The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been named the No. 1 general seed within the males’s NCAA event for the second straight yr, nevertheless it positive didn’t really feel prefer it when the remainder of the West Area was revealed on Choice Sunday. If the Zags have been going to get to the Remaining 4 for the third time in 5 years, they’d need to need to navigate via a treacherous path that includes a succesful opponent in each spherical. The West positive felt just like the dreaded Area of Dying.
Gonzaga’s run via the bracket confronted its first critical problem in spherical two towards the Memphis Tigers. Memphis was no atypical No. 8 seed. It was evident because the preseason that the Tigers had one of the crucial proficient rosters within the nation, however accidents and lineup selections threatened to derail their season halfway via January. Ultimately, the Tigers bought wholesome and tweaked the rotation sufficient to shut the season with 12 wins of their final 14 video games getting into the event. They have been legitimately the most effective groups in America by the numbers since Jan. 20.
Gonzaga wanted this win to proceed on its quest to win its first ever nationwide championship. Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway wished a program-defining win of his personal by knocking off the highest staff within the nation and advancing to the Candy 16 in his first ever NCAA event look.
Gonzaga-Memphis had extra hype than any recreation within the spherical of 32. It didn’t simply meet the hype — it surpassed it.
Gonzaga’s thrilling 82-78 win put the Bulldogs into the second weekend for the seventh straight event. The sport had the depth and expertise of a Remaining 4 matchup with potential top-five NBA draft picks on each side and a charged environment inside Portland’s Moda Middle. We not get a greater recreation all event lengthy. Right here’s what made Gonzaga-Memphis so good.
Gonzaga vs. Memphis was extremely bodily from the early going
Memphis got here out making an attempt to go at Gonzaga’s all-world defender Chet Holmgren. Holmgren is extraordinarily skinny at 7-foot, 195 kilos, however for those who’ve ever watched him play you realize he’s one of many hardest rim protectors in America.
The Tigers tried to problem him inside on a number of possessions throughout the first 5 minutes, and Holmgren principally put a rim on the lid.
Gonzaga fed the ball to Timme on the opposite finish, however he wasn’t in a position to set up deep sufficient submit place to attain within the first half. Regardless, Gonzaga’s dimension put Memphis’ finest entrance courtroom defenders in early foul bother. Each Jalen Duren and DeAndre Williams sat lengthy stretches of the sport as a result of Hardaway wished to have them out there for crunch time.
It was the identical state of affairs for Gonzaga: Holmgren sat the final six minutes of the primary half after selecting up his second half. Memphis promptly went on a run to take a 10-point lead into halftime. Holmgren didn’t have an excellent offensive recreation, which is a credit score to Duren and the remainder of the Tigers. Seeing the large boys inside go at it like this was such a deal with. We simply want they weren’t principally in foul bother.
Drew Timme erupted within the second half
Timme was the most effective gamers within the nation final season as Gonzaga began 31-0 earlier than shedding to Baylor within the nationwide title. Whereas Gonzaga misplaced three key starters from that staff, they saved Timme, and that has been one of many largest causes they have been so good once more this yr.
After a quiet first half, Timme got here out aggressive out of the break, scoring 11 straight factors to open the body for Gonzaga. That included a play the place he hit solely his eighth three-pointer of the season, then continued to assault the Memphis bigs with rip via and submit strikes that saved stress on the Tigers’ bigs. Watch his full scoring show within the second half under:
Timme is a personality with an enormous character, a reality he reminded us of after the ultimate whistle throughout a hilarious postgame interview. Faculty basketball is extra enjoyable with gamers like him.
Memphis did every little thing it might to push Gonzaga to the brink
All credit score to Hardaway and Memphis for an unbelievable efficiency. The Tigers totally turned their season round simply when there began to be hypothesis that maybe Penny wasn’t the best man for the job. He discovered a approach to maximize his staff as Williams returned from harm and the purpose guard state of affairs settled, and he had them enjoying their finest towards arguably the most important bully within the sport.
Memphis didn’t get down all night time. They simply ran out of gasoline.
If I’ve any criticism of Memphis, it’s this: why not let Williams and Duren attempt to play via foul bother as a substitute of sitting them so lengthy on the bench? Regardless, Memphis nonetheless practically stole the sport on the finish. This recreation ought to show that Hardaway is a big-time school coach.
It’s too unhealthy Memphis didn’t choose it up a bit of sooner, as a result of there’s no method they need to have been seeing Gonzaga in spherical two. There’s little question they have been higher than a No. 8 seed.
Issues received’t get any simpler for Gonzaga with No. 4 seed Arkansas ready subsequent spherical, after which maybe a possible assembly with both Texas Tech or Duke within the Elite Eight. We’ll fear about that later. For now, cheers to Gonzaga and Memphis for giving us one hell of a present.
