Top-Ranked Zags’ Host Dangerous Huskies Squad
Top-Ranked Gonzaga returns home Wednesday to face a dangerous Washington squad. This is after coming from behind to win its first true road game of the season.
Sophomore guard Zach Norvell Jr. scored 23 of his team-high 28 points in the second half as Gonzaga remained unbeaten with last Saturday’s 103-92 win at Creighton.
TV: 11 p.m. ET, ESPN2
LINE: Gonzaga -15.5: O/U; 161.5.
Norvell Jr. is averaging 18.6 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs. The Zags’ took over the top spot in the rankings last week following wins over Illinois, Arizona and Duke at the Maui Invitational.
Guard Josh Perkins had 13 points and 13 assists, forward Brandon Clarke tossed in 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Rui Hachimura contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Creighton. The Blue Jays led by seven at the half but struggled to keep pace with the Zags after the break.
Gonzaga ranks second in the country in scoring at 98.4 points per game. They could be tested by a Washington team eager to record a statement win.
Senior forward Noah Dickerson had 22 points and eight rebounds for the 6-2 Huskies on Sunday. Guard Jaylen Nowell added 17 points the 67-63 win over UC-Santa Barbara.
Nowell averages a team-high 18.1 points on 57.6-percent shooting for the Huskies. They have won two straight following a loss to Minnesota but have struggled with inconsistency on the offensive end.
Dickerson and Nowell carry the bulk of the scoring load. Coach Mike Hopkins will need players such as Dominic Green and Matisse Thybulle to step up against the explosive Zags.
Hachimura averages a team-high 21.9 points for the 8-0 Zags’. They are a team that is clicking despite playing without standout forward Killian Tillie. He will likely miss most of the non-conference season with an ankle injury.
The Zags’ frontcourt has received a major boost from Clarke. He is a 6-8 transfer from San Jose State, who is averaging 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 77.3 percent from the field.
The team’s balanced attack includes Perkins, who was named West Coast Conference player of the week. He recorded 19 assists in wins over North Dakota State and Creighton.
PREDICTION: Gonzaga 92, Washington 77
NCAA Basketball Betting Odds & Trends
| Washington Huskies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Washington is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games | ||
| Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games | ||
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington’s last 6 games | ||
| Washington is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games on the road | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington’s last 6 games on the road | ||
| The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Washington’s last 23 games on the road | ||
| Washington is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Gonzaga | ||
| Washington is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Gonzaga | ||
| Washington is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Gonzaga | ||
| Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Gonzaga | ||
Gonzaga Bulldogs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games | ||
| Gonzaga is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 7 of Gonzaga’s last 8 games | ||
| Gonzaga is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home | ||
| Gonzaga is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home | ||
| The total has gone OVER in 5 of Gonzaga’s last 5 games at home | ||
| Gonzaga is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Washington | ||
| Gonzaga is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Washington | ||
| Gonzaga is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Washington | ||
| Gonzaga is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Washington | ||
Next up:
Washington home to Seattle Sunday, December 9
Gonzaga at Tennessee Sunday, December 9
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