Gonzaga Bulldogs
With less than 6 weeks from us having a bracket in our hands, let us begin to countdown and break down this years March and the madness behind it.
Every day we will look at a different angle of the beauty that is the bracket. From top seeds to bubble teams and every team in between. Which styles of play can be a problem for teams and which teams are on my radar for wearing the glass slipper.
With still 6 weeks to go standings can and will change.
March Madness, Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
This is your parents Gonzaga team, not your big brothers. Gonzaga has had an amazing run the last decade being a dominate elite team and making deep runs in March. This team is more reminiscent of the 2000’s Gonzaga Bulldogs who came into the tournament as underdogs and overperformed.
Gonzaga is currently seeded as an 8 seed in the West bracket with an overall record of 16-7. They are 7-3 in WCC conference play and a lowly 2-6 against quad 1 opponents. They have also lost 3 out of their last 5 games.
Losses this season to West Virginia, Kentucky, UConn, UCLA, Oregon State, Santa Clara, and St. Mary’s have put shined the light on the lack of talent on this team.
Gonzaga has five players averaging double digits and is ranked 4th in offensive efficiency scoring 1.26 points per possession. The Bulldogs are 2nd in the nation at protecting the ball only turning it over on 11% of possessions.
They rebound the ball at an exceptional rate and are one of the best free throw shooting teams in the nation, shooting 81% from the charity stripe. Those are the two most important metrics to me when evaluating a team.
Defensively they are ranked 41st in efficiency, however they give up north of 75 points 9 times this season. They are ranked first at defending the three point line, holding opponents to only 24% from three.
Sets at a Glance
The Gonzaga Bulldogs run a very pro style offense. With one man on the block and the other 4 spaced, ball handler running a pick and roll with two shooters spotted up 50% of the time.
Off of that initial action you can see them playing organized chaos ball. Which means driving and kicking looking for the first open shot that is in rhythm. It does not matter if that is an open three off the drive, a floater off a drive, or a bounce pass to the big or a cutter for a dunk.
Graham Ike has been touted as one of the best big men in the nation. They will give him the ball on the block and run the offense through him the other 50% of the time.
The offense is built to score fast and in bunches. From them taking the ball out quickly to guards being expected to push the tempo.
Final Thoughts and Projections
Gonzaga is built for tournament success, fast tempo, NBA style offense, with two great players. This team reminds me of the traditional small school that Gonzaga is, a lower seed poised to make a Cinderella run.
They are definitely one of those 8 or 9 seeds that can upset the number 1 seed in round two on their way to the sweet 16. Being ranked in the top 5 in the nation in offensive efficiency means something. So does being ranked 13 in the nation in NET rankings.
My only fear for the Bulldogs is lack of perimeter scoring. This is a team I believe you can pack the paint against and watch them struggle to hit threes. Which is ultimately what St. Mary’s did to them this past weekend.
Gonzaga shot the ball 17.6% from behind the arc on Saturday, and only made 3 total shots from three point range. Even with Graham Ike scoring 24 points, the Bulldogs finished the game with only 58 total points.
Force them into threes and this team will go down like the titanic, my guess right now is a second round exit for Gonzaga.
Rowan Donaghey, Sports Reporter and Betting Analyst for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on X via @RowanDonaghey
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March Madness, St. Mary’s Gaels
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