Gonzaga Is Hyped For Its Sweet 16 Matchup With Purdue. But Can The Bulldogs Actually Beat Purdue?

The Gonzaga Bulldogs released an epic hype video ahead of their Sweet 16 matchup with the Purdue Boilermakers. 

At 7:39 p.m. EST (for no good reason) the 5th-seeded Bulldogs will take on the top seed in the Midwest Region. Gonzaga had to beat McNeese and Kansas to get here, and the Bulldogs defeated each opponent by 25 or more points. Neither opponent was all that great, but a team playing great basketball in the tournament (like Gonzaga) should not be taken lightly. 

The Bulldogs fully believe they’re meant to be here, which adds to how dangerous they can be. That contagious belief was reflected in their most recent hype video, which will get the adrenaline pumping in every Zags fans’ veins.

I’m not a Gonzaga supporter, and I even wanted to run through a brick wall after watching that.

But is the hype justified? Even though they are playing extremely well, this is Purdue we’re talking about. They’ve got Zach Edey (the favorite to be the player of the year), several consistent outside shooters, and play a grueling brand of basketball that takes a near perfect effort to beat them.

Nevertheless, Purdue should feel angst playing Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have what it takes to beat them.

If Gonzaga Gameplans Well For Zach Edey, They Could Win

To beat Purdue, you have to have a gameplan for the 7’4", 300-pound Edey. He is the focal point for everything the Boilermakers do on offense, and he commands the paint on defense.

While the Bulldogs might want to dedicate a lot of energy towards Edey, they frankly shouldn’t. Instead, they should let him score whatever he wants and not get into foul trouble while guarding him. That might sound counterintuitive, but it could work.

Edey also doesn't have a star-studded cast of shooters or shot creators around him. Sure, Fletcher Lawyer and Lance Jones can knock down outside shots, but the rest of Purdue’s supporting cast isn’t known for being snipers from downtown. If Gonzaga can trade some buckets and threes while Edey gets 25-30 (while limiting everyone else), that could work in their favor.

Will Colby Brooks (25) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate another tournament win tonight? (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Gonzaga’s approach on offense needs to be dragging Edey to the perimeter to defend, and they have the personnel to do that. Edey will likely guard Ben Gregg, Graham Ike, or Braden Huff when they are on the court. All three of these big men can hit open threes, which could force Edey out of the paint. That would open things up for Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman on the dribble-drive, and make Purdue uncomfortable.

The Bulldogs will definitely face their toughest test of the year in Purdue. But if Purdue is going to fall before the Final Four, this is the night it happens. I smell an upset brewing.

Gonzaga will win, 73-68.