The Baylor Bears and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are going to meet each other this season, after all. The Bears are making their way to the 2021 NCAA Tournament championship game following an easy win over the Houston Cougars. It’s a different story for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who had to experience a stomach-churning ride in the Final Four against the UCLA Bruins just to get past that round and keep their dream for an undefeated season alive. With all that said, check out our preview for Baylor-Gonzaga title game below.
Many expected the Final Four matchup between Baylor and the Houston Cougars to be close, but the Bears did not have any of it, pulling away early in the game and scoring a decisive 78-59 win over Kelvin Sampson’s team on Saturday. The Bears showed how ready they are for the big game on Monday by dominating on both ends of the floor. Baylor shot 52.7 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from long range against Houston. The Bears have the offense to keep up with Gonzaga. If the UCLA Bruins managed to shoot so well versus the Bulldogs, why can’t Baylor, which has gone 19 of 39 on its 3-point attempts over the last two games? It’s not just that the Bears are getting their rhythm of late, as they have been shooting that well from behind the arc all season long. In fact, Baylor is No. 1 in Division I basketball with a 41.2 3-point shooting percentage. The Bears’ defense also presents problems for Gonzaga, as Baylor is a team that’s forcing opponents to commit 17.1 turnovers per game.
Baylor is 4-0 against the spread in its last four games overall.
Gonzaga might still be catching its breath after that exhilarating and nerve-wracking 93-90 overtime win over the hard-to-kill UCLA Bruins in the Final Four on Saturday. At the end of the day, it was Gonzaga’s overpowering offense that pushed it over the hump, with Jalen Suggs delivering the game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer. The Bulldogs shot an incredible 58.7 percent from the field against UCLA. Gonzaga has made 50 percent or better of their field goal attempts in all but one of its five games so far in the tournament. Baylor can have success slowing down the Bulldogs, but the Bears are unlikely to frustrate Gonzaga’s offense all game long. Gonzaga features a stacked unit that’s being held together by Suggs, who should be drafted early in this year’s NBA Draft. Corey Kispert and Drew Timme know how to position themselves for easy buckets but at the same time are also capable of breaking down their man coverage with their elite offensive skills. The Bulldogs will be ready for anything Baylor throws at them.
Gonzaga is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games overall.
