Dons’ blowout loss is an inside job

Less than 30 seconds into the GonzagaUSF matchup on the Hilltop on Saturday afternoon, the Zags’ Drew Timme scored inside.

That was a preview of things to come — early and often.

Timme, a 6foot10 sophomore forward, displayed his array of inside moves and drained a 3 as he poured in 15 points in the first sixplus minutes as the nation’s topranked team bolted to a 172 lead. Timme hit his first eight fieldgoal attempts en route to 28 points in Gonzaga’s 10061 romp.

“We just took what they gave us,” Timme said in a postgame Zoom news conference. “It just happened to be me early. I felt good. It was just in our normal offense. It was fun.”

If Timme had played more than 22 minutes, he could have shattered his career high of 29 points that he set against Virginia on Dec. 26. He went 11for12 from the field and, for good measure, pulled down a gamehigh 10 rebounds.

He came into Saturday leading the WCC in fieldgoal percentage (62.5) and was second in the conference in points per game at 18.9.

USF head coach Todd Golden called Timme “the most underrated player in the country. … If it wasn’t for the NBA going away from your prototypical, backtothebasket ‘5’ man, I think (he) would be a lottery pick himself.

Even with the changing game, he might deserve to be a lottery pick still.” Beyond Timme, the numbers for Gonzaga (200, 110 WCC) remain staggering. For example: The Zags have won their past 17 games by double digits. USF has lost 21 straight games to the Zags, including an 8562 decision in Spokane on Jan. 2. The Dons’ last win over Gonzaga came in a 6665 thriller on the Hilltop on Feb. 18, 2012. And get this: Gonzaga has won its past 100 games (including conferencetournament matchups) against WCC teams not named St. Mary’s or BYU. The last WCC team other than the Gaels or Cougars to beat the Zags was San Diego on Feb. 22, 2014.

USF (1010, 46) dropped its third straight. Virus issues forced the Dons to postpone three games before they returned to the court and fell 7668 to Pepperdine on Wednesday.

Golden said the virus issues hurt the Dons more than just physically.

“You lose your confidence,” Golden said. “You lose your belief as you step away from the floor for over two weeks.”

As well as Gonzaga played, Golden knows that even if the Dons were fully healthy, they would have had a tough time prevailing, but “I do believe we would have had a better performance.”

Gonzaga entered Saturday leading the nation in points per game (92.7), fieldgoal percentage (54.8) and 2point fieldgoal percentage (64.3) and was third in assists per game (19.3). The numbers Saturday: 36for59 (61%) from the floor, 26for38 (68.4%) inside the arc and 19 assists.

The Dons came into Saturday leading the WCC in 3pointers per game (10.8) and 3point fieldgoal percentage (36). Against the Zags, USF missed its first 12 attempts from beyond the arc and finished 7for33 (21.2%) from long range. Briefly: In the first half, which ended with the Zags on top 4826, USF made eight field goals and committed 12 turnovers. … Because of schedule switches caused by virus issues with other teams, Saturday marked Gonzaga’s fifth straight road game. The Zags haven’t played at home since a 9549 rout of Pacific on Jan. 23. They’re set to host St. Mary’s on Thursday night.

Christine Leung / USF Athletics Gonzaga sophomore Drew Timme made his first eight fieldgoal attempts on his way to 28 points and added 10 rebounds at USF on Saturday.