Gonzaga Bulldogs (#1) vs. Duke Blue Devils (#5) – injuries, tv, odds, and more
Ed Stein
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Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Pacific Northwest Sports presents what you need to know for the Top-5 matchup between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Duke Blue Devils.
Gonzaga basketball fans didn’t have to wait long to watch their team face another quality opponent. Friday’s contest against number five Duke is the Zags’ third game against a top-five team in 2021-22.
Details
Who: Duke Blue Devils (6-0) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (6-0).
Where: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nev.
When: Friday, November 26, 2021 – 7:30 PM PST.
TV: ESPN. Announcers: Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas.
Line: Gonzaga -8.5. Over/Under: 154 (Odds Shark).
Injuries: Gonzaga – Out: Dominick Harris (foot). Duke: Out – Michael Savarino (non-basketball related).
Interesting Trends: Since 2016, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are 169-14, including 66-3 over since 2019. The Zags’ last November loss was two years ago against Michigan.
Last season was an uncharacteristic disaster for the Blue Devils who finished with a 16-14 record. At the 2021ACC Tournament, Duke won their first two games before COVID-19 forced them out. They continued the positive momentum into 2021 with a 6-0 start.
Outlook
This is the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ second game against a top five team in Las Vegas this week. So far, they’ve steamrolled their competition without regard to that team’s ranking at the time.
The Zags are a very complete team; it’s hard to find any weaknesses in the way they play. Preseason Player of the Year Drew Timme is virtually unstoppable in the post, and 7-1 Chet Holmgren is the perfect complement. Point guard Andrew Nembhard makes the whole thing run while Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther score from the wing.
What sets this year’s team apart is defense. Gonzaga is relentless, limiting their opponent’s scoring opportunities. In addition, the Bulldogs have outstanding depth. Nolan Hickman, Anton Watson, and Hunter Sallis would start for most teams in the country.
Aside from two top five teams meeting up, there is also a battle of top five freshmen and possible number one draft picks. Holmgren was the top recruit of 2021, but 6-10 forward Paolo Banchero from O’Dea High School in Seattle was not far behind him.
Banchero has been outstanding thus far, averaging 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists. Duke also relies on guards Wendell Moore (17.5, 6.3, 5.7) and Trevor Keels (13.3, 3.7, 2.8) to propel their offense.
Related Story: Zags Spotlight – Andrew Nembhard
I have a big one tonight: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 5 Duke. ?
In addition to being a great matchup, there will be a bunch of NBA prospects to see, including Banchero, Holmgren, Griffin, Keels, Williams, Timme, and more. ? pic.twitter.com/pYCGbkkkul
— Matt Babcock (@MattBabcock11) November 26, 2021
We’ll have our take on the game with Zags 360 next Monday.