In the tightest game Gonzaga has played all season, we learned a lot about this Gonzaga team and its strengths and weaknesses. The Zags fought and stayed within this game and found a way to capture the lead at several points in the second half. Here are some observations from the Black Friday matchup.
- Against elite athleticism, Gonzaga’s aggressive hedge defense to ball screens just doesn’t seem to offer the best result. The Blue Devils are the first team to match Gonzaga’s points in the paint, scoring 24 points inside in the first half.
- From the start, there were traces of the national championship game where the Zags struggled to respond to aggressive ball pressure, not allowing them to start the offense in comfortable spots.