Gonzaga vs. Purdue Prediction: Will Boilermakers Struggle Against Ryan Nembhard, Bulldogs in Sweet 16?
Tonight we have a great NCAA Tournament matchup when Gonzaga takes on Purdue. Will the Boilermakers struggle against Ryan Nembhard and the Bulldogs in Sweet 16? HammeringHank shares his Gonzaga vs. Purdue prediction.
Hammering Hank - March 29, 2024, 12:55 PM EDT
5 minGonzaga vs. Purdue Prediction: Will Boilermakers Struggle Against Ryan Nembhard, Bulldogs in Sweet 16?
The No. 5 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs take on the the No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers in Detroit, Michigan. These two teams take each other on in the Sweet 16 and the winner faces either Creighton or Tennessee. That game takes place after the Gonzaga and Purdue game. Let's get into tonight's matchup as I have a pick on the spread.
GONZAGA VS. PURDUE DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: March 29, 2024
- Start Time: 7:39 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: TBS, truTV
GONZAGA VS. PURDUE PREDICTION
Gonzaga comes into tonight's matchup with a 27-7 record. The Bulldogs failed to win their conference, yet got a bid to play in the tournament. Gonzaga took full advantage of this stomping on McNeese State where a lot of people thought that was going to be an upset. We took Gonzaga spread on that game and cashed easily. Next, they took on the No. 4 seed Kansas and did not let go of the gas pedal winning that game by 21 points 89-68. Has this Gonzaga team cooled off or were those two games fluke games? The answer is no. This Gonzaga team is one of the best offense teams in the country and have shown that so far in the tournament.
For tonight's matchup, I am going to be on Gonzaga +5.5. This Purdue team is solid and have looked like a top team each week this year, but do they have enough to continue their run in March? This team has folded each year when the stakes were high and people thought that "this is their year." Is this year their year? I am not sure, but tonight they have a battle on their hands. Zach Edey and Graham Ike is going to be a matchup to watch tonight. I think Gonzaga goes small on Purdue and try and win with their guard play. This will put Ike in a tough spot where he needs to stay out of foul trouble if Gonzaga wants to win.
They say defense wins championships, but to be honest, I think guard play wins championships and in March you need guards. I am not saying Purdue doesn't have the guards to make a run, but tonight Gonzaga wins that battle. Junior guard Ryan Nembhard has been crushing it this tournament with just being an overall facilitator. I expect Nembhard to cause problems for this defense tonight as I can see this game being a one possession game with the ball in Gonzaga's hands to win it.
Take Gonzaga +5.5 tonight! Let's cash!
GONZAGA VS. PURDUE Pick
Gonzaga +5.5 -113 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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