Gonzaga Basketball: 2019-20 keys to beating the ranked BYU Cougars

Gonzaga needs to guard the perimeter

Another big reason Killian Tillie will be so important for the Zags is his ability to guard the perimeter.

BYU absolutely lights it up from downtown. As of this writing, they lead the nation in three-point percentage (42.3%) and are second overall in three-pointers made (307). They are shooting an even more ridiculous 44.7% in conference play – a figure that, if they can match or exceed against the Zags, could spell trouble for the number two team in the nation.

BYU can shoot if from nearly every position on the field as well, with Jake Toolson (45.7%) Yoeli Childs (51.4%) TJ Haws (38.1%) and Alex Barcello (50%) all lighting it up from beyond the arc.

While three-point defense has been an issue for the Zags in the past (many still have nightmares of the 2010 NCAA tournament where Wesley Johnson and Andy Routins rained threes all over Gonzaga’s ill-advised 2-3 zone) Gonzaga has improved in that area quite a bit this season.

Overall, they are holding opponents to a 31.4 percent mark from beyond the mark, a number that drops to an absolutely pitiful 28.4 percent mark in conference play.

In fact, the last time these two teams played each other Gonzaga managed to hold BYU to 6-for-20 (30 percent) with only Toolson (2-5) making more than one attempt for the Cougars.

Of course, BYU was missing something real big in that contest, superstar forward Yoeli Childs and his return will almost certainly be a huge factor in this contest.

Stopping him will be priority number one for the Zags, and if they are able to do so they should not have a problem winning this one.