Tip-off time for the Round of 32 matchup is set for 5:40 p.m. PT on TNT on Saturday, March 22nd.
With 1,617 miles separating Spokane and Wichita, Gonzaga came into the INTRUST Bank Arena and made an absolute statement in the opening round over the Georgia Bulldogs. The Zags continue their streak to 16 straight Round of 64 victories in the NCAA Tournament which is now the nation’s longest active.
It gets even tougher in the Round of 32 on Saturday. The chatter about Gonzaga being under-seeded at No. 8 is not an understatement. Unfortunately, the favorite out of the Midwest Region in the Houston Cougars are next. The Big 12 Conference champions and the West Coast Conference champions going head-to-head feels like an Elite Eight matchup.
Coming into the Big Dance, the x-factor for Gonzaga was senior guard Khalif Battle and he answered the call in the first round. In his first March Madness experience, the senior scored a game-high 24 points on 9-for-13 field goals and 4-for-7 three-pointers, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal. The New York native is well aware that he has to play even better in the next game against the mastermind Houston coach Kelvin Sampson.
“His DNA is winning. He’s the ultimate winner. He’s won at every school he’s been at. He’s taken Houston to a whole other level. They are like a juggernaut.” – Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle on Sampson via KHQ News
When Battle was with the Temple Owls in the American Athletic Conference from 2020-23, he would go up against Sampson’s Cougars often and found little success.
“It’s been tough playing them. They’ve been kicking my butt for years.” – Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle on Houston via KHQ News
Battle’s partner in the backcourt, Gonzaga senior guard Nolan Hickman, didn’t make a single three-pointer in his first NCAA Tournament game with the Zags back in 2022. In 2025 against Georgia, he went 5-for-6 from deep while finishing with 18 points which is quite the turnaround from the sharp-shooter. His willingness to be patient with his development over the years has been special to witness.
“Tons of patience, growth, resiliency. It’s been a tough journey, but I’m proud of myself.” – Gonzaga guard Nolan Hickman on personal growth via KHQ News
“I was calling that boy Klay Thompson out there, he was looking like a sniper. That’s what he does though. 45 percent from three? That’s what he does.” – Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard on Hickman via KHQ News
Worries on the ability for the Zags to hit three-pointers entering the tournament were valid, but Gonzaga came out to a blazing start and shot the lights out from deep. The Zags went 12-20 (60.0 percent) from beyond the arc against the other Bulldogs. Will that trend continue against the Cougars?
Taking a look at Gonzaga’s second round opponent, Houston is one of the best three-point shooting teams left in this tournament. The Cougars are hitting 39.6 percent of their looks which ranks No. 5 in all of college basketball. Coach Kelvin Sampson’s frontcourt is also one of the best on the offensive glass and with protecting the rim. Their 12.5 offensive rebounds per game ranks tied for No. 47 and 4.6 blocks per game ranks tied for No. 35 in the country.
Houston has a well-balanced roster that succeeds on both sides of the ball. Gonzaga is familiar with senior guard LJ Cryer who was a part of the Baylor Bears national championship squad in 2021. Four years later, he is the now the leader for the the Cougars’ offense while averaging a team-high 15.2 points on a consistent shooting clip of 41.5 field goal percentage, 42.3 three-point percentage, and 90.5 free throw percentage.
The return of Houston’s senior forward J’Wan Roberts has brought even more life to Sampson’s team. He didn’t play in the last two games of the Big 12 Tournament before making his return in the NCAA Tournament’s first round victory over SIU Edwardsville, 78-40. Roberts scored six points and grabbed three rebounds as he begins to get better mobility back in his ankle.
At 6’8 and 235-pounds, Roberts leads the Cougars in rebounding with 6.2 while also contributing 10.7 points on a 50.4 field goal percentage. The trio in Gonzaga’s frontcourt of sophomore forward Braden Huff, senior forward Ben Gregg, and senior forward Graham Ike will have their hands full with him inside the paint.
The decision from Few to put Huff in the starting lineup has paid off in the last two games (averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 steals against Saint Mary’s and Georgia). He’s hitting his stride at the best time of the year for the Zags.
Similar to Gonzaga who only turns over the ball 9.5 times a game (tied for No. 12 in the nation), Houston rarely gives their opponents the ball at just 9.2 turnovers a game (No. 6 in the nation). This matchup has the look to be a well-executed output from both programs.
“They’re what every program aspires to be having that consistency year to year. When you’re playing Gonzaga, you are playing one of the elite programs in the history of this game.” – Houston coach Kelvin Sampson on Gonzaga
Here are the keys for the Zags to pull off the upset:
- High energy straight off the tip. Jump out to an early lead and make your presence known for the get-go.
- Smart shot selection from Gonzaga with looks from out on the perimeter. Continue this new found success with the three-point attempts.
- On defense, switch everything and make sure to close out on Houston’s three-point shooters. The Cougars can’t get comfortable from the perimeter. Along with that, grab a body and box out every time the ball goes up. Don’t give this group many second chance scoring opportunities or you will pay for it.
The two legendary college basketball coaches in Houston’s Sampson and Gonzaga’s Few know a thing or two about winning in March. The pair have a combined 1,536 wins in their careers and a 71-43 record in the NCAA Tournament to go along with two Final Four appearances for each. Talk about greatness.
“He was a great coach at Washington State. That was back in the day when the Pac was really rolling. And he was going against Lute (Olson) and those teams, and playing them even… I think he just adapts to the level of player, he’s able to get at each stop and he just coaches the heck out of them. That’s why they’re so good.” – Gonzaga coach Mark Few on Sampson
Gonzaga has nine straight Sweet Sixteen appearances on the line, Houston with five. Some history is going down in Kansas on Saturday, March 22nd. Tip-off time is set for 5:40 p.m. PT on TNT. This game will be 40 minutes of hell.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Houston is the favorite over Gonzaga at a -5.5 spread. Money line is set at +168 for the Zags, -205 for the Cougars. The over/under is set at 139.5.
This matchup is only the second time ever in the last 15 years that two KenPom Top 10 team have faced off in the second round (Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in 2021). A high-powered offense from Gonzaga against a well-coached defense from Houston.
A fact that no one wants to hear is that the Zags are 0-10 against No. 1 seeds dating back to 1999. Something to be aware of.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho