Final Four Preview: Gonzaga vs. South Carolina

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Gonzaga may be the No. 1 seed that didn't get the respect it deserved prior to the NCAA Tournament tip-off, but South Carolina's presence in the Final Four is quite possibly the biggest surprise of the entire postseason. Both teams have plenty of star power with Nigel Williams-Goss and Sindarius Thornwell, the latter of which has a legitimate case for the tournament's most outstanding player, should the Gamecocks keep advancing. Though the No. 1-seeded Bulldogs will enter as heavy favorites, coach Frank Martin and the Gamecocks have proven time and time again that underestimating them has been a mistake. See how the matchup breaks down, position-by-position.

Gonzaga Bulldogs, West Region No. 1 Seed

Backcourt: Nigel Williams-Goss is providing similar statistics as he did in his first two years with Washington, but the biggest difference is the 6-3 junior is now winning. After winning 33 games in two years with the Huskies, Williams-Goss has led the Bulldogs to 36 wins with 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He has not shot well in the NCAA Tournament, however, hitting just 31.1 percent of his field goals. Jordan Mathews, a Cal transfer, has also not converted many shots in the Big Dance, but has averaged 13.5 points on 40.9 percent. Sophomore Josh Perkins provides another ball handler and is second on the team with 3.2 assists. Guard Silas Melson is hitting 38.1 percent of his 3-pointers for a team that knocks down 37.8 percent from long range.

Frontcourt: The Zags have one of the biggest frontcourts in the country, led by 7-1 Przemek Karnowski. Gonzaga's starting center has converted 59.3 percent of field goals in the Big Dance and was able to score 13 points in the win over West Virginia in the Sweet 16. Karnowski is backed up by 7-0 freshman Zach Collins, who has been held to seven points in his last two games due to foul trouble. He is averaging 9.9 points in just 17.2 minutes. Forward Johnathan Williams scored 19 points in the win over Xavier on Saturday and has averaged 11.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in the Big Dance. This group rivals North Carolina in terms of both talent and skill for frontcourts in the Final Four.

X-Factor: With all of the individual talent on the roster, Gonzaga's team defense is sometimes lost in the shuffle. The Zags held three of the four NCAA Tournament opponents they've faced below 60 points. Granted, they do not play at the fastest pace, but the point is that Gonzaga imposes its own pace and uses its size advantage. West Virginia and Xavier combined to shoot 31.1 percent from the field. Some of that low percentage may have been to rotten luck, but we must credit the Gonzaga defense as well.

Who They Beat to Get Here:

South Dakota State, 66-46
Northwestern, 79-73
West Virginia, 61-58
Xavier, 83-59

They'll Win If: They keep the pace slow. As noted in the X-Factor section, the Bulldogs were able to beat West Virginia by slowing the pace and keeping the Mountaineers from scoring easy baskets. The Gamecock defense is not quite as gimmicky as the West Virginia full-court press, and is tougher in the halfcourt. South Carolina also has a stronger individual scorer with Sindarius Thornwell. While Gonzaga won against Northwestern when the score topped 150 points, this game should be played in the 120-130 range for the best Zag results.

--Perry Missner

South Carolina Gamecocks, East Region No. 7 Seed

Backcourt: All discussion about the South Carolina's run to Phoenix begins with SEC Player of the Year Sindarius Thornwell. The senior guard has elevated his play in the tournament, averaging 25.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Thornwell can step out and hit the 3-point shot, but he also uses his 6-foot-5, 211 pound frame to play in the paint, and is a terrific finisher around the rim. He's also been able to get to the foul line 39 times in four games, where he shoots 83.0 percent. Thornwell has gotten consistent help from sophomore P.J. Dozier over the last two weeks. Dozier went through a rough patch in February while dealing with back spasms, but has now scored in double figures in six straight, and has at least eight points in 11 straight. At 6-6, Dozier comfortably handles the point, and his length allows him to shoot over defenders. Senior Duane Notice (10.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.3 apg) rounds out the Gamecocks' three-guard starting lineup, while senior Justin McKie and sophomore Hassani Gravett provide bench depth. Freshman Rakym Felder (43.0 percent from 3-point) gives USC some secondary firepower.

Frontcourt: The Gamecocks are a bit undersized and undermanned along their front line. Sophomore Chris Silva (6-9, 223 lbs) has played at a high level during their run, averaging 13.0 points and 7.8 boards while shooting 82.8 percent from the foul line. He's committed four fouls in three of four games, however, resulting in him playing only 25.5 minutes. Freshman Maik Kotsar (6-foot-11, 240 lbs) gives the Gamecocks some beef. He's been wildly inconsistent, posting seven, zero, two and 12 points in his last four games. Fouls can also be a problem for Kotsar, as he fouled out in just 16 minutes against Duke, and did so again in 23 minutes against Baylor. Freshman Sedee Keita (6-foot-9, 240 lbs) hasn't scored in the tournament, seeing only 28 minutes, but he may be forced into duty to compete with the Bulldogs' size.

X-Factor: Maik Kotsar. Against Florida, Kotsar missed some easy layups, but also showed an ability to back down his defender and score in the post. He's the only body on this roster that has a chance at bodying up Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski. Kotsar simply needs to stay on the court, help his team rebound and play defense without fouling. When Kotsar plays 30 minutes or more, he's shown he can be a contributor on both ends. His presence on the court in this matchup seems almost as important than any offensive production however. The Gamecocks just have so little depth to combat Gonzaga on the interior.

Who They Beat To Get Here:

Marquette 93-73
Duke 88-81
Baylor 70-50
Florida 77-70

They'll win if: They team rebound. The Gamecocks have been undersized in every matchup thus far, but have managed to out-rebound their opponents in every game, owning a plus-14 rebounding differential overall. South Carolina's defense has been its calling card, but they have a propensity to allow open 3-point shots often (opponents have taken 94 in four games). If Gonzaga hits these open looks, it seems unlikely that USC can score enough to keep up, but if they don't, it leads to long rebounds which are vulnerable to second chances. South Carolina must attack the ball off the rim and limit the Zags to one shot, possibly even getting some over-the-back calls to help negate the Bulldogs tremendous size advantage.

--Chris Bennett

PREDICTIONS:

Chris: Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd have the chance to preview my alma mater in the Final Four. Just had to get that out of the way. South Carolina is playing with house money, and should be plenty loose against Gonzaga. And if they can play their physical defense and not get killed on the blocks, I could see them grinding this out similar to how West Virginia did against the Zags. That seems like a lot of ifs, however, and I think the Bulldogs' size is far too much for South Carolina to overcome. Their miraculous run to Phoenix comes to an end, 80-69.

Perry: I have doubted Gonzaga since the bracket was announced. They did not have to play the top four seeds in the West Region and will meet a seven-seed in the Final Four. Perhaps I should give up some of my doubt. I think they can use their size well enough to bludgeon the Gamecocks in a hard-fought battle. The score might not quite as close if Williams-Goss can get on track, but the South Carolina defense is not one to allow cold players to heat up. In the end, Gonzaga comes out on top, 67-63.