NCAA Basketball: Mock 2020 NCAA Tournament Final 4 predictions
Curtis Wilkerson – @CWilk_Hoops
As most Final Four match-ups tend to be, Gonzaga and Kentucky is a heavyweight bout destined to have fans across the nation on the edge of their seats. Mark Few and the Zags have been fantastic all season. They have been knocking on the door for years and look for an opportunity to advance to the title game and finally finish the job. John Calipari and the Wildcats are a household name alongside the blue-bloods of college basketball. However, Kentucky has not held the throne since 2012 and look to advance to the championship game for the first time since 2014.
Gonzaga has two blemishes on the record this season, against Michigan and at BYU. Gonzaga won both the regular season and tournament titles in what was an underrated West Coast Conference. The Zags boast a lethal offensive attack that blends firepower, efficiency, and balance.
Gonzaga leads the country in scoring at 87.4 PPG, which is five points higher than anyone else in the land. They have multiple threats from beyond the arc and shoot a blistering 38.6% from three. Lastly, on any given night, any number of guys can burn you. All seven rotation players for the Zags average over 9.8 points per game.
Kentucky hit their stride as the season went along, as most John Calipari teams do. The Wildcats won 9 of their last 10 and won the SEC regular-season title by a full three games. As always Kentucky has a roster loaded with top-end talent and has several future NBA Draft picks who can shoulder the load offensively.
The Wildcats have also bought in on the defensive end behind long, athletic guards and one of the tallest front-courts in the country. They ranked behind only South Carolina in the SEC in defensive efficiency and rank in the top 20 nationally in field goal percentage defense.
The match-ups across the board in this game are fascinating, and it starts with the battle of the front-courts. Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie tangling with Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery? Sign me up! Throw in stretch-forward Nate Sestina for the Wildcats and Drew Timme for the Zags, and you have a plethora of size and talent on display in this one.
Ashton Hagans, Immanuel Quickley, and Tyrese Maxey make up a star-studded back-court for Kentucky. When Hagans is on top of his game, he can drop dimes and pickpockets with the best of them. Quickly is the SEC Player of the Year, and Maxey has had some of his best performances on the biggest of stages.
While Gonzaga might not have the “sexiest” names in their back-court, they are more than formidable. Corey Kispert moves without the ball as well as anyone in the country. He is lethal from beyond the arc and a crafty finisher. Ryan Woolridge and Joel Ayayi have been the picture of efficiency. Both have over 100 assists at a 2:1 A/TO ratio and are capable from beyond the arc. Admon Gilder has settled into a 6th man role, where he has provided a big-time spark for the Zags.
I’d expect Kentucky to come out hot in this one. The Wildcats will be pumped up to play on the big stage, and they will use that energy along with their advantage athletically to build an early lead. Bank on this, though, Gonzaga will make a run. They are the top-scoring offense in the country for a reason.
The question is, how will Kentucky respond once things tighten up? They are certainly battle-tested and have rattled off some impressive victories. However, they have not run into the type of balanced and efficient attack they will see from the Zags. Gonzaga ranks first in the country in scoring offense and offensive efficiency. They have one of the best assists/turnover rates in the country. Long story short, they convert at a high rate and do not make many mistakes. I believe this will wear Kentucky down late.