[tps_title]Quickness on defense means everything[/tps_title]
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Gonzaga may have more size overall with Arizona’s 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski out with a left foot injury.
However, the Bulldogs’ towering frontcourt struggled against Texas A&M’s smaller, more athletic team in a 62-61 loss last week in the Bahamas.
Gonzaga has three players around 7-foot tall,Domontas Sabonis (6-11), Przemek Karnowski (7-1) and Ryan Edwards (7-1) to go with stretch-power forward/wing Kyle Wiltjer (6-10).
Texas A&M countered with only two 6-10 players — Tonny Trocha-Morelos and Tyler Davis.
The Aggies’ quicker lineup limited Sabonis and Karnowski to only 11 field goal attempts and 12 points. Sabonis, who had trouble against Texas A&M’s speed, fouled out with only two points while Karnowski mustered only 10 points and five rebounds in 29 minutes.
Both teams had 20 points in the paint despite Gonzaga’s size advantage.
Arizona can combat the Bulldogs with 7-footer Dusan Ristic and 6-11 freshman Chance Comanche, but the difference will be how forwards Ryan Anderson and Mark Tollefsen and the Wildcats’ perimeter players can attack the basket and take advantage of their athleticism against Sabonis and Karnowski.
“Our goal was to hold their big three guys to 30 points or less and we were able to do that,” Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said in the postgame press conference, noting Sabonis, Karnowski and Wiltjer combined for exactly 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting from the field.
If those three players do not crack 30 against Arizona tomorrow, the Wildcats certainly have a shot.
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