Baylor vs Gonzaga: 5 key storylines for No. 1 against No. 2 battle
By Andrew Tineo
1. Gonzaga’s frontcourt against Baylor’s backcourt
Two of the biggest groups discussed early in this CBB season has been the frontcourt of Gonzaga and the backcourt for Baylor. It’s the two units that each team relies on and is the strength on both ends of the floor. However, the unit with the most production on the offensive end has been Gonzaga.
The duo of sophomore Drew Timme and senior Corey Kispert has combined for 45.7 points per game and over 11 rebounds per contest. Although Timme struggled at times from the field against West Virginia, Kispert picked up the load with 19 points on 6-11 shooting and 5-7 from the foul line.
Really liked what I saw from Corey Kispert today vs Kansas. Showed some really deep range, looked very comfortable off the dribble, and got up for an emphatic dunk. Really excited to see more from him and the loaded Gonzaga squad this season.
— Dom Samangy (@DSamangy) November 26, 2020
23 PTS | 4 REB | 8-13 FG | 3-8 3PT pic.twitter.com/r4XXJ6xGoo
Even though they are both bigs, they both play a different style of basketball, with Kispert being the perimeter threat. Against Kansas, he was all over the court and made the Kansas guards’ day very tough. He is comfortable off the dribble and can hold his own as a spot-up shooter.
Timme, on the other hand, is more of your traditional forward that works in the paint and can run the floor really well.
For Baylor, they rely on elite defensive play and a plethora of guards that can shoot the ball very well. Davion Mitchell was an NABC Defensive Player of the Year Semi-Finalist and Jared Butler is an AP Preseason All-American.
Macio Teague and Adam Flagler both average 15.7 points per game. The group of four guards Baylor has assembled is the best in the country and can play in many different ways.
Baylor's Davion Mitchell was the biggest stock riser for me last night. Hit threes off the catch and dribble. Playmaking and feel for the game have also improved. He's always been a hounding defender.
— Brandon Simberg (@BrandonSimberg) December 3, 2020
Has real equity as a 3-and-D guard and will make my next big board. pic.twitter.com/Xz0KJMLBMy
Busting Brackets’s own Brandon Simberg points out an improvement that can make Mitchell a legitimate NBA prospect. His defense has always been very good, especially on-ball as he showcased against Illinois. His three-point shooting was not great last season, only at a 32 percent clip.
However, he has gotten off to a hot start this season, as he is shooting the ball at 58 percent from beyond the arc through the first three games. With Teague and Butler shooting 38% from three last year, adding a perimeter game to Mitchell makes this backcourt even scarier.
The expectation is for both of these units to shine and take over the game.