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

Does Chet come as advertised?

The No.1 ranked freshman had quite the introduction to college basketball on Tuesday. Missing two three-pointers did not prevent Chet Holmgren from dropping 14 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing 6 assists, and swatting 7 shots in under 30 minutes of playing time. All the skills he displayed while playing at Minnehaha High School in Minnesota transferred to the next level. The next level, however, was Dixie State whose tallest player is 6’9 / 240 Trey Edmonds.  Saturday Night, it is a whole different level – yet again – versus Texas.

Size-wise the Longhorns do not pose much more of a challenge, it can even be argued that inch for inch the Red Storm are bigger than the Longhorns, but bigger does not mean better.  The Longhorns are more talented and despite the physical advantage that Holmgren will have – in height – the No .5 ranked team in the nation has much more capabilities of stopping the talented freshman.

In the four field goals he made, Holmgren had at least a toe inside the restricted area, consequently, the two he missed were beyond the three-point line. It will not be possible for the 6’9 /240 Tre Mitchell – if he is not guarding Timme –  to push the 7’0 /195 Holmgren that far from the basket, but he will have to utilize his 45-pound advantage to prevent Holmgren from getting position and to wear him down.

Mitchell needs to take every opportunity to put a body on Holmgren, to make him think twice about going into the key. Granted if you let Holmgren face up to the basket outside the paint, he can put the ball on the ground and drive to the basket.