BYU gears up to face No. 1 Gonzaga (Feb 02, 2017)
BYU will host a top-ranked team for the first time in school history when Gonzaga visits on Thursday, setting up the possibility for the Cougars' greatest victory at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah.
The Cougars have also not defeated a No. 1-ranked opponent in four attempts, the last against North Carolina in 2007.
Gonzaga (22-0, 10-0 West Coast Conference) is also chasing history attempting to break the school record of 22 consecutive victories. The Bulldogs are presently tied with the 2014-15 team with the longest winning streak.
"They're really good," BYU coach Dave Rose said of Gonzaga, coached by Mark Few. "I think our guys are really excited to play them. It's probably as deep and complete of a team Mark's had for a while.
"His guards are really aggressive and strong and he's got four inside guys who can really score around the basket. They play fast, they play hard and aggressive. It's a good team. We look forward to playing them and see how we match up, see where we are."
BYU (16-7, 7-3) is 12-1 at home this season and the atmosphere at the 18,987-seat Marriott Center will be something Gonzaga has not seen this season. Many of the Bulldogs' road games in the WCC are in smaller arenas.
Students have camped out in tents since Monday to get seats.
Few is confident of his team's chances primarily because of its experience -- with each starter with at least three years of college experience -- and the way they have bonded despite three transfers being among their top players.
Junior guard Nigel Williams-Goss, formerly of Washington, leads the Bulldogs at 14.8 points per game. Johnathon Williams, a forward who transferred from Missouri, is averaging 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. California graduate transfer Jordan Mathews averages 10.5 points a game and is shooting 39.2 percent from 3-point range.
"We've had a lot of teams that were close, but the way this team came together, has functioned together so quickly, is impressive," Few said. "They've done a wonderful job of sharing, and really embracing the balance we have, which isn't easy to do. Being selfish is kind of one of those traits that all humans have."
Gonzaga now has the added pressure of upholding its top-ranked status, only the second time in program history that has occurred.
"It's something to celebrate for a little while, but it's only February," reserve guard Silas Melson said of the ranking. "Our goal is to be No. 1 in April, not in February."
BYU's starting lineup, by contrast, has two freshmen and two sophomores along with senior forward L.J. Rose. Three of the starters -- guards Nick Emery and T.J. Haws and forward Eric Mika -- are from the same high school (Lone Peak) in Alpine, Utah.
Emery and Haws combine for 27.6 points and 6.0 assists per game. Haws, a freshman, is shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. Emery owns the BYU record for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer at 32.
The young BYU lineup must contend with a dominant Gonzaga team that has played 11 straight halves without trailing their opponent. The Bulldogs have not trailed in the last 224 minutes and 31 seconds.
