2nd Round Midwest Region: Sabonis boosts Bulldogs

Joe Hall, Staff Writer

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Similar to when a really high seed plays a really low seed, this game was not really close at all. The Gonzaga Bulldogs won this game pretty handily. According to ESPN, this game’s 23-point win tied the third-largest by a team seeded 11th or lower since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Also according to ESPN, this game was billed the “Battle of the Big Guys” because of the two centers, 7-foot Utah center, Jakob Poeltl, and 6-foot-11 Gonzaga center, Domantas Sabonis.

This game started out with Utah winning the jump, then turning the ball over to Gonzaga with a missed lay-up and then finally a Gonzaga score from the Polish-born, big-man Sabonis.

Fast forward to the break.

Poeltl got into foul trouble in the first half, picking up two relatively quickly along with two turnovers. At the half, Gonzaga already had a 44-29 lead. This game never got closer. The Bulldogs ended up winning the contest by 23.

In the press conference after the game, Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said of Gonzaga, “I know Gonzaga’s a very good team…I would not be surprised if they were in the Final Four.”

Gonzaga moves on to play the winner between Syracuse and Middle Tennessee State, who upset the heavy-champion-favorite Michigan State in the Round of 64.