UCLA Basketball: 3 keys to beat Gonzaga Bulldogs in No. 1 vs 2 matchup
By Tuck Clarry
2. Find a way to limit points in the paint
As mentioned earlier, Timme roasted the Longhorns’ defense–or lack thereof–scoring 37 points in 38 minutes. Texas did not have the size to limit the best interior scorer in college basketball, and his fancy footwork allowed him to score through his defender at will.
Senior transfer Myles Johnson will be asked to do the unenviable task of slowing Timme down or at least force him to try and finish over him. Johnson is coming off of a Big-10-All-Defensive team season with Rutgers, where he averaged 2.4 blocks per game. He has great hand skills as one of the best big man pick-pocketers, averaging a steal per game the last two seasons. He is also the best rebounder that Gonzaga will have faced so far this year, which could expose a potential weakness of stopping offensive rebounds by the Bulldogs.
No defender is going to outright stop Timme, but Johnson may be the best candidate to at least slow him down 1-on-1. Not having to double Timme is a luxury that few teams can afford and can help the Bruins hedge on some of the screen continuity action that Gonzaga likes to run.
A big part in trying to limit the Zags, the number one KenPom offense in the country, is picking your poison. While Gonzaga’s 37% from outside could hardly be called a weakness, there is no doubt that Cronin and company would rather see the Zags live and die by the three rather than operate where they’re most comfortable, at the basket. Forcing Gonzaga’s guards to take over the scoring may make them a bit uncomfortable.