The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Creighton Bluejays need to play each other multiple times per year, because that was a fun as hell game. Creighton’s free throw shooting kept them within range in the first half, but the Gonzaga defense slammed the door shut in the second half.
Zags win, 90-63–the very definition of a good win.
- I know Graham Ike was 4-for-4 from three but I still shudder every time he pulls up for that trailing three and that is a hill I am willing to die on.
- Braeden Smith followed up his disappointing game against Oklahoma with a nice showing tonight. He showcased his speed on a nice coast-to-coast transition play and seemed to be a bit more in his element tonight. It was nice to see because Mario Saint-Supery, once again, had another good showing.
Mark Few has a pretty good setup being able to put either PG in at any given time without too much dropoff. - Let’s talk about that second-half defense, because holy moly. Creighton went into halftime down seven. They hadn’t shot the ball particularly poorly and a free-throw disparity kept them in it. In the second half, absolutely nothing was there for the Bluejays. The Gonzaga defense forced Creighton into multiple scoreless droughts and the Bluejays just couldn’t get a single thing running.
After averaging 1.086 PPP in the first half, Creighton notched just 0.571 PPP before the bench mob came in. - In terms of defense, one stat stands out higher than the rest. Creighton’s second chance points: three. It is pretty much impossible to win a game if your only chance for points is off your first shot.
- Now that we are three games in, we can firmly cement that the defense is going to be this squad’s calling card. In the second half, when the Zags blew the game open (during a 21-0 run), they forced turnover after turnover for easy bucket after easy bucket. The Zags finished with 27 points off of turnovers.
- Owen Freeman was the Big 10 Freshman of the Year and was picked as a preseason Big East first-team player. Gonzaga absolutely removed him from relevance tonight. Freeman finished with two points and attempted two shots.
- Oklahoma finished the game on Saturday with just five assists total. Creighton mustered seven. If you want a stat that showcases how well a defense performed–that is it. When you force opponents into a 1-on-5 mindset, you are going to win that game.
- No game is completely perfect. Gonzaga did not shoot the three well tonight at all. The Zags finished 9-for-27. If you remove Ike’s four tries (and four makes), that goes to 5-for-23. Eeks.
- The Zags have looked great so far to start the season and the upcoming road contest against Arizona State is coming at a perfect time. The Sun Devils aren’t a perfect team by any stretch, but they are decent enough–and it is the rare non-conference true road game. Demonstrating mettle at home is one thing–the Zags need to show they can do it on the road.