Story line
No. 2-seeded Gonzaga, which has tied a school record for victories with 32, begins what it hopes to be a long tournament run after bowing out on the first weekend five consecutive years. The opponent is a team that seemingly overachieved this year after losing six seniors from the club that won an NCAA game in Spokane in 2014.
Styles
No. 2 Gonzaga vs. No. 15 N. Dakota St.
6:50 p.m. at KeyArena
TV: TNT
Records: Gonzaga (32-2), NDSU (23-9)
| Gonzaga | HT | PPG | |
| F | Kyle Wiltjer | 6-10 | 16.7 |
| C | P. Karnowski | 7-1 | 11.0 |
| G | Byron Wesley | 6-4 | 10.8 |
| G | Gary Bell Jr. | 6-2 | 8.2 |
| G | Kevin Pangos | 6-2 | 11.5 |
| North Dakota State | HT | PPG | |
| F | A.J. Jacobson | 6-6 | 11.9 |
| F | Chris Kading | 6-8 | 5.4 |
| G | L. Alexander | 6-3 | 18.9 |
| G | Carlin Dupree | 6-3 | 7.0 |
| G | Kory Brown | 6-4 | 8.2 |
The Bison, 322nd in tempo among Division I teams, have not scored as many as 70 points in more than a month — the last time in an overtime game. They’ll look to massage the ball for good shots, defend and hope to hang around. Gonzaga, one of the nation’s biggest teams, will undoubtedly try to wear out NDSU inside, but the Zags also like to push tempo when they can.
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The perimeter
NDSU’s headliner is 6-foot-3 senior Lawrence Alexander, who had 25 points with 6 of 9 threes in the Summit League final victory over South Dakota State and 28 (on 10 of 15 overall) in the NCAA victory against Oklahoma in ’14 — playing every minute of each game. The Bison are heavily perimeter-oriented, with quick Carlin Dupree and Kory Brown defensive specialists and 6-6 A.J. Jacobson a 40 percent three-point shooter. The Zags counter with two four-year seniors in Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr., each capable deep shooters and Bell expected to draw the defensive assignment on Alexander. In the WCC tournament, junior Kyle Dranginis was a big factor off the bench. Edge: Gonzaga.
The big men
The Zags have a decisive edge here, with 7-1 Przemek Karnowski and 6-10 sub Domas Sabonis, big, immovable forces down low. But the Bison’s biggest matchup nightmare might be Kyle Wiltjer, the 6-10 forward who can post down low or float out to shoot threes, where he hits .466. Chris Kading, NDSU’s 6-8, 240-pound center, is a willing defender but a modest scorer at 5.4. He’ll get help from 6-6 sub Dexter Werner, but this is where Gonzaga will try to feast. GU has a rebound margin of 7.3, though most of that came in the season’s first half. Edge: Gonzaga.
Coaching
NDSU’s Dave Richman has done a yeoman job in his first year, taking a team that was lightly regarded entering the year to the tournament. The Zags’ Mark Few is 16-15 in NCAA tournament games, and he holds the NCAA record for tournament appearances (16) starting a coaching career. Edge: Gonzaga.
When they’re struggling
If the Bison allow the pace to get out of hand, they’re usually swimming upstream. Zags sometimes get impatient in their offense, taking the first action rather than prodding for something better.
Bottom line
Alexander will be a challenge for the Zags, but they look to have too many weapons for the Bison to deal with in front of a friendly crowd. The pace might not be pretty. Gonzaga, 69-54.