7:00 PM PST:
Saint Mary's Gaels at San Francisco Dons
War Memorial Gymnasium, San Francisco, California.
Saint Mary's is 17-4 on the season, 6-1 in WCC play and currently on a five game winning streak.
San Francisco is 9-12 on the season, 2-6 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
TV: CSN California.
The Gaels and Dons wrap up this year's two game series tonight at War Memorial. Last time the Dons played the Gaels they put quite a scare in the defending champions but ultimately came up short with a six point loss. War Memorial is a place where the big dogs in the conference go to suffer defeats. Okay, mostly just Gonzaga suffers that fate. Though BYU and Saint Mary's have come very close to defeat.
The Dons are hard to figure out this year. They have a talented and deep roster but it's a young and inexperienced roster. They're four games under .500 but they're number 148 in the RPI. They've played very well against some of the top teams in the WCC, though they've come up short each time, or they've looked absolutely hapless against them. They've had streaks of five games on both the winning and losing side. I see them to be the only team not in the top four in the standings with the ability to beat a team in the top four. Tonight, based on how they played against the Gaels earlier this season in Moraga, may be their best chance to pull that off.
Saint Mary's is far superior talent and team wise to San Francisco but, as we learn each March when a David beats a Goliath thanks to a fortunate match-up, the Dons have the right personell to take down the Gaels. Guards Cody Doolin and De'End Parker have the ability to slash inside to create a mismatch with the Gaels' bigs. Cole Dickerson is .2 rebounds per game short of averaging a double-double and despite his lack of size (6'7'') he's a tough big man who could exploit a soft Gaels front court.
That said, none of that should be enough to warrant a Dons' victory. Saint Mary's is better in nearly every statistical category. They have better and more experienced players. I mean, they've even got an Olympian. They're one of the best offenses in the country. Not only are they efficient but they're high scoring. Put a well oiled offense up against a rather horrid defense and the offense should have no problem coasting to victory.
Well, "should have no problem" is why they play the game and it's why the Dons were able to put a big scare into the Gaels earlier this month. Another big scare tonight would be bigger than big it would be bubble-bursting big. If the Dons manage to pull of this upset the Gaels' at-large hopes would suffer a brutal blow. San Francisco has a bright future, a year or two from now. Saint Mary's does as well but they have an equally luminous present. If these teams are playing with the intent of making the conference look as good as possible Saint Mary's will win comfortably, but not after experiencing a few of San Francisco's freshmen have a break out game, and stay on track to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. But they aren't and that's why this is going to be a really entertaining game.
Well, "should have no problem" is why they play the game and it's why the Dons were able to put a big scare into the Gaels earlier this month. Another big scare tonight would be bigger than big it would be bubble-bursting big. If the Dons manage to pull of this upset the Gaels' at-large hopes would suffer a brutal blow. San Francisco has a bright future, a year or two from now. Saint Mary's does as well but they have an equally luminous present. If these teams are playing with the intent of making the conference look as good as possible Saint Mary's will win comfortably, but not after experiencing a few of San Francisco's freshmen have a break out game, and stay on track to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. But they aren't and that's why this is going to be a really entertaining game.
Oh yeah and it's yet another WCC game featuring two exceptional floor generals.
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