WCC Quarterfinals Game 1 Preview

#9 Loyola Marymount Lions vs. #4 Santa Clara Broncos

Highlights from LMU at Santa Clara on February 28th.

LMU is the team Santa Clara does not want to be facing in the quarterfinals. A mere two days ago that sentence would have seemed so absurd. Two days ago the Lions were the team that only managed to win one game against a WCC opponent this season (which just so happened to be Santa Clara). The team with the elite scorer but horrible offense. Now? Now they're the hottest team in Vegas.

The Lions averaged 0.89 points per possession in conference play and gave up 1.06, locked in a virtual tie with the Portland Pilots for worst in the WCC in both categories. In their WCC Tournament victories they've held opponents to 0.80 (Portland) and 0.87 (San Francisco) points per possession. Gonzaga had the WCC's best PPP defense in conference play, holding opponents to 0.88 PPP. Granted the Lions did that against the WCC's 8th and 5th ranked offenses, small and weak sample size indeed. 

There's more than just stats behind the Lions run here in Vegas. After their win against USF last night the Lions explained their position. "We're not worried about rings, just some pride" said head coach Max Good after the game. A couple wins in the tournament can go a long ways to restoring pride for a group that struggled through the regular season. 

Anthony Ireland dominated the stats for the Lions during the regular season but they kept losing. Now he's got some help and they keep winning. The win or go home aspect of tournament play can bring the best out of competitors, no competitor wants to stop competing. For the Lions though it runs deeper. Godwin Okonji had a rough season not just because of the losses, "After losing my dad and going through surgery, basketball is all I have and will do anything to win." Okonji was the game's leading scorer until Ireland passed him in overtime.

So, the Lions are hot. What about the Broncos? They ran into a win or go to the NIT Saint Mary's squad in their last game, six days ago, and ended up with a loss. The game before that, against Loyola Marymount, a 79-56 rout. They finished the season with 21 wins, their best record since 2006-07. 

I mentioned the Lions new found array of offensive weapons. The Broncos array is far from new found. Kevin Foster, Marc Trasolini, Evan Roquemore and Raymond Cowles III have totaled over 1,000 points in their careers. Those four players have given the Broncos the fourth best offense in the WCC. They score 1.05 points per possession in conference games. Compare that figure with the Lions 0.89.

The Broncos rely hevily on the three point basket. 32.62% of their points come from behind the arc, second in the WCC. They shoot 36.5% from three, fourth in the WCC. The team that leads the WCC in both those categories? San Francisco, the team LMU just defeated. 

Had I written this preview two days ago (I wouldn't have because I would have expected San Francisco to be in this game instead of LMU) I would have mentioned the great guard matchup of Ireland and Roquemore. Instead it's the four on four match up of Foster, Trasolini, Roquemore and Cowles against Ireland, Ashley Hamilton (LMU's leading scorer in the opening round game), Godwin Okonji and Taylor Walker (averages 3.4ppg overall but is scoring 10.5 in the WCC Tournament). 

These two teams lead seasons that are almost out of the bizzaro world but a year apart. Last season it was the Broncos that were the league's floor mat, 0-16 in the regular season and sent packing from Vegas after the opening round game. Two years ago it was the Lions in that position, they went 2-12 in WCC play. Last season the Lions made an impressive bounce back, won 21 games and earned a four seed in the WCC tournament. This year it's the Broncos that have made the impressive bounce back, 21 wins and earned the four seed. These two teams go head to head tonight and both have intentions of ending the other's bizzaro world experience.

6:00 PM PST
#9 Loyola Marymount Lions vs. #4 Santa Clara Broncos
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
LMU is 10-21 on the season, 1-15 in WCC regular season play and currently on a two game winning streak.
Santa Clara is 21-11 on the season, 9-7 in WCC regular season play and currently on a one game losing streak.
Santa Clara swept the season series 2-0.
TV: ESPNU.
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles.
Satellite Radio: Sirius 110 and XM 193.
Online: Live video from ESPN3 and live audio from KXLU.