Gonzaga Basketball: 3 keys for Bulldogs to beat No. 5 Duke Blue Devils

2. Hit the throttle from the tip

In both their games against Texas and UCLA, Gonzaga pulled insurmountably ahead seemingly in the first five minutes. If the Blue Devils aren’t careful, their tendency to start slow may seal their fate before they even know it.

Half of the Blue Devils games this season saw them with a lead of just two possessions or less. The aforementioned three-point mediocrity also hinders them from being able to come back from a large deficit.

What makes this even more difficult for a team like Duke is Gonzaga’s absurd depth. If Duke looks to be assertive to catch up, The Bulldogs have a bench full of high motor guys who can keep the gas on and the game out of reach.

3. Challenge the backcourt

Duke’s guards have taken care of the basketball admirably and are known as tenacious defenders that wreak havoc in the fastbreak. But they have also not faced a top 30 defense, with Kentucky also being their only game against a top 170 adjusted defense according to KenPom.

Andrew Nembhard, Rasir Bolton, Hunter Sallis, and Nolan Hickman have all shown a commitment to playing active on ball and perimeter defense. UCLA was immediately flustered by the active hands of the defenders and for how assertive the Zags were at disrupting passing lanes. It would not be shocking in the slightest to see Duke with their highest turnover total for the season.

This game may be the most exciting game of the year just for the sheer pace these two teams normally like to run. It will be interesting to see who wins the turnover battle and who benefits the most from transition offense.