The No. 1 general seed within the NCAA match is meant to have the simplest path by the bracket. The match is seeded on an S-Curve, which suggests high staff within the area is meant to face the weakest No. 2 seed, strongest No. 3 seed, and weakest No. 4 seed. Whereas that sounds good in idea, it could be onerous responsible Gonzaga in the event that they really feel otherwise this morning.
The Bulldogs are a No. 1 seed within the males’s NCAA match for the third straight yr. They’re the No. 1 general seed within the area for the second straight season. Gonzaga has achieved nearly every little thing a program can with out profitable a nationwide championship. Whereas the Bulldogs actually have the expertise to do it this yr, their street feels extremely troublesome.
Because the 2022 males’s NCAA match was revealed on Choice Sunday, it instantly felt just like the West was the dreaded Area of Dying. Right here’s why.
Gonzaga has a powerful case as the most effective staff within the nation
No, the Zags have by no means received the nationwide championship. Nevertheless, they’ve made it to no less than the Candy 16 for six straight years, and appeared within the nationwide championship sport twice within the final 4 years.
Whereas this can be a new Gonzaga staff from the one which began 31-0 final season earlier than falling to Baylor within the nationwide title sport, that is nonetheless the No. 1 general staff within the area for a purpose. Veteran large man Drew Timme and freshman phenom Chet Holmgren kind the most effective 1-2 punch of any entrance line in America. The Zags even have an skilled level guard in Andrew Nembhard operating the offense within the halfcourt. Julian Strawther has emerged as a dynamic wing scorer, whereas Rasir Bolton blossomed into the most effective shooters within the nation.
Gonzaga is the one staff that’s top-10 in each offensive and defensive effectivity coming into the match. This can be a official powerhouse with the potential high choose within the NBA draft in Holmgren. So why is their path so onerous?
Memphis or Boise State goes to be a troublesome second spherical opponent
As soon as Gonzaga will get previous its opener in opposition to Georgia State, they’re going to have a tricky spherical of 32 matchup no matter who wins the 8-9 sport between Boise State and Memphis.
Boise State received the Mountain West common season crown and the convention match. Memphis has merely been taking part in like the most effective groups within the nation since freshman guard Emoni Bates exited the lineup with an damage. The Tigers are 12-2 of their final 14 video games, and enter the match taking part in their finest ball after an unpleasant begin.
Boise is the second-highest rated No. 8 seed on KenPom, solely behind the San Diego State squad they beat within the Mountain West match title sport. Memphis is the best rated No. 9 seed within the area. Gonzaga will probably be favored, presumably by double-digits, in opposition to both staff, but it surely certainly received’t be a stroll within the park.
Arkansas and UConn are each feisty as No. 4 and No. 5 seeds respectively
Ask SEC opponents about how onerous it’s to play Arkansas. The Razorbacks received 14 of their ultimate 16 video games in convention play earlier than coming into the SEC match, which included residence wins in opposition to Kentucky and Tennessee. Arkansas was upset off Texas A&M within the convention match, however that is nonetheless a extremely good staff led by a wonderful senior level guard in JD Notae and breakout sophomore middle in Jaylin Williams.
UConn has the profile of a possible darkhorse to make a deep NCAA match run, too. The Huskies play at a sluggish tempo and management the tempo of each sport they play. They’ve a reliable lead guard in RJ Cole and a fantastic large man in sophomore Adama Sanogo. Dan Hurley has this program headed in the proper course.
UConn and Arkansas are each rated as top-20 general groups on KenPom coming into the match. Gonzaga will once more be a giant favourite in any Candy 16 matchup, but it surely received’t be a simple W.
Duke and Texas Tech are each adequate to make the Closing 4
Duke is technically the lowest-rated No. 2 seed after a brutal near the season that noticed the staff lose Coach Ok’s ultimate residence sport to North Carolina, after which botch the ACC match championship in opposition to Virginia Tech. Nevertheless, this Blue Devils roster continues to be simply as proficient as any within the nation.
Gonzaga is aware of how good Duke is. Duke gave the Zags one in every of their three losses by beating them 84-80 in Nov. The Blue Devils really feel like they’re going the incorrect approach as they begin Coach Ok’s final dance, however any lineup with Paolo Banchero, Mark Williams, AJ Griffin, Wendell Moore, and Trevor Keels received’t be a simple out.
Texas Tech misplaced head coach Chris Beard to Texas over the offseason, however former assistant Mark Adams reloaded the roster with transfers and maintained an elite protection. The Pink Raiders have the No. 1 protection in America with an extended and athletic lineup that options nobody underneath 6’6. Texas Tech doesn’t have a pure shot creator at level guard, however they do have a whole staff of robust, bodily, and disciplined defenders who may give any unit suits. If junior guard Terrance Shannon can get on a heater offensively, the Pink Raiders might need simply sufficient offense to breakthrough the bracket.
Gonzaga ought to nonetheless come out of the West, but it surely received’t be simple
Gonzaga’s mixture of expertise objectively looks like essentially the most spectacular within the nation coming into the match. It additionally looks like they’ve an excellent troublesome path by the bracket.
There isn’t actually a components for beating the Zags. After I requested our staff web site The Slipper Nonetheless Matches what the staff’s largest weak point was, that is what they stated:
In my view, and I’m actually not making an attempt to go full meathead fan right here, Gonzaga’s flaw has been their toughness. In 3 of their 4 losses courting again to the Baylor sport, the refs have known as a unfastened whistle and allowed a bodily sport, which is ok, however Gonzaga did not match their opponents toughness (Baylor, Duke, SMC final night time) in these fist-fight kind of video games. The Zags wish to play quick, free-flowing and exquisite basketball however once they have needed to grind in opposition to a bodily opponent they don’t at all times rise to the event. Gonzaga can win that kind of sport (see the W over Texas Tech), however they don’t wish to play that approach.
If Gonzaga breaks by to one other Closing 4, they are going to have actually earned it this time.
