Gonzaga Basketball: 2021-22 keys for Bulldogs to beat BYU at home

By Tuck Clarry | Jan 13, 2022

Dec 18, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22), guard Julian Strawther (0) and center Chet Holmgren (34) against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the Colangelo Classic at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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Gonzaga Basketball Drew Timme BYU Cougars forward Matt Haarms Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Gonzaga Basketball gets their first conference challenge on Thursday night against the BYU Cougars, a team that has won their last four games and sits atop of the conference rankings thanks to playing an additional game while other WCC schools were on pause.

The Cougars will be the first visiting team to play in front of Gonzaga students in over a month, with an 8 pm Pacific Time tip. They come to Spokane weathering a spree of injuries that have decimated their frontcourt.

Their two big man options, Gavin Baxter and Richard Harward have been sidelined for the remainder of the season. In relief, freshman Fousseyni Traore has been playing as an undersized center and started their last four games.

Despite the injuries, BYU is still ranked 24th in KenPom and was able to dispatch the Saint Mary’s Gaels last week, winning 52-43. It was a big win with plenty of implications, but perhaps most promising is that it proved that the Cougars could win in a slugfest and defensive-heavy game. Knowing that they play well on both ends, here are some keys for the Zags to add another win to their conference record.