Downing Georgia in Dance First Step for Dangerous Zags

Downing Georgia in Dance First Step for Dangerous Zags

> Despite a subpar regular season, Gonzaga appears to be peaking in time for the Tournament

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  By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports

   March 20, 2025

Gonzaga has had a subpar year by their standards, but this still could be the season they win it all.

The No. 8 seed Zags feature a dominant point guard-center combination, which could make them difficult to beat.

Entering the contest with 9-seed Georgia, Gonzaga boasts a 25-8 record (14-4) after beating Saint Mary’s in the WCC Championship.

Despite losing twice to the Gaels during the regular season, and to Santa Clara and Oregon State, the conference title game showed the Zags can still deliver.

No. 9 Georgia vs No. 8 Gonzaga

Thursday, March 20
1:35 pm PT, TBS
Midwest Region, Wichita

The key for Gonzaga in this First-Round matchup should follow the same recipe: Who’s gonna hit the big shot when it matters?

Ryan Nembhard is probably the best point guard in the country, and Graham Ike is a force in the paint, but it feels like they don’t know who to give the ball to in key moments.

If the Zags can figure it out, they’ll prove dangerous.

Flipping the country, Georgia is led by forward Asa Newell, a freshman standout who has been key for UGA and is leading the team in scoring and rebounding.

Newell averages 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and was selected to the SEC ALL-Freshman team.

Georgia forward Asa Newell — Asa Newell vs Vanderbilt | Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Complimenting him is point guard Silas Demary Jr., a solid defensive guard who likes to attack the basket and is averaging 13.4 points per game.

This is the first time UGA has made the tournament since 2015. Will the Kansas lights shine too bright for them?

Gonzaga has made the tourney 26 years in a row including nine straight Sweet 16 appearances.

From a talent perspective, Georgia has the firepower to make a game of it, but Mark Few heavily recruited Newell and should have some ideas about how to stop him.

The Zags win comfortably-close.