Gonzaga vs. Wichita State March 23 Free Pick
Gonzaga didn’t exactly instill confidence in the selection committee that decided to make them a number one seed last weekend. As much as people will love to use the tight game against Southern – a team with the dead last SOS in the country – the ‘Zags live to see another day. Before you jump all over Wichita State, remember that Syracuse almost lost as the 1-seed last year before trucking their next opponent en route to the Sweet 16.
Free Pick
Wichita State looked great in a win over Pittsburgh despite hitting on just 2 of 20 three-point shots. I spoke
about Cleanthony Early in my last
write-up and how I wasn’t sure how we would react to the big stage in his first postseason action. My questions
were answered against Pittsburgh. Early came off the bench to pace Wichita with 21 points and 7 rebounds. He was
the lone member of the Shockers to actually score with any sort of efficiency (Armstead was efficient but much
of it was him knocking down free-throws to ice it).
It’s cliché to talk about how the centers are the key matchup in the game but I really believe that Orukpe’s ability to stretch out and play the mid-range game with Olynyk is going to be key for Wichita State defensively. If he is able to get out and contest on the Olynyk pick-and-pop than Wichita State should be able to play Gonzaga to a stand-still inside the paint. In terms of the guard play, I actually like what the Shockers have to offer on the perimeter against Gonzaga. Malcolm Armstead can really make a name for himself on the national stage in this game if he is able to do what he did against Pittsburgh and score another 20+. The kid is quick and stays very low to the ground with the left-handed dribble and release. I like his game a lot. I also really question who is going to mark Cleanthony Early for Gonzaga. Elias Harris should be in a battle for nearly 40 minutes with Carl Hall underneath and I don’t think either of those two will be able to get advantage of the other.
This game should be phenomenal of two great mid-major teams that are each very deserving of a spot in the Sweet 16. I hate to see one of these teams lose. I give the slightest of edges to Gonzaga because of their size inside and the intangibles of Canadian guard Kevin Pangos who has the uncanny ability to come up with the big shot when the ‘Zags are in the most desperate of times.