Gonzaga Basketball: 2021-22 keys for Bulldogs to beat Texas Longhorns

2. Play through the defense

For the first time since their 2017 run to the national championship, the calling card for this Gonzaga team will be their defense. Holmgren’s 7 blocks on Tuesday night tied a single-game record for the program and his presence eliminates a lot of high-value shots that opposing teams normally depend on.

Texas shot a red hot 64% from the field and 59% from three, with their starting backcourt going 8-14 from outside. Gonzaga and their athletic backcourt will look to deny the clean looks that the Longhorns found against Houston Baptist. Senior Andrew Nembhard, junior Rasir Bolton, and freshmen Hunter Sallis and Nolan Hickman all bought into being active chasers on the perimeter and stifling when on-ball.

The Zags have allowed opponents to hit 22 of 71 attempts (30%) from outside including the exhibition games so far this season. In his return press conference from his suspension, Few was asked about the rim protection but said that he was most impressed with the team’s perimeter defense.

The Zags’defense will be vital as a way to control the tempo as well. Texas ranks 343rd in KenPom’s adjusted tempo because of the style of play Beard loves to run. The Zags scored 24 points off of turnovers against Dixie State with 22 of them coming off of the fast break. If it wasn’t for Holmgren’s record-tying night, more talk would be made of the sticky hands of Watson, who swiped five steals in a show of strength and adeptness of reading lanes and positioning.