ANAHEIM, Calif. – Killian Tillie will meet an old European nemesis in Gonzaga’s Elite Eight matchup with Texas Tech Saturday.
And perhaps it bodes well for the Bulldogs that their French forward has by no means misplaced to Davide Moretti, the Red Raiders’ Italian-born point defend, in a global sport.
A member of France’s teens countrywide teams, Tillie estimates he’s confronted Moretti’s Italian groups as a minimum three times – at the U-16, U-18 and U-19 ranges.
It’s 3-zero in a desire of Tillie at this factor.
“I recognize him a bit, I performed against him plenty after I became younger,” Tillie stated. “It’s going to be fun to see him again and I usually beat him, so I look ahead to seeing him and seeking to beat him again.”
Moretti averages eleven.6 factors, 2.Five assists and a couple of.1 rebounds for the Red Raiders – and he’s an ace from beyond the arc, making 45 percent of his 3-suggestions. The Bologna, Italy, local scored 15 points and dished out four assists in Tech’s 63-forty four wins over Michigan inside the Sweet Sixteen.
“He’s a tremendous participant,” Tillie said. “I suppose he’s a truly smart participant, he is aware of the game and an in reality true shooter, a simply properly passer and an amazing point shield basic. So it’s going to be vital to play him directly up.
Saturday’s matchup has plenty of international taste to it, past Tillie and Moretti. Gonzaga begins Rui Hachimura – a Toyoma, Japan, local – and now and again brings Serbian ahead Filip Petrusev and French shield Joel Ayayi off the bench. Guard Brandone Francois, a Dominican Republic local, and ahead of Josh Mballa, a French native who became born in Bordeaux – identical as Ayayi – come off the bench for the Red Raiders.
