Creature vs. Creature: Gonzaga and North Carolina

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Many experts predicted that Gonzaga and North Carolina would meet in the South region semifinal, and though both teams struggled in their second-round games, the Heels and the Zags will meet Friday night in one of the tourney’s most anticipated games.

Bleacher Report writers Shay Cronin and Nathan Bitner offer their views on the Friday’s matchup.

Who has the advantage playing in Memphis?

Shay:  At first glance, one would assume that the Heels have an overwhelming advantage, because they have a larger fan base, plus Chapel Hill is a lot closer to Memphis than Spokane.  However, the Zags have two things working in their favor.

First, while the diehard Zags fans will certainly be outnumbered by diehard Heels fans, don’t underestimate just how passionate a group Gonzaga fans are.  Ask any team that has ever had to play in front of the Kennel Club.

Second, the Zags will win the “neutrals”.  Anyone who has ever been to an NCAA tournament game knows that the fans who have no rooting interest end up cheering for the underdog. 

The Zags aren’t the “cinderfella” they were a decade ago when they went to the Elite Eight, but they are still up against the Goliath of college basketball and the tighter the game gets, the more fans will jump on the Zags' bandwagon.

Nathan:  UNC has the obvious regional advantage playing in Memphis and will be able to send more of their fans to the tournament than those left-coasters. Though Gonzaga will have the "fans of the underdog," "the fans of the little guy," "the fans of the mid-majors," and "the fans of the English Bulldog" probably in their corner, it won't be enough to offset the huge popularity of North Carolina's basketball program nor their Carolina-blue clad fans, who will surely fill the FedEx Forum.

Worse yet, in terms of morale, Gonzaga will be forced to play on the home court of the last team to hand them a defeat, a 68-50 drubbing handed to them by none other than the Memphis Tigers.

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