Santa Clara Basketball: 2019-20 keys for home game against Gonzaga

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) /

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SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 16: Admon Gilder #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives against Trey Wertz #3 the Santa Clara Broncos (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

2. Santa Clara has to throttle high-scoring Zags

Gonzaga sports the #1 team in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. The Bulldogs are averaging 89.0 ppg, the best in the country by 5.8 ppg over Dayton.

The Zags have six players averaging in double-figure scoring and a seventh, freshman Drew Timme, scoring 9.1 ppg. The six are led by 6’11 sophomore Filip Petrusev with 16.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg.

The rest includes junior Corey Kispert (14.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg), senior Killian Tillie (13.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), sophomore Joel Ayayi (11.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.7 apg), senior Ryan Woolridge (10.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.5 apg), and graduate transfer Admon Gilder (10.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg).

Santa Clara’s strength on defense is on the interior. The Broncos are #31 in the country in opposing two-point percentage at 43.8%. Unfortunately, the Broncos are #302 in three-point percentage allowed at 36.4%. Fortunately for Santa Clara, the Bulldogs is #243 in relying on three-pointers as it only accounts for 28.1% of their points.

The Broncos are going to have to step up on defense. They are ranked #138 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Gonzaga hung up 104 points on Santa Clara when they played at Spokane on Jan. 16. In that game, the Bulldogs shot 57.8% on two-point attempts.

Tillie has improved throughout conference play. Meanwhile, Santa Clara is missing 6’11 sophomore Guglielmo Caruso (11.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Caruso is out indefinitely to injury and has missed the entire conference schedule, so far.