Syracuse Basketball vs. Gonzaga: 4 Keys to the Game
By David Stone
Stick to the Shooters Like Glue
Much like MTSU, Gonzaga has a bevy of 3-point shooters at their disposal, led by Kyle Wiltjer. Wiltjer hits 43% of his 3’s and shoots them fairly often. He has a knack for finding open space against the defense and making them pay for trying to cover the interior.
This is precisely what makes Gonzaga so deadly, the fact they can score both inside and outside. Against Utah, six different players hit a 3-pointer. The team shot 47% from the outside and hit nine 3’s as a team.
If they make nine 3’s against the Cuse, it’s going to be a long night. It’s going to be essential for Syracuse basketball to use it’s length on the perimeter to close out on shooters. Let’s face it, they are going to shoot outside shots. That’s what the zone does. If we can at least contest them, that’s a big win.
Aside from Wiltjer, Eric McClellan and Kyle Dranginis are their other 3-point aces. McClellan led the team against Utah with 22 points, so he will be a big target for the Orange defense up top. Look for Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney to play out on him and extend the zone to keep him from getting open looks.
Next: Play Smart and...