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

Keep it close

You’re probably reading this final key and saying, “Thanks for the expert analysis, genius.” Well, I will choose to overlook your sarcasm and just thank you kindly. I do live in the South now, after all. Though of course a key to any game is “don’t get blown out,” against UConn it is absolutely necessary.

The Huskies are a bully. A frontrunner. They get out to big leads and blow teams out. So how do you beat a bully? Punch them in the nose (I’ve also been told that this works on bears and sharks, but maybe don’t try that). Take UConn’s best shot early and keep the game close. Do that and you’ll find that surprisingly, this Huskies team doesn’t know how to finish.

The Huskies are only 1-5 in close games, a troubling statistic for any team that hopes to win a championship. Contrast that with Gonzaga’s 7-3 mark, and you can see the value of experience. UConn’s Elite Eight appearance this year is by far its best run during Dan Hurley’s five-year tenure. In fact, this is the first time Hurley has led the team out of the first round.

Gonzaga, on the other hand, has been here before. Mark Few has made two national championship games, and he’s also led his team to an amazing eight consecutive Sweet Sixteens and counting. Drew Timme has scored 20 points or more in 10 different NCAA Tournament games. The Zags have won back-to-back three-point games against TCU and UCLA, coming up big when it mattered most, while UConn has been able to rest their starters at the end of every game.

The Zags might play in a smaller conference, but they are battle tested. Will UConn know what to do when Gonzaga keeps coming at them for 40 minutes? Few pressed all the right buttons at halftime against UCLA, and it’ll be tough to bet against him doing it again.

This game has all the makings of an all-time classic, something the boys from Spokane are getting more and more used to. With the rest of the top teams in the bracket decimated, the winner of this matchup will likely be the favorite to win the whole thing.

If Gonzaga wants to finally break through and plant their flag at the top of the mountain, it’s going to take a heck of an effort. UConn is fearsome, but the Zags have a path. They’re the only team with Drew Timme, and he’s shown that he can single-handedly put the team on his back. The Zags will need to give their best defensive effort of the season, with Timme battling down low and Malachi Smith hounding UConn’s talented guards to limit the Huskies’ outstanding ball movement.

Lastly, if Gonzaga can keep it close, their experience and coaching can win out in the end. UConn hasn’t just not been good, they’ve been downright bad at closing out tight games. Gonzaga has been here before, and they know how to finish. Are you ready for Drew Timme to get mustache hair all over the national championship trophy? One game at a time, but it may be coming.