Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

The Series: Gonzaga leads 1-0

Senior center: Josh Heytvelt:
(6′11″, 260 lbs.,) Heytvelt is the team’s leader. He is tied for the team lead in rebounding with Daye (6.8 per game) and leads the team in scoring (15.1). He, like Daye, can hit the three, shooting 41.8 percent from deep. This guy will be a headache for Western, but his one weakness is mobility. He can’t take a player off the dribble which means he is almost useless when being faced up.

Sophomore Forward Austin Daye:
(6′11″, 200 lbs.,) Daye is the all-around athlete that will probably pose the biggest problem for the Toppers. He’s third on the team in scoring (12.8), tied for first in rebounding (6.8), including being the top offensive rebounder with 182, and can also hit the outside shot, making 41.8 percent of his threes on the season. But he is foul prone, committing team-leading 89 of them on the season.

Senior small forward Micah Downs:
(6′8″, 194 lbs.,) If there is any player on the Gonzaga team that Western head coach Ken McDonald doesn’t want to leave open, it’s Downs. He shoots 38.1 percent from three on the season. Downs is more of a spot-up shooter, who thrives on picks and screens to get open, so his mobility is an issue.

Senior shooting guard Jeremy Pargo:
(6′2″, 200 lbs.,) He’s been the motor for the Bulldogs all season. He leads the team in assists at 5.06 per game and is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.8 ppg. His athleticism is unassuming and his speed can make him a one-man press breaker in the full court. Forcing him into a half court game may be Western’s best defense.

Junior point guard Matt Bouldin:
(6′5″, 224 lbs.,) Ever since head coach Mark Few his turned over point guard duties to Bouldin late in the season, this team has been great. He averages 13.6 points per game (second on the team) is second in assists at 3.41 per game. He also leads the team in threes made this season with 52 and hits them at a 44.1 percent clip. This guy can do it all, but defensively, he defers to double teams, his lateral quickness makes him prone to being beaten off the dribble.

Watch for:
Contrary to Illinois’ half-court offense, Gonzaga is going to look to run and run often. The Bulldogs will also look for their forwards to score in transition. Like Western, the Bulldogs are balanced when it comes to scoring with three players averaging at least 10 points per game, and two more that average at least nine points. Western’s athleticism and three guard set with the versatility of sophomore guard Steffphon Pettigrew could create problems for Gonzaga.

Key to Western victory:
Once again the first five minutes are going to be key, and evident from Western’s win over Illinois on Thursday night, the last five minutes are going to be just as critical. Western seemed a little shaky at times, and will definitely have to take care of the ball.

Why WKU wins:
Western does the things they’ve done all season that makes them successful. They also need to use their athleticism to their advantage. Unlike the predictions leading up to the Illinois game, Western isn’t getting picked to beat Gonzaga, something that could motivate them even more. Also, while it’s always good to have the lead. Both Thursday’s game and Western’s win in the Sun Belt Conference championship have proven that Western is almost better playing from behind then ahead.

Why WKU loses:
Free throw shooting and impatience on the offensive end. Thankfully, Western’s 13-22 effort from the free throw line didn’t come back to haunt them against Illinois. But with the Bulldogs every opportunity Western has to score, they need to do their best to capitalize.

X-Factor:
Senior guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez.
Sure, he was the X-factor for the Illinois game, but his ability to direct traffic on the floor is critical. Also, when a big shot is needed down the stretch, OMV and fellow guard, junior A.J. Slaughter will be the go-to-guys.

Match-up to watch:
Western guards vs. Gonzaga guards. Western’s backcourt was the difference maker against Illinois, this time around Gonzaga brings a little bit more talented backcourt, making it an interesting match-up.

Looking Ahead:
Should Western win, they will make it to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. This year the South Region semi-finals will be played at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.