ZAGS 360: Week 11 – A nail biting win against the San Francisco Dons

Gonzaga Bulldogs
Chet Holmgren 02, Gonzaga Bulldogs (photo by Steve Cheng via Flickr).

The San Francisco Dons came to the Kennel hoping to win against the number one Bulldogs. However, the first half saw the Zags with only a three-point lead. Could this be the first loss to a WCC team in 61 games?

San Francisco was smothering with their defense and lethal with their offense in the first half. Jamaree Bouyea could not miss. He was hitting everything from everywhere. The Gonzaga Bulldogs didn’t get the lead until after six minutes in the game. It was a game of turnovers, trading baskets, and a lot of nail-biting for me.

Gonzaga Bulldogs 78 vs. San Francisco Dons 62

At the 14:00 mark in the first half, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were down by eight points. In just three short minutes, two free throws by Andrew Nembhard bought the score to 17-16, and the Zags were down by one. The Bulldogs could not lose to a West Coast team. They have a 61 game win streak against West Coast teams but it was starting to look in jeopardy.

After a 17-2 run, the Bulldogs were ahead 17-21. A three-pointer from Bouyea ended the half, and the score was the Dons 33 and the Bulldogs 36.

The Zags were back and playing in true Gonzaga fashion in the second half. San Francisco didn’t go anywhere. It’s just the Bulldogs went faster and out-re-bounded them. By the 13 minute mark, the Zags were on their way and never looked back.

The key to the Gonzaga way.

The key to this game was not the bigs, although they had high scores. For me, it was Nembhard. Nembhard is growing into a great point guard. His play is swifter, faster, and more accurate. With him, it is not scoring. It’s knowing where to send the ball, who has the hot hand. He leads the team speeding down the court, and not many can keep up with the Bulldogs when they are playing at such a higher level. Nembhard had ten points, four rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

The Gonzaga way…

Drew Timme led with 23 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Timme is known as one of the best players in the country today. In the two games before this, he had 62 points. Do you think Timme is ready for the NBA draft? You bet he is.

Chet Holmgren is fearless! This young man will go running into the paint, not caring who was waiting there for him. I don’t know why I’m worried about his thin frame; he sure isn’t. Holmgren backed up Timme and contributed 22 points, including two of four from beyond the arc, nine rebounds, and four blocks.

Coach Mark Few used an eight-man rotation this game. Coming off the bench and delivering once again, was Anton Watson. I call Watson the “quiet enforcer.” He never seems to say anything, he just helps his team win. He helped this game with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block.

San Francisco’s Jaramee Bouyea tried but even his 25 points could not do it. The Gonzaga Bulldogs are not an easy team to beat.

What’s next?

The Bulldogs have two games this week which has been rare with teams pausing their programs due to Covid. First up is the Loyola Marymount Lions (9-8) on Thursday 1/27. Next, on Saturday, 1/29 the Zags take on the Portland Pilots (10-9).

Zags Nation let’s be safe out there and I will see you on Wednesday for the Zags Spotlight. We’re starting on the bench players and the first up is Anton Watson.

 

 

 

 

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