Gonzaga will face a Bob Huggins-coached West Virginia team in Thursday’s Sweet 16, after the Mountaineers defeated a talented Notre Dame in the second round. Nigel Williams-Goss finished with just 10 points off of 2-of-10 shooting and five turnovers, good for an his lowest offensive rating of the season at 64.
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But Miles missed both free throws and Mathews hit the 3-pointer to seal the victory for the Bulldogs.
Williams-Goss and Mathews each picked up their fourth foul, Mathew headed to the bench and Williams-Goss responded with three points. The Bulldogs would push the lead to three points and the Mountaineers last attempts fell short as the season would end for West Virginia 61-58. However, the Mountaineers turned the ball over 13 times. Afterward, he criticized Carter’s decision-making.
“I don’t know that I have a monkey on my back”. “‘I knew they had a lot of guys at the top”.
Gonzaga has won all three of the games it’s played against WVU. Still, the team was down by three points with under 30 seconds to go and possession.
As for defensive stoutness, the other comparable team the Zags have played this season was Florida during the AdvoCare Invitational back in November. Daxter Miles Jr. had seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Jordan Mathews picked a fine time to make the biggest shot of his life. But it felt like a sign of some kind: This was West Virginia’s game.
Carter affects the game in myriad ways, whether it be scoring, assisting, rebounding, or defending. “But again, we’ve been dealing with it all year”. “We would just be like, man, we just want to win. But you can’t shoot 16 of 60”. After all, this is the same squad that blew a ideal season at home to BYU despite holding an early 50 million-point lead. West Virginia converted 15 of 20 while Gonzaga hit 11 of 17 from the line as both teams combined to commit 27 fouls before intermission.
Carter led the Mountaineers with 21 points.
Gonzaga’s Johnathan Williams goes to the hoop against Sagaba Konate of West Virginia. “We had shots (during the game)”.
The 6-9, 250-pound Caleb Swanigan and 7-2, 290-pound Isaac Haas make up a front line unlike any team left in the tournament. I think Sean Miller is pretty desperate for a Final Four appearance and I think he has been in their head all week when it comes to executing. Their size bothers everybody around the rim.
The Zags also have height to their advantage with 7 foot 1 center Przemek Karnowski. I just shot it, and I didn’t see it go in, but I heard it.
Carter shined defensively in games against the Big 12’s two premier point guards, Kansas’s Frank Mason and Iowa State’s Monte Morris. But the Mountaineers have a way of wearing down their opponents, and their quickness on defense began to bother Gonzaga late in the first half.
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On the other hand, Gonzaga is still trying to reach its first Final Four as well. “I mean, it’s a hard game”. “I got another crack at it so I’m going to get in the gym and work”.
