The No. 12 over No. 5 seed has been a popular selection through the years because it has happened 53 times since the field was expanded in 1985. In the 2024 Midwest Regional, though, Gonzaga squashed any glimmer of hope for 54, as it cruised to the 21-point victory over McNeese. Now the Bulldogs face the No. 4 seed in Kansas and are slight favorites.
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Gonzaga shot 51.7 percent from the field against McNeese, which wasn’t a surprise considering they were ninth in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. What was somewhat of a surprise was that Gonzaga, not particularly known as a defensive juggernaut, held McNeese to 33.3 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from 3-point range. McNeese was ranked 338th in terms of strength of schedule, so the step up in competition overwhelmed them. So did the size of Gonzaga, as the Bulldogs grabbed 12 more rebounds and scored eight more points in the paint.
Kansas has the size and athleticism to cause Gonzaga problems. Hunter Dickinson, at 7-foot-2 and 260 pounds, was too much for Samford, finishing with 19 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, a steal and four blocks. Kansas shot 60.3 percent from the field, with 54 of their 93 points coming in the paint. K.J. Adams Jr. shot 10-of-13 from the field and grabbed four rebounds, while Johnny Furphy grabbed eight rebounds with 16 points.
Kansas advanced on Thursday without its best player, Kevin McCullar Jr. During this season, he averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals. Not only was he the team’s best offensive player, but he was also its top wing defender. How far the Jayhawks can advance without him is a major question mark.
Saturday’s matchup between Kansas and Gonzaga is interesting because both teams are inside-oriented. According to Bart Torvik, Kansas ranks 335th in 3-point rate while Gonzaga is 308th. Gonzaga’s Ben Gregg is 6-foot-10 and 230 pounds, and Graham Ike is 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds. Will they be able to handle Dickinson?
A weakness that Samford exposed against Kansas was that pressure could force them to turn the ball over at a high rate. Kansas had 18 turnovers Thursday. Fortunately for the Jayhawks, Gonzaga is ranked 231st in forcing turnovers.
What: Midwest Region, Second Round
Tipoff time: 3:15 p.m. ET Saturday
TV: CBS
Location: Salt Lake City
Kansas vs. Gonzaga odds
Odds are from BetMGM and update live. Find the best ticket deals on StubHub to see your favorite team.
Expert picks
Model projection: Gonzaga by 4 points, total 153
See Austin Mock’s best futures bets
Players to watch
Kansas
- Hunter Dickinson, senior center, first-team All-Big 12
- Dajuan Harris, senior guard, All-Big 12 defensive team
Gonzaga
- Graham Ike, junior forward, first-team All-WCC
- Ryan Nembhard, junior guard, first-team All-WCC
- Anton Watson, graduate forward, first-team All-WCC
- Nolan Hickman, junior guard, second-team All-WCC
More NCAA men’s basketball tournament coverage
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- 2024 NCAA Tournament Beer Guide: The perfect round for (almost) every round
(Photo of Anton Watson: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
