UPDATE: KREM 2 Sports has just learned Gonzaga senior guard Matt Bouldin is in street clothes at KeyArena for the 7th annual Battle in Seattle versus Davidson. He will not play in tonight's game. Bouldin suffered a head injury in the first half of Wednesday's game against Augustana. He is leading the Zags with 16.8 points per game.
30 second game guide
Bring’em Out: Davidson (2-6) vs. No. 21 Gonzaga (7-2) at KeyArena for the 7th annual “Battle in Seattle” at 4:00 p.m.
Watch for: Gonzaga’s ability to fix some or all of its recent deficiencies. The Zags are an abysmal 67 % from the free throw line and they’ve been outrebounded on the offensive glass in six of the nine games they’ve played. Mark Few said his team needed to work on those things in the Augustana game, and judging by the stats, the Bulldogs need to work a little harder (62% free throws, outrebounded 18-13 on offensive glass), because Davidson will be less forgiving of Gonzaga’s mistakes.
Fear: Steven Gray. This is the second time we’ve highlighted Gray as the predicted Zag to go off. The normally sharp-shooter had his way with the Wildcats in the ’07-’08 NCAA Tournament game, scoring 21 points off 7-12 from behind the arc as a freshman. After coming out of his shell against the Vikings on Wednesday, look for Gray to have another big game against Davidson Saturday.
Respect: Davidson’s big three. The combination of Jake Cohen, Will Archambault and J.P. Kuhlman account for 36 of the Wildcats’ 64 points per game. Nobody else on the team averages more than 6.6 ppg (Brendon McKillop). The Bulldogs should respect the Wildcats in general, but should pound the inferior Davidson if both teams play to their own potential.
Random Stuff: Davidson last beat Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament back in March of 2008. Stephen Curry hung 40 on the Zags in an 82-76 upset win. Gonzaga has lost the last three Battles in Seattle (UConn, Tennessee, Nevada).
