No. 1 Gonzaga (3-0) vs. No. 2 Baylor (3-0)
Site:
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.
Series:
Gonzaga was won all five meetings in this series as four of those wins have come under Mark Few. In the last meeting, the Bulldogs beat there Bears, 83-71, in the Round of 32 in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. It’s Gonzaga’s third game already against Big 12 competition as the Bulldogs ran by Kansas, 102-90, and outlasted West Virginia, 87-82.
Vs. the Spread:
If your are taking the Bulldogs, you are taking the OVER as they have eclipsed the number in 16 out of their last 18 games. Gonzaga is also 7-0 SU in their last seven games in which they are favored. The Bears are 13-7 ATS in their last 20 games and they are 5-0 ATS in their last five games vs. WCC competition.
| Teams | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | -3½ (-105) | -160 | O 161½ (+105) |
| Baylor Bears | +3½ (-115) | +140 | U 161½ (-125) |
Last Time Out:
Gonzaga and West Virginia fought tooth and nail before the Bulldogs outscored the Mountaineers, 22-15 over the last 6:43 to take a hard fought 87-82 decision. Joel Ayayi scored six of his game high 21 points in that final run. Gonzaga held West Virginia to 38 percent from the field. Corey Kispert and Andrew Nembhard had 19 points each for the Bulldogs. Drew Timme checked in with 17.
Adam Flagler led five Baylor Bears in double figures and they held Illinois point guard Ayo Dosunmu to 6-of-18 from the field in dispatching Illinois, 82-69. Davion Mitchell had a huge overall game for the Bears as he scored 15 points and used his defensive prowess to help dissuade Dosunmu, who still came up with 18. The Bears trailed for the last time at 39-37 with 15:26 remaining. A 12-6 spurt powered by a pair of MaCio Teague layups pushed the lead to 49-43 as Baylor took command and led by as many as 16.
From the Kennel:
Mark Few picked up his 600th career victory in the win over Kansas as Gonzaga is 1-8 against the nation’s No. 1 or No. 2 team. Four of five starters – Drew Timme, Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs, and Joel Ayayi – are shooting 56.7 percent or better from the floor. Florida Transfer Andrew Nembhard is already playing dividends as he is also averaging double digits at 11.7 ppg. He and Suggs equate to two different style of point guard in the back court. Look for Ayayi to at least start out on Baylor’s Jared Butler, the Bears’ leading scorer
Bear Tracks:
Baylor has been given a lift by Presbyterian College transfer Adam Flagler, who is shooing 55.6 percent from the floor along side Butler and Teague. He is also the leading 3-point shooter with 9-of-20 makes. Johnathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua has made a huge presence in the middle with 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor. He could draw Timme in the matchups and will work to use his length to neutralize Timme’s scoring ability.
Winner: Gonzaga (-3½) 86, Baylor 80
O/U: OVER 161½
