Gonzaga Basketball: Key storylines for 2019-2020 matchup with Pacific

Gonzaga Basketball: Key storylines for 2019-2020 home matchup with Pacific

TUCSON, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Filip Petrusev #3 and Killian Tillie #33 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs high five on the court during 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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STOCKTON, CA – FEBRUARY 28: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Roberto Gallinat #4 of the Universisty Of The Pacific Tigers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga Basketball takes on a dangerous Pacific squad this weekend. What are the most notable storylines in this matchup?

After a weeklong break from any games, Gonzaga basketball is hoping to continue a 12-game win streak against a Pacific team that, while struggling as of late, is one of coach Damon Stoudamire’s best teams during his tenure.

Any win over the Zags by another West Coast Conference team automatically becomes a marquee win — there is a reason why the Bulldogs always have the metaphorical target on their back during each league matchup. But beating the No. 2 team in the nation is not easy in any sense of the word. Nor is doing so in the McCarthey Athletic Center.

And it doesn’t help for the Tigers that coach Mark Few’s squad looks like it is hitting its stride in conference play. After four wins in a row by at least a 20-point margin in an improved WCC, GU looks hard to stop on both ends of the court.

But stranger things have happened, and the Tigers’ grind-it-out style of play is a potential disruptor for the vaunted Zags offense. Not to mention that Jahlil Tripp is playing some of the best basketball of his career lately and GU yet again has injury questions.

In the midst of all that, here are the key storylines for this matchup on Saturday at 7 p.m. PST.