NCAA Basketball: Mock 2020 NCAA Tournament Elite 8 predictions
1) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs 2) San Diego State Aztecs
Danny Priest
It’s a shame the Aztecs aren’t getting the chance to actually compete in March Madness because they’re a fun, deep team that can legitimately play with anyone in the country. Malachi Flynn is the most dangerous weapon and not only do the Aztecs score the ball well (86th in the nation) they also play defense with the best of them allowing less than 60 points per game to opponents.
All year long, Gonzaga has been a juggernaut. Filip Petrusev, Corey Kispert, and Killian Tillie are the teams top three scorers, but from top to bottom they are dangerous. San Diego State is a legit team, but I still think the Zags can find a way to score on anyone. Senior leadership from Killian Tillie will play a big factor in this game that comes down to the wire.
Gonzaga 77, San Diego State 75
Matthew Winick
This matchup is the dream of any college basketball fan staying up until the late hours of the night watching West Coast basketball. The two best teams on that side of the country both asserted their dominance on their respective conferences. Despite a few slip-ups on each side, both squads won their conference regular seasons, with Gonzaga also winning the WCC tournament.
As per usual with a Mark Few roster, no specific player took the reigns for Gonzaga. They had a remarkable seven players average at least 9.8 points per game, leading the number one scoring offense in the nation. Most shockingly, they did it with only one returning starter from the year prior (Corey Kispert). The Bulldogs are a combination of passers and shooters, guards and bigs, yet play with noticeable continuity. They only go seven deep, but every player is trusted by the coaching staff. Most importantly, with their elite offense, they are never out of a game, even if they struggle out of the gate.
On the other hand, San Diego State’s surprise season has been well documented this season. Led by a plethora of transfers, namely guard Malachi Flynn, the Aztecs have stifled teams with their third-ranked scoring defense all season. They have struggled to score from time to time and weren’t quite as dominant down the stretch of Mountain West play, but their slow and steady approach almost always led to victory. If fate had its choice of victor, it would probably be given to this San Diego State ball club.
When push comes to shove, this is the battle of a high-powered, up-tempo offense and a slow-paced, grind it out defense. The pace will truly dictate the outcome of the game. In fact, I would imagine that with the steady play of Flynn, the Aztecs keep the game relatively slow. With that being said, Gonzaga simply has too many weapons offensively, and if the game is tight down the stretch, I would have to side in their direction
Gonzaga 68, San Diego State 66
Donovan Darlington
Here is a very intriguing matchup between the hottest two NCAA Basketball teams on the West Coast this season. Another storyline making this game fun is the fact that both, coming from traditional mid-major leagues, could send a huge message to the rest of the teams still in the field. When I look at the way these two stacks up against each other, I see two of the best defenses in college basketball. Gonzaga held its opponents to only 67.8 ppg. San Diego State ranked 3rd in the country in the same category, holding its opponents to only 59.5 ppg.
Now, the level of competition might be part of the reason for this, but nonetheless, I do not feel like anybody has the ability to score on these teams with ease. The defense in this game would be great, but the truth is, the offensive depth of each would be a huge test for the other. Outside of maybe Jordan Ford for Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga has not seen too many guards like Malachi Flynn of San Diego State. Flynn leads the Aztecs in scoring with 17.6 ppg. He will deal plenty of damage against Gonzaga.
Ultimately this game will come down to depth. I feel like the Bulldogs just have too many weapons in the frontcourt, and they may overpower the Aztecs on offense and defense. Filip Petrusev, Killian Tillie, and Corrie Kispert have not had much trouble doing what they need to do all season. They average 17.5, 13.9, and 13.6 ppg, respectively. Forwards, Matt Mitchell and Yanni Wetzell of San Diego State, are great players, but the Gonzaga frontcourt is at another level. I think it will be close for the majority of the game, but Gonzaga will pull away in the end.