Gonzaga vs. UConn Preview

Showdown in the Garden – Gonzaga looks to bounce back against a newly resurgent UConn on Saturday. Tip-off is at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

It’s been a bizarre season for Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies. Coming off back-to-back NCAA national championships, the Huskies entered this year as the No. 2 ranked team in the nation with sky-high expectations for a three-peat among loyal Husky fans.

Sure, they lost four of five starters from last year’s title-winning squad to the NBA draft and offseason recruiting wasn’t quite the blockbuster hit parade fans had hoped, but the season started strong. The Huskies secured decisive wins against basketball “giants” like Sacred Heart and East Texas A&M, leaving fans characteristically optimistic, despite signs that UConn might be a little behind schedule in terms of developing on-court chemistry. Redshirt junior Alex Karaban, the team’s new shining star, was living up to the preseason buzz, dominating opponents and putting on an offensive clinic night after night with his meticulous and versatile style of play. Despite the massive turnover from the previous year, another national championship run seemed well within the realm of possibility.

Then came the Maui Invitational.

Over three sun-soaked days in paradise, the Huskies lost three games to three unranked teams. First, they fell in a one-possession overtime slugfest to Memphis. Disappointing? Yes, but close losses to scrappy teams happen. (Who doesn’t get unexpectedly waxed in overtime by an unranked team in a tropical paradise over Thanksgiving break from time to time, right?) Then came a one-point heartbreaker to Colorado the next day. Alarming? Sure, but nothing to totally panic about for a program of UConn’s stature. They’ll right the ship ASAP, right? And then, the pièce de résistance: a downright embarrassing blowout loss to Dayton. The Huskies were out-rebounded 41-25 by the Flyers and trounced by 18 points. They left Maui amidst a flurry of controversy surrounding Dan Hurley’s less-than-professional postgame analyses and mounting concerns over poor performances from their supposed linchpin high-profile transfers.

Cue the chaos.

Hurley’s many critics spent Thanksgiving weekend dancing in the streets like it was Mardi Gras. Meanwhile, a well-supported army of fervent UConn haters feasted on a banquet of schadenfreude served up by the Huskies’ spectacular public collapse.

Post-Maui, the AP Poll delivered its verdict. UConn plummeted 23 spots, landing at No. 25— as poorly ranked as a college basketball team can possibly be while still technically being ranked. Despite Hurley’s impassioned grievances about sketchy officiating, a grueling tournament schedule, and all other manner of explanations for his team’s poor performance, the message was clear. The No. 2 team wasn’t just mortal—they might actually be kind of bad.

That, of course, was then. A lot can change in just a few weeks.

Since their dramatic drop in the AP Poll, the Huskies have clawed their way back to No. 18 with statement wins over No. 15 Baylor and the formidable 7–2 Texas Longhorns. UConn seems to be back on an upward trajectory, and at times, they’ve even looked like the championship-caliber team fans know and love. However, their tantalizing potential has been tempered by periods of inconsistency, making their upcoming showdown with Gonzaga—another team struggling to corral its chemistry—exceptionally hard to predict.

The Zags are regrouping after a nail-biting overtime loss to a surging Kentucky squad last week. Despite dominating the first half, Gonzaga couldn’t hold onto an 18-point lead as Kentucky came alive offensively and put the Zags on their heels defensively.

While the Huskies seem to have steadied the ship since their Maui struggles, Gonzaga’s journey has been rockier since their own Feast Week fiasco. The outcome of Saturday’s matchup at Madison Square Garden will largely depend on which version of each team takes the court. It could be the best game of the season so far, or it could turn into the most disappointing marquee matchup.

UConn’s Key Players & Offensive/Defensive Philosophy

UConn’s offense is anchored by the versatile Alex Karaban, the lone returning starter from last year’s championship team. The 6’8” junior forward is a force at both ends of the floor, averaging 17 points per game on 50% shooting, including a deadly 48% from three. In the absence of consistent floor-marshalling from UConn’s backcourt, Karaban is the focal point of the Huskies’ offense—he scores at all three levels, facilitates for teammates, and defends the rim without fouling. With 2 blocks per game and no more than a single turnover in any contest this season, he’s a model of consistency. Expect him to play 33-35 minutes on Saturday and test the defensive chops of Michael Ajayi and Ben Gregg. When Karaban is on, he’s one of the top players in college basketball.

Supporting Karaban in the frontcourt is 6’10” senior Samson Johnson, though his impact has been limited due to foul trouble and subpar rebounding. Instead, Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr. has emerged as a vital contributor off the bench, averaging 11 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting an impressive 74% from the field. In the backcourt, sophomore Solo Ball has been the Huskies’ most reliable scorer, averaging 13 points per game with nearly 50% shooting. A deadly three-point shooter who can also attack the rim, Ball will test Gonzaga’s perimeter defense. If he gets hot, Dusty Stromer and/or Emmanuel Innocenti may be called upon to isolate and slow him down.

Dan Hurley’s offensive strategy is all about precision and maximizing shot quality. UConn’s offense is centered around high-percentage opportunities—three-pointers, dunks, and free throws—backed by a disciplined, analytics-driven approach. Karaban is a central figure, operating off staggered screens (a look the Zags should be well acquainted with after getting absolutely carved up by Kentucky’s Andrew Carr last week), while Solo Ball’s off-the-ball movement creates chances for easy buckets. Every possession is theoretically supposed to be a well-orchestrated play, designed to force the defense into tough decisions, creating mismatches and exploiting weaknesses. This will be the biggest test of the Gonzaga defense’s ability to think on its feet so far this season.

Defensively, the Huskies bring a relentless, no-nonsense mentality in the half-court. Hurley’s “pack” defense thrives on applying pressure to the right spots at the right time, swarming ball handlers and dominating the boards with a physical presence. It’s a defense built on chaos but executed with precise efficiency. When UConn’s defense is clicking, they’re a machine that can systematically dismantle a team like Gonzaga, who thrives on pushing the tempo and seeking high-percentage shots quickly. Their combination of meticulous, fast-paced offense and stifling, high-energy defense makes UConn one of the most dangerous teams in the country when things are going according to plan.

How to Win

Keep Karaban Uncomfortable: UConn’s offense revolves around Alex Karaban, their most consistent player. When he’s on, the Huskies flow smoothly, but when he struggles, their entire rhythm can falter. If Ben Gregg and Michael Ajayi can make life difficult for Karaban defensively—denying him clean looks and forcing him into tough shots—the Huskies may find themselves scrambling. Without Karaban’s steadying presence, UConn often leans too heavily on their guards, whose playmaking can be inconsistent. Keeping Karaban uncomfortable is key to cracking the Huskies’ offensive system.

Push the Pace: UConn relies heavily on stops in the half-court when their offense falters, where their intricate defensive schemes and physicality can overwhelm slower offenses. Gonzaga can’t let the Huskies set up and impose their defensive will. By pushing the tempo and looking for quick transition opportunities, the Zags can force UConn to play outside of their comfort zone. Quick shots or contested shots at the rim could exploit UConn’s foul-prone bigs and prevent them from getting set in their preferred defensive formations. Speeding up the game is essential to avoiding UConn’s suffocating defensive setups.

Wake Up, Michael Ajayi: This is the moment—Michael Ajayi’s breakout is well overdue. The Zags have seen an uptick in production from their power forward position lately (courtesy of Ben Gregg), but it’s time for Ajayi to show why he’s a legitimate NBA prospect. His scoring has been solid, but he needs a signature performance to put the rest of the college basketball world on notice. What better stage than Madison Square Garden against the defending national champions? If Ajayi can step up, he could be the key to unlocking Gonzaga’s offense and making a major statement. This key to the game will remain crucial until it happens.

Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: UConn’s defense, while potent, is vulnerable to a dynamic scorer who can take over and get under their skin, especially from the perimeter. Khalif Battle is that guy. His electrifying playmaking and unique ability to score from anywhere on the floor will force the Huskies to adjust and likely disrupt their defensive flow. The Huskies’ Achilles’ heel this year has been their inconsistent chemistry and fragile confidence. Allowing Battle to get into attack mode under the brightest lights in college basketball could be an absolute back-breaker.

This game could be one of the best matchups of the college basketball season if both teams are playing well. It could also turn into a comedy of errors and a barrage of airballs if the West Virginia Zags end up facing off against the Dayton Huskies. Either way, expect a wild ride that reminds everyone why college basketball is the best reality show on TV.