Gonzaga Preview: Path to Texas upset is tougher, but possible
· Yahoo Sports
The Longhorns are still dancing after upsetting BYU yesterday. Their reward is getting to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a program that has made a habit of making Sweet 16s. However, like BYU, the Zags are missing their veteran leader and second-leading scorer, Braden Huff.
That leaves much of the offensive responsibility on the shoulders of Graham Ike and Tyon Grant-Foster. Also like BYU, there is little size to match up with Matas Vokietaitis on the interior. Texas has to hope the result mirrors the BYU game as well.
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Let’s get into Zags and why the door is open for another upset Saturday evening:
Gonzaga By The Numbers
31-3 Overall, 16-2 in WCC Play
Points Per Game: 84.8 - 19th in the country
Points Allowed Per Game: 65.9 - 17th in the country
Three Point Percentage: 33.5% - 205th in the country
7-2 vs. Quad 1, 11 Quad 1 & 2 Wins
Players To Watch
F Graham Ike: Ike is the leader on both sides of the ball for the Zags. He’s averaging nearly 20 points/game and over 8 rebounds/game, leading Gonzaga in both categories. He’s a load inside, standing at just 6’9” but 250lbs, meaning he matches Vokeitaitis weight but not height. Ike put together a 19 point, 8 rebound performance against Kennesaw State in Round 1, but did find himself in foul trouble. That’s possible an area Texas can exploit and force Ike off the floor.
G Tyon Grant-Foster: Grant-Foster first popped on the national scene in 2024, when he led Grand Canyon to the dance and a first round win over Saint Mary’s. He transferred into Gonzaga before this season and averages just over 11 points/game this season coming off the bench. At 6 '7”, 220 lbs, he’s a strong defender, averaging over a block per game and nearly a steal per game. However, he’s shooting just 25% from three-point range, giving Texas a clear strategy to defend him.
G Mario Saint-Supery: This is the sharp-shooter that can turn the game on his head. He’s averaging just 8.6 points/game coming in, but is shooting 41.6% from three. He shot poorly against Kennesaw State, hitting just 1-7 from outside and scoring just 7 points. However, he’s capable of the elite performance, like hitting 6-12 threes and scoring 21 points in the WCC Championship against Santa Clara. Texas can’t allow Saint-Supery to get going or it might be a long day for the Horns.
G Jalen Warley: Since the Braden Huff injury, Jalen Warley has stepped up his game on and off the floor. Warley transferred in from Florida State this offseason and has had an up-and-down season. He put together a 12 point, 12 rebound and 5 assist performance, one of his best games of the season. Also, like Grant-Foster, he brings a 6’7” frame and 1.5 steals/game to the table, which could make life tough on the Texas guards.
Overall
This is the best team Texas has played in the tournament. There is no question about that. The defense is elite with tons of length in the backcourt. Graham Ike is the sole dominant force in the post but far from the only player that can score at the basket. Gonzaga does a great job getting to the rim and getting quality looks on offense. Matas Vokietaitis will have to put together another strong performance for Texas to hold up defensively.
On offense, Vokietaitis and Texas will have the size advantage once again. Gonzaga is a stronger rebounding team than NC State and BYU but there should be second-chance opportunities for the Horns. Despite that, the Zags defense will force the Texas offense to make tough shots throughout the game, especially at the three-point line. Tramon Mark, Dailyn Swain and Jordan Pope need to keep hitting shots at a high level to stick around.
On the whole, this is a winnable game for the Longhorns. However, Gonzaga is going to force Texas to play a cleaner, more complete game than they have thus far. Dailyn Swain needs to be a bigger factor on the offensive side, Matas Vokietaitis needs to take advantage of the height advantage and Tramon Mark needs to keep hitting tough shots. If Texas can slow Ike, the rest might just fall into place for a Sweet 16 berth in Sean Miller’s first season.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Gonzaga Preview: Graham Ike, guard length make upset tougher for Texas