LAS VEGAS — The Gonzaga men take on Saint Mary's on Tuesday night in the WCC Championship.
KREM's Brenna Greene looked back at the two games the teams have played this year, and compared and contrasted them. She discovered a few things that the Zags need to emphasize if they want to win.
1. DO NOT REGRESS TO THE MEAN
Let's talk about scoring generally in the two games for the Zags. Gonzaga shot the lights out of the first game, connecting on 20 of their 27 shots and averaging an insane 68% shooting. If you remember, the Zags blew Saint Mary's out in the first contest 90-60.
The second contest was much closer, with Gonzaga beating Saint Mary's 86-76. The score doesn't indicate it, but the game wasn't decided until about a minute left. Gonzaga shot 58% in that game.
In a way, the first two games are a bit concerning.
Gonzaga is averaging shooting 51% per game, which means Gonzaga has shot above average in both games against Saint Mary's this year. If Gonzaga regresses to the mean, that could make for an even tighter game. Keep an eye on that.
2. POST PRESENCE
However, maybe they don't regress to the mean because of the kind of shots Gonzaga's been able to get against Saint Mary's.
Gonzaga's post players are just far superior to the Gaels' post players. The Gaels starters in the post are Matthias Tass, who's 6'10'', and Malik Fitts, who's 6'8''. Gonzaga's big three post players? They're all 6'10'' or taller.
That has made a difference for the Zags, especially in that 30-point blow-out. Filip Petrusev, Killian Tillie, and Drew Timme combined for 67 points alone in that game, meaning they outscored the entire Gaels team, who put up 60 points as a whole.
The scoring attack was very balanced, too, with Drew Timme having perhaps his best game of the season with 20 points. Kllian Tillie had 19 and Filip Petrusev scored 18.
The second time around, Gonzaga's big three scored 42 points and Timme only had 2 points. Obviously, that second game was much closer.
If the Zags are going to win tonight it's ideal for them to have a balanced scoring attack in the post, and if Drew Timme has a good game, it will likely mean good night to the Gaels.
3. ATTACK THE GLASS
This final point has to do with the whole team.
Gonzaga has dominated the Gaels on the glass in both contests, holding the Gaels to just 23 rebounds both games. That is eight rebounds off of their average and the big difference has been in defensive rebounding.
In the first game, they held Saint Mary's to 10 less defensive rebounds than what they're averaging per game. It's not just the posts who have been rebounding. The back court has, too, with Corey Kispert and Joel Ayayi combining for 12 rebounds in the second contest.
Basically, the main point is this: Gonzaga's size over Saint Mary's is key. They have to use it to their advantage all night long. If they do, this game is over.
ANOTHER NOTE
Zag fans shouldn't worry too much about Jordan Ford and Malik Fitts if they score their average amount of points in this game. Gonzaga has held them to around those averages both times they've played this year.
If that holds true, Gonzaga wins this game. The Bulldogs just have more weapons.
GAME INFO
Gonzaga and Saint Mary's tip off at 6 p.m. on Tuesday on ESPN.
KREM will have a full wrap-up of the game at 10 and 11 p.m.