Creighton Basketball will attempt to pull off massive upset vs. Gonzaga

Keep Gonzaga Out of the Paint

Gonzaga sophomore forward Drew Timme absolutely torched Oklahoma in the Round of 32, going for 30 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists – all game highs. Gonzaga is also the best team in the nation at converting two-point attempts, making 63.6% of their attempts from inside the arc.

The two-point shot is Gonzaga’s preferred method of scoring, as they rank 226th in the nation for three-point attempts per game. Limiting the Bulldogs’ effectiveness from close range, especially that of Drew Timme, will be essential for Creighton if they want to win the game.

As far as defensive matchups, there are two primary options for the Bluejays down low. Greg McDermott likes to run a small-ball lineup that is highlighted by ball movement and shooting. The “big” in that scenario is 6’7″ junior forward Christian Bishop. He is a capable enough defender and rebounder to impact Timme’s ability to go off in a second consecutive game. Freshman seven-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner may see increased time for his defense and rebounding. Kalkbrenner has functioned as the team’s sixth man this year and leads the Bluejays in blocks per game.

Mark Few’s team is not uncomfortable shooting the three, converting at a 37.3% clip, but the infrequency at which they shoot the deep ball is indicative that getting them to shoot more three-pointers than usual may be beneficial. Creighton is pretty good at defending the three, so forcing Gonzaga to the perimeter should maximize that strength.

Drew Timme is one of the best big men in the country, and probably the most fundamentally sound of all of them. His impact, combined with Gonzaga’s propensity to convert shots inside, makes it paramount for Creighton to keep the Bulldogs out of the paint as best they can.