UConn vs Gonzaga: 2023 NCAA Tournament game preview, how to watch, odds, prediction
By Joey Loose
A major showdown in Elite Eight sees Connecticut taking on Gonzaga for a trip to the Final Four; will the Huskies or Bulldogs prevail?
How to watch UConn vs Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
TV schedule: Saturday, March 25, 8:49 pm ET. TBS
Arena: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
What Dan Hurley has done these last few years at Connecticut (28-8) has been awesome and it’s finally paying off. After two early exits from the Big Dance in recent years, the Huskies are on the doorstep of their first Final Four since cutting down the nets back in 2014. Based on the way this team has played in dominant wins over Iona, Saint Mary’s, and Arkansas, maybe they’re the favorite as it currently stands.
Junior forward Adama Sanogo (17.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg) has been one of the nation’s best bigs and has scored 70 points in the Tournament already while sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins (15.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) is a machine on offense, with 24 points in that blowout win over Arkansas in the Sweet Sixteen. The Huskies have immense size and talent in freshmen Alex Karaban (9.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Donovan Clingan (7.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) while senior guard Tristen Newton (10.1 ppg, 4.7 apg) was the perfect offseason addition, a transfer from East Carolina.
Early in the season, the Huskies looked like one of the very best teams in the nation and are back in that form even after a rough early stretch through the Big East. They’re up at 3rd in the KenPom rankings, sitting 3rd in offensive efficiency and just outside the Top 10 on the defensive side. Connecticut is an elite offensive rebound team, they make their shots from all over the court, and no team is playing better basketball right now.
Many people were ready to write off Gonzaga (31-5) when they were struggling earlier in the season, but they’re in the Elite Eight yet again. The Bulldogs had some tough nonconference matchups and dropped a few clunkers in WCC play, but are riding a 12-game winning streak, including wins over Grand Canyon, TCU, and an all-time effort in upending UCLA, knocking out the Bruins for the second time in three years.
Every conversations starts with senior forward Drew Timme (21.1 points, 7.3 rebounds), who not only recently became the program’s all-time leading scorer, but just had a masterful 36-point, 13-rebound performance in that clutch win over UCLA. Junior guard Julian Strawther (15.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is a dynamic offensive weapon and had a 16-point, 10-rebound effort playing in his hometown against the Bruins. Seniors Anton Watson (11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Rasir Bolton (10.5 ppg, 2.6 apg) have both been here before and are major threats on both sides of the ball.
These Bulldogs sit 6th in KenPom but boast the #1 offense in the nation. That offense was on display in that second-half comeback against the Bruins and continues to churn out impressive performances. Gonzaga’s defense has been good down the stretch, but they’ll need to be better than good against the Huskies. They’re a great shooting team that doesn’t turn the ball over and they’ll need everything they can muster against these Huskies.
Never before has a matchup between a 3-seed and a 4-seed seemed so powerful but both of these teams belong right here. Gonzaga is looking to get back to the Final Four after dropping the title game to Baylor just two seasons ago, ending their quest for perfection just one game short. Meanwhile, the Huskies continue their own quest to pound their way through every team that gets in their path, and they’ve done a marvelous job of that so far.
UConn vs Gonzaga NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 odds
According to FanDuel:
Moneyline: UCONN: (-132) | GONZ: (+110)
Spread: UCONN: -2.5 (-105) | GONZ: +2.5 (-115)
Total: 153.5 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
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UConn vs Gonzaga NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 prediction
UCLA had few answers against Timme, but Connecticut has greater size and talent in their frontcourt. The Bulldogs are going to need Strawther and the other guards to step up their game; they can’t expect another 36-point outing from Timme this time. Connecticut has elite talent all over the court and will win this game with a slightly better defense and a bit of hot shooting from their own backcourt.