Gonzaga Basketball: 3 keys to beat UConn Huskies in Elite 8 matchup

Drew Timme vs. the world

One of the great collegiate careers almost came to an end when Amari Bailey’s three gave UCLA the lead with 7.2 seconds left on Thursday night. This really would have been a shame, because Drew Timme was nothing short of brilliant for the Zags, and the lasting image of a Gonzaga loss would likely have been his two missed free throws before Bailey’s dagger.

The mustachioed senior dominated UCLA’s vaunted defense all night, taking full advantage of the absence of Bruins starting center Adem Bona to the tune of 36 points. For the bulk of the game, Timme was the only reason the UCLA lead wasn’t insurmountable.

The UConn front line poses a much more significant roadblock to Timme’s dominance. The Huskies rank 13th according to KenPom in adjusted defensive efficiency, and the two biggest (literal and figurative) reasons for that are 6’9″ junior forward Adama Sanogo and 7’2″ freshman center Donovan Clingan.

If we were to make an All-Tournament team right now, Sanogo would be joining Timme on the first team. The athletic Malian has dominated, averaging 23.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game on incredible efficiency. Clingan, though he plays limited minutes off the bench, is one of the country’s premier rim protectors.

Though Gonzaga’s supporting cast, most notably Malachi Smith and Julian Strawther, stepped up in the final ten minutes against UCLA, for the bulk of the game it was the Timme show. Mark Few will need greater contributions from those around Timme, but for Gonzaga to move on to the Final Four, they need their low post leader to deliver once again on the big stage.

One area where Timme could create an edge is in drawing fouls. Possessing the best footwork of any player left in the tournament, Timme can take advantage of UConn’s propensity for fouling, where they rank in the bottom 15% of the country. Though Timme is merely an average free throw shooter, getting one or both of UConn’s bigs to the bench with foul trouble could really open things up for the Bulldogs.

Timme will also have to hold his own on the boards, as UConn ranks second in the country in offensive rebounding percentage. Sanogo and Clingan are monsters on the offensive glass, and they’ll make Timme work on the defensive end in a way that UCLA couldn’t. After the exhaustive effort he gave last game in carrying the team, will he have enough gas in the tank?

The Zags will need a total team effort to prevail, but Timme is the straw that stirs the drink. Mark Few would be wise to run most possessions through Timme in the post. He’s been one of the most consistent players in the country for his entire career, and he’s the biggest reason Gonzaga’s offense is as efficient as it is. Now is no time to get away from that.