Texas vs Gonzaga: 2021-22 key storylines to watch for top-5 matchup

Oct 31, 2021; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs center Chet Holmgren (34) points to the guy he was covering during a game against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Bulldogs won 115-62. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

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Texas Longhorns head coach Chris Beard Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /

If there was ever an argument to suggest the “East Coast Bias” theory is a thing of the past, this weekend provides additional fodder for the argument. The two biggest games in the first week of college basketball are not only taking place on the West Coast but are running on West Coast time.

Friday will see No. 4 Villanova travel to No.2 UCLA for an 11:30 PM (ET) tip, then on Saturday No. 5, Texas travels to No.1 Gonzaga for a 10:30 pm (ET) start. Two games that will be making the West Coast the “Best Coast” for college basketball.

The Longhorns along with first-year coach Chris Beard enter the top-five matchup coming off a 92-48 victory over Houston Baptist. The Longhorns were led by 14 points from Courtney Ramey as he connected on four of five three-pointers. Prized transfer point guard Marcus Carr led the team with seven assists.

Despite the 34-18 advantage in points in the paint, the Longhorns actually surrendered more second-chance points in eleven than they connected on with nine. A clear indication that a lot of those points came from the backcourt getting to the basket.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs made good use of a non-conference game by handing the Dixie State Red Storm a 97-63 defeat. Gonzaga is returning 46 percent of the playing time from a team that lost in the National Championship game after spending the season as the No.1 ranked team. The Bulldogs were led by Julian Strawther who had a 17 and 10 double-double as well as Rasir Bolton who connected on 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.

The Longhorns and Bulldogs outcome can be summed up in a grand overview as the Longhorns backcourt versus the Bulldogs frontcourt and while that might be a simplistic conclusion to make, it just might come down to the Longhorns front and the Bulldogs backcourt that decides who comes out the victor.