Gonzaga Faces Tough Test Against Texas in NCAA Tournament Round of 32
Gonzaga survived and advanced in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Kennesaw State 73-64 to reach the Round of 32 for the 17th consecutive year. Their next challenge is an unexpected matchup against the No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns, who upset No. 6 seed BYU 79-71.
Texas, coached by Sean Miller, enters the game with momentum after a first-round victory and a play-in win over NC State. The Longhorns are led by forward Matas Vokietaitis, who averaged 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds during the season, leading the SEC with a 61.8% field goal rate .
Gonzaga, despite their tournament pedigree, has faced offensive struggles since Braden Huff’s injury. They will need to locate effective scoring solutions to avoid an upset against a highly efficient Texas offense.
Keys to Victory for Gonzaga
Take Care of the Basketball
Texas doesn’t force many turnovers, with opponents turning the ball over just 13.2% of the time, ranking 350th in college basketball . Gonzaga, however, excels at ball security, with a turnover rate of 13.7% (17th nationally). Avoiding careless mistakes will be crucial for the Bulldogs.
Disrupt the Big Man
Matas Vokietaitis presents a significant challenge for Gonzaga. The 7’0″, 250-pound forward is a skilled scorer and rebounder. Gonzaga’s rim protection has been inconsistent this season. Exploiting Vokietaitis’s 3.4 fouls per game could be a key strategy, utilizing Graham Ike.
Make Outside Shots
Gonzaga has struggled with three-point shooting, but Texas is as well weak at defending the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 35.4% from beyond the arc (269th nationally) . While not relying solely on the three-pointer, Gonzaga needs to capitalize on open looks to stretch the Texas defense.
Gonzaga and Texas will tip off on Saturday, March 21, at 4:10 PM PT at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, with the game broadcast on TBS.