Arkansas Basketball: 3 keys to beating Gonzaga in Sweet 16 matchup

2. Starting Hot

As simple as it sounds, the Razorbacks need to open the game hot to have a chance against Gonzaga. The Zags have been challenged in each of their previous two games, first by a No. 16 Georgia State team that kept pace with Gonzaga for 30 minutes, and then by a No. 9 Memphis team that led by double digits at halftime.

In fact, a common theme in all three of Gonzaga’s losses this season is that they trailed at halftime – by three to Duke, and by 15 or more to both Alabama and Saint Mary’s.

The Zags have opened slow in their two 2022 NCAA Tournament games, allowing opponents to hang around for long stretches before finally putting them away. If Arkansas Basketball can score consistently from the opening tip, the Zags may find themselves in another difficult spot.

JD Notae can be counted on for a scoring punch; he leads the Razorbacks with 18.4 points per game. However, he did not score any of his 17 points versus New Mexico State until the second half. Notae’s first-half disappearance was mitigated by the efficient play of Stanley Umude combined with the low-scoring nature of the game itself, but he will need to show up early and often for Arkansas to get off on the right foot against Gonzaga.

Despite his streaky play throughout the season, some have labeled Notae as a candidate for a Kemba Walker-esque run – this game provides the ultimate proving ground.