Texas Faces Gonzaga with Sweet 16 Berth on the Line

The No. 11 Texas Longhorns aim to continue their improbable NCAA Tournament run when they face the No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, with a Sweet 16 berth at stake. Texas advanced after defeating BYU 79-71 on Thursday.

Longhorns Riding Defensive Momentum

Texas head coach Sean Miller highlighted the team’s recent defensive improvements, stating, “I think the last couple of games from a defensive perspective is about as fine as we’ve done all year.” He believes the combination of strong defense and offense makes the Longhorns a “dangerous” team.

Vokietaitis’ Historic Performance

Sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis led Texas to victory against BYU with a career-high 23 points and 16 rebounds. This performance marked the first 20-point, 15-rebound game in school history during the NCAA Tournament. His 16 rebounds were just two shy of the program’s single-game tournament record.

Mark Seals the Win

Graduate guard Tramon Mark contributed significantly to the win, securing the victory with four free throws in the final 18 seconds and finishing with 19 points and a career-high four blocks. He played a key role in defending BYU’s star freshman forward AJ Dybantsa, limiting him to 1-of-7 shooting from three-point range and forcing five turnovers.

Gonzaga’s Path to the Second Round

Gonzaga (31-3) reached the second round by defeating Kennesaw State 73-64. The Bulldogs, in their final season in the West Coast Conference before moving to the Pac-12, won the conference tournament, led by forward Graham Ike, who was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Key Players for Gonzaga

Graham Ike, a Wyoming transfer and the WCC Player of the Year, leads Gonzaga with an average of 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Gonzaga also relies on a backcourt featuring four guards averaging between seven and 11.2 points, led by Tyon Grant-Foster. Mario Saint-Supery is the team’s best three-point shooter, making 41.6% of his attempts.

Defensive Strengths and Weaknesses

Gonzaga is ranked 10th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, excelling at defending inside the arc, securing defensive rebounds, and forcing turnovers. However, the Bulldogs struggle with free-throw shooting and rely heavily on scoring from around the basket.

Texas’ Tournament History

Texas has reached the Round of 32 four times in the last five years, with their most recent Sweet 16 appearance occurring in 2021. The Longhorns hold a 1-4 all-time record against Gonzaga, with their only win coming in 2022.

Game Details

The game is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. Central time on Saturday at the Moda Center and will be broadcast on TBS.