Two high-scoring teams will be going at each other this coming Friday when the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Grand Canyon Lopes square off in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament. Check out our preview of this Gonzaga vs Grand Canyon matchup in the 2023 March Madness. There are more college basketball previews to read here at TopBet, so feel free to look around and make bets on the NCAA tournament once you’re ready.
Ever since their loss to the Saint Mary’s Gaels back in February, the Bulldogs have played with a whole lot more moxie. Gonzaga has won all of its last nine games, including its crushing victory over Saint Mary’s in the WCC tournament finals last Tuesday, 77-51. Drew Timme scored 18 points with six rebounds in that game, while Anton Watson had nine points, 10 rebounds, and five assists for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs’ offense is not going to be easy to contain for Grand Canyon, which has a defense that can’t be even called elite in its conference. The Lopes finished the regular season 10th in the WAC with 106.3 points allowed per 100 possessions adjusted. Conversely, the Zags come into the Big Dance with the No. 1 offensive in the nation, as they are averaging 86.5 points per game.
Gonzaga is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
Say what you want to say about Grand Canyon’s defense but it’s the Lopes’ offense that has made them a force in the WAC. The Lopes won four straight in the WAC tournament to claim the lone NCAA tournament bid in the conference. They averaged 84 points in that tourney. Grand Canyon, which is on a six-game win streak dating back to the regular season, is 1-2 in Quadrant 1 games and 2-1 in Quadrant 2 contests. Combo guard Rayshon Harrison leads the Lopes’ offense with 17.7 points per game while three others score at least 10 points per contest, including Chance McMillian, who is shooting 42.1 percent from deep. Harrison dropped 31 points in the WAC title game, so he’s definitely ready for March Madness.
Grand Canyon is 5-1 against the spread in its last six games.
