Busting Brackets
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Gonzaga Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Bulldogs home battle with Santa Clara

By Tristan Freeman

TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Joel Ayayi #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on December 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Joel Ayayi #11 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs handles the ball in the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center on December 14, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Head coach Herb Sendek of the Santa Clara Broncos reacts during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 06: Head coach Herb Sendek of the Santa Clara Broncos reacts during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Limit the impact of Josip Vrankic

No team in the country has the same kind of balance of power as Gonzaga, ranked 1st nationally in scoring (87.8 ppg) while having six players averaging in double figures. Santa Clara doesn’t match that but has been solid themselves. They’re top-35 with 78.4 ppg and have four double-digit scorers, with another three averaging over 7.6 ppg.

It’ll certainly take a collective effort to overcome the No. 1 team in the country by the Broncos but no player is more important than forward Josip Vrankic. The junior is averaging 10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 3.4 apg and has the ability to spread the floor on offense. He’s scored in double figures in half of the games this season, including the season-high performance against Saint Mary’s.

When Vrankic has a big footprint on the Broncos’ offense, they can keep up with many teams. The leading scorer on the team is Trey Wertz (12.2 ppg) but the key to beating Gonzaga is matching them down low. If the bigs don’t perform well, the guards won’t have much room to operate.

That’s why the Bulldogs need to pay extra attention to the big man and make sure he doesn’t go off, either via scoring or facilitating. Wertz could be a problem too but most upsets overall Gonzaga come from superb post play.