Busting Brackets
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Gonzaga Basketball: 3 keys to beat UCLA Bruins in Sweet 16 matchup

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 1, 2023; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) talks tot he crowd after a game against the Chicago State Cougars at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga won 104-65. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2023; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) talks tot he crowd after a game against the Chicago State Cougars at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga won 104-65. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Gonzaga Basketball
Gonzaga Basketball forward Drew Timme (2) celebrates with forward Anton Watson Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

For those that pay attention to Bracketology, one of the storylines in the month prior to Selection Sunday was which of the west coast programs would end up in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament. It was down to Arizona, Gonzaga and UCLA for the 2 and 3 seeds. In the end, the Buldlogs and Bruins won out, while the Wildcats got shipped out to the South Region, where they ultimately lost in the first round to Princeton.

Gonzaga (30-5) may have gotten a favorable seed but its path to the Sweet wasn’t easy. They got a tough fight from Grand Canyon in the Round of 64, before taking on TCU from the Big 12. The Horned Frogs were leading at halftime but the Bulldogs, led by 28 points from All-American big man Drew Timme, were able to come back and win, 84-81.

Their opponent is UCLA (31-5), who defeated both UNC Asheville and Northwestern to get to the Sweet 16. They’re a familar foe to Gonzaga, with these two being the top programs out on the west coast. More importantly, these teams had a famous meeting in the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, where the Bulldogs kept its unbeaten hopes alive with a thrilling overtime victory over the Bruins that ended with a half-court buzzer-beater from Jalen Suggs.

Suggs may not be around but there are several players on both sides that were in that game set to play this Thursday. With a spot in the Elite 8 on the line, Gonzaga has a chance to continue making the claim that they’re the best out on the west.

Here are a few keys to victory for the Bulldogs.