Usually, No. 8 vs No. 9 games in the NCAA Tournament are interesting matchups since, on paper, it should be a close game. For this one, there’s extra intrigue. Gonzaga is a top-10 team in most metrics, including in kenpom. However, due to a weaker resume compared to others, they fell into this spot.
The Bulldogs take on Georgia, who went under .500 in SEC play. However, since it was a league that got a record 14 bids to the NCAA Tournament, Georgia could be flying under the radar as a legitimate threat in its own right.
In what should be a compelling Round of 64 matchup, here are some keys to the game for Gonzaga.
Asa Newell vs the Bulldog bigs
The NCAA Tournament tends to be the place where future NBA players shine, and that could include Newell, Georgia’s 6’11 freshman big man who leads the team with 15.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg. He mostly plays the five-spot, so look for him to match up with Gonzaga’s Graham Ike and Braden Huff inside for most of the game. Foul trouble inside will be something to watch, but it works both ways. If Newell, who is still a freshman, struggles, the Bulldogs will be in trouble.
Impact of the 3-ball
Georgia isn’t known for making shots, with just Silas Demary Jr. (13.4 ppg) the only player shooting above 34% from deep. At the same time, the Bulldogs also don’t allow a lot of threes either, having several slashing athletes and Newell to produce most of its production. Gonzaga showed it doesn’t need to make shots to beat quality teams like Saint Mary’s, but they’ll need to make some shots from beyond the perimeter to feel good about its chances.
Khalif Battle
Battle has been the ultimate x-factor for Gonzaga this season. But the inconsistent outings are a key reason why they’re an 8 seed. After a borderline midseason benching, the senior guard has been better, averaging 17.5 ppg in the last four games, all against good teams. In two games against Georgia a year ago, Battle had bad games against the Bulldogs’ perimeter defense. He’ll need to be a double-digit contributor on Thursday for the team to beat their SEC opponents.