It feels like years have past since Purdue basketball defeated Gonzaga, 73-63, earlier this season.
The two teams will play in a rematch Friday night in the Sweet Sixteen, as the Boilermakers earned the win in the first round of the Maui Invitational on Nov. 25.
And, it will feature two teams that are vastly different than when they played around Thanksgiving.
For starters, that was only the third time a new look Gonzaga team had played together in a game. And, for the Purdue basketball team, the expectations were high, but nobody really knew what to expect from a team that was reeling from another early exit in the NCAA Tournament the season before.
What we know now is both of these teams are extremely good. Purdue (31-4) is the top seed in the Midwest bracket and looking to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 1980. The Bulldogs (27-7), on the other hand, have made it to nine straight Sweet Sixteen appearances.
Scouting the ‘Zags
Gonzaga has wins over McNeese and Kansas in the NCAA Tournament.
Leading the way for Mark Few’s team is Graham Ike, a 6-foot-9-inch junior, who averages 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. In addition to Ike, Gonzaga boasts Anton Watson, who is averaging 14.5 points and 7.2 rebounds.
As a team, the Bulldogs have six players who average at least nine points a game. In the backcourt, Gonzaga is paced by standout Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman.
As was shown against Kansas in the second round, Gonzaga can light up the scoreboard and hit shots from anywhere on the floor. When the Bulldogs score 80-plus points, they are 21-0 and also 21-0 when shooting at least 50 percent.
Purdue basketball knocked off ‘Zags in November
When the two teams met in November, it was Purdue basketball big man Zach Edey that was the difference. The center scored 15 of his game high 25 points in the first half.
Edey was 50 percent from the field and was 9-of-10 from the free throw line and also recorded 14 rebounds and three blocks. Both Lance Jones and Braden Smith scored 13 points each, while the Zags kept Fletcher Loyer scoreless.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few told the media Thursday that he has coached a long time and has never had to deal with someone like Edey, who has size and is a good player.
“He’s really developed his touch. His ball goes in now. It’s very soft. Great passer if you choose to double team him. Shoots free throws really really well. Obviously at that size, really impacts the game on the defensive end,” Few said of Edey.
Does having seen Edey already this season help Gonzaga?
“The positive is we have seen him. We played him in the PK-85 early a year ago. Like I mentioned, we played him in the Maui tournament at Thanksgiving. At least we’ve felt his size and his strength, and also played against a really, really good Purdue team. So if anything, we can draw on some of those experiences,” Few said.
Gonzaga found themselves with a nine point lead, but were outscored 43-28 in the second half. Ike led the way for the Bulldogs with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Membhard added 11 points, six assists and three steals and Hickman scored 11 points.
The Bulldogs shot a dismal 37 percent from the field and were outscored 44-30 in the paint.
Few said both Gonzaga and Purdue basketball are “vastly different” than when they played in November.
“We actually played really, really hard against them the first time. We just turned the ball over too much and shot way, way, way too many threes. So I think, hopefully, we’ll get that cleared up. We’re sharing it better, and I think we’re much more purposeful on the offensive end. But they’re better too, so I think that will be the biggest challenge there,” Few said.
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