec. 21st. With that tip-off approaching, let’s dive a bit deeper into the matchup to determine some potential keys to success for the Zags.