Georgia’s Asa Newell is a problem. How can Gonzaga solve it in Round One?

March Madness kicks off with a high-stakes showdown as Gonzaga battles Georgia’s star freshman and its uncompromising defense.

Georgia and Gonzaga’s first-round 8/9-seed matchup has all the makings of a down-to-the-wire barn burner between two teams with a lot to prove. One team moves on, lives to fight another day, the other sees its season end in unceremonious disappointment (in Wichita, no less).

For Georgia, this is a chance to prove they belong among the nation’s elite after an up-and-down season in the brutal SEC. For Gonzaga, it’s an opportunity to validate the early-season hype and show they’re peaking at the right time. For one of these two teams, it’s the absolute end of the line.

With two athletic, opportunistic teams loaded with elite talent—including Georgia’s star freshman Asa Newell—this game will be physical, intense, and competitive from start to finish. The team that handles the pressure, stays composed, and executes late will advance to face the winner of SIU-Edwardsville vs. Houston (so, Houston) in Round 2.

Meet Asa Newell

Georgia’s season has been anchored by freshman standout and probable lottery pick Asa Newell. Though the offense doesn’t always run through him, he has a sneaky way of becoming the top priority of opposing defenses with his rebounding, finishing ability, and presence in the paint. He leads the Other Bulldogs in scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg) this season, and alongside 6’11” center Somto Cyril, has formed one of the most dominant young frontcourts in the SEC.

Most interestingly for Zag fans, Gonzaga was once a serious contender for Newell, fiercely battling Alabama, Texas, and Georgia for the 5-star recruit. He ultimately chose Georgia—a dark-horse pick—to play alongside his brother Jaden and to feature more prominently as a scorer in Georgia’s isolation-heavy offense.

Newell was a priority for Few and his staff for good reason. His athleticism, size, and versatility have drawn comparisons to Walker Kessler and former Zag Brandon Clarke. He is a true 4 who is explosive, finishes well through contact, attacks off the dribble, and defends at an elite level in both the low post and on the perimeter. His high motor, unselfishness, and off-ball movement have made him one of the most well-rounded freshmen in the country and it’s hard to imagine Georgia will be able to hold onto him following the conclusion of this season.

With Anton Watson gone, Gonzaga needed a versatile forward who could space the floor and defend multiple positions. Newell fit that role perfectly, but instead of filling that void, he’ll now be the Zags’ biggest hurdle to Round 2.

What Makes Newell So Dangerous?

Newell thrives on efficiency and versatility inside the arc. While he isn’t a consistent outside shooter, he has improved recently and continues to expand his range ahead of his NBA transition. He shoots 54% from the field and 74.4% from the free-throw line, logging just under 30 minutes per game, so the Zags can expect to see plenty of Newell tomorrow night in Kansas.

Much of his offense comes from his work on the glass, leading Georgia with 3.3 offensive rebounds per game. Like Mitchell Saxen and Paulius Murauskas, he positions himself early and out-rebounds stronger bigs with his length and timing. He also has a knack for slipping behind defenders for easy baskets at the rim, often benefiting from defenses collapsing on Somto Cyril and RJ Godfrey. Too many teams have doubled Cyril and left Newell open near the basket, a mistake Georgia has routinely punished.

Defensively, Newell’s length, athleticism, and footwork make him a matchup nightmare inside and on the perimeter. He switches onto guards, protects the rim without fouling, and rebounds well against bigger opponents. His ability to alter shots, close out on shooters, and control the glass makes him one of Georgia’s most impactful defenders.

Alongside Cyril, Georgia’s frontcourt forces opponents into difficult decisions at the rim. Ike and Huff will need to be quick and decisive when passing out of or finishing over double-teams.

What This Means for Gonzaga

Gonzaga’s plan to slow down Georgia by speeding them up should already be partially in place, thanks to their recent showdown with Saint Mary’s. Their ability to force slow offenses to play fast and win despite rebounding disadvantages was on full display in the WCC Championship, and they’ll need to take a similar approach against Georgia.

Containing Asa Newell is the key to disrupting Georgia’s offense. His impact on the offensive glass and ability to finish at the rim make him their most dangerous weapon. Keeping him off the boards, avoiding unnecessary double-teams, and forcing Georgia’s guards into tough shots outside will give Gonzaga a strong chance to control the tempo and advance.

Final Thoughts

Georgia is unpredictable—capable of knocking off giants when they’re hot or losing to unranked teams when they stall out. If this sounds familiar, you’re right. For Gonzaga, the keys to winning will be dictating the pace, neutralizing Newell in the frontcourt, fighting hard for rebounds, and forcing Georgia to beat us from outside.

Fortunately, forcing slow teams to play fast and winning the game despite rebounding disadvantages was a hallmark of Gonzaga’s WCC Championship run. Thanks to Saint Mary’s, their style is well-suited to dictating the game’s pace while handling Georgia’s physical defense.

March is always wildly unpredictable. That’s what makes it so fun. And the sheer volume of spectacular teams out of the SEC this year makes it tough to predict how any of them will perform once the tournament kicks off. Despite Georgia’s occasional struggles this year, Zag fans should be well prepared for the fact that the Other Bulldogs have been playing against the best teams in the league for the past few months and do not back down from a dogfight.

The Zags will need to be prepared for exactly that.