Gonzaga Game Preview: Bulldogs Look to Bounce Back Against Chaminade
By Josh Horton
Nov 25, 2013; Maui, HI, USA; Chaminade Silverswords guard Christophe Varidel (1) gives the three point sign while walking off the floor after making 10th three point shots during the game setting the tournament record while playing against the Baylor Bears during the first round of the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Gonzaga vs. Chaminade (Maui Invitational)
Game Time: 1:30 p.m. PST
TV: ESPN2
After a failed comeback against Dayton, the Bulldogs will now take on Chaminade, a division II team and host of the Maui Invitational.
Since Chaminade is a division II team, I won’t go into great detail about the Silverswords (cool name, huh?)
However, it would be a travesty if I didn’t touch on Chaminade guard Christophe Varidel.
You might remember Varidel from Florida Gulf Coast’s Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament last year. He came off the bench and hit a couple of clutch three-pointers for the Eagles against San Diego State. Now he is playing for Chaminade and is back in the national media.
Last night against Baylor, Varidel dropped 42 points on the Bears, the second highest scoring title involving an NCAA division I team this season behind Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky (43).
With that being said, I now present you…
The Keys to the Game
Don’t Get Torched
The Bulldogs have a tendency to give up copious amounts of points to opposing teams guards (see Brandon Paul, Ron Baker, and more recently Jordan Sibert).
Varidel might be playing for a division II team now, but technically he is a division I talent considering he played for Florida Gulf Coast earlier in his career.
If the Bulldogs let Varidel go off on them, this game could be a lot closer than many anticipate.
They are Who We Thought They We
Chaminade is a division II team that should still be treated with respect. If the Bulldogs come out against the Silverswords with a hangover stemming from a demoralizing loss to Dayton, they could be beaten again, but this time it would be exponentially more embarrassing.