Gonzaga vs West Virginia: 3 biggest storylines for Jimmy V Classic matchup

Can West Virginia keep up with Gonzaga offensively?

As good as “Press Virginia” has the potential to be, they weren’t on their “A” game in the Crossover Classic. The defense had its issues and offensively, there were droughts. Against Gonzaga, widely viewed as the best offense already in the country, going five minutes without scoring could be instant death.

On defense, however, Gonzaga can be got. They gave up a combined 19 made three-pointers against both Kansas and Auburn, neither of whom are projected to be elite in that category. The Bulldogs’ defensive scheme typically is to prevent penetration and keep the ball-handler in front of them. This is to protect Timme from fouls inside.

But is West Virginia the right team to expose that potential weakness? They made a total of 19 in the three games, making just 32% of the attempts. Only three guys (McNeil, McBride, and Sherman) take over three attempts a game, with McNeil taking nearly eight himself. The bigs don’t space the floor which makes them easier to scout on the defensive end.

The Mountaineers’ ability to press will speed up the Bulldogs but that may work in the favorite’s favor if they can easily break it. With multiple ball-handlers on the court for them, West Virginia may be wise to try something else.

The first 10-15 will tell a lot about whether West Virginia truly has a chance. If they can effectively slow them down and use their big frontcourt, this could get ugly enough for them to pull off the upset. But if Gonzaga starts hitting three-pointers and isn’t fazed by the press, this could end up being another Big 12 victim for the No. 1 team in the nation.