WCC Semifinals Game 1 Preview

#9 Loyola Marymount Lions vs. #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs

Since 1999 Gonzaga has been America's favorite underdog. Do the Zags still have any right to that title now that they're America's #1 ranked team? Loyola Marymount is making the case that they don't and tonight the Lions give their closing statement on that issue. 

LMU entered the WCC Tournament with a grand total of one win against WCC competition this season. Over the past three days the Lions have added three wins to that total. First Portland fell by 11 in the opening round game. A day later it was fifth seed San Francisco that fell. Last night the Lions magic continued with a two point victory over four seed Santa Clara. 

During the regular season LMU was heavily reliant on junior point guard Anthony Ireland and not without reason. His 20.1 points per game are second in the WCC and 14th in the nation. Unfortunately he was pretty much their only option. Only five of the Lions' 30 regular season games saw someone other than Ireland lead the team in scoring. 

In the first game of the WCC Tournament it was Ashley Hamilton that led the team in scoring. In the second Godwin Okonji took the honors until Ireland surpassed him in overtime. The Lions found a way to win, by lightening the load on Ireland.

In their last game Ireland led the way but it was Hamilton that pushed the Lions to victory down the stretch. Hamilton had six straight points upon returning to the game with seven minutes remaining.His defense during that time thwarted Santa Clara offensive possession after offensive possession.

During the regular season match ups the Zags could focus on stopping Ireland and dare the rest of the team to score. That was a great strategy because the rest of the team was pretty bad at scoring. LMU managed only 43 and 55 points in their two games against Gonzaga so far this season. 

In the 43 point game Ireland scored 19 points on 6-14 shooting (42%). The rest of the team shot 19% from the field, hitting only eight of 42 attempts. In the 55 point game Ireland scored 30 points and shot 40% from the field. The rest of the team had only 25 points and shot 24%.

Things have changed. In the WCC Tournament the Lions not named Anthony Ireland are shooting 42.2% from the field.

LMU's offensive renaissance is real, but it's come against some pretty weak defenses. 

LMU's old, bad offense isn't the only reason the Zags managed to score twice as many points as the Lions in the first meeting between these two this season. The Zags bring to Vegas the best defense in the conference. The Lions haven't seen a defense anywhere near this good so far in the tournament.

The Zags rank 12th in the nation in two point percentage defense. They hold teams to 0.88 points per possession. So far in Vegas the Lions have only faced teams that give up over one point per possession.

The Lions new found ability to get points from any of the five players on the floor has been the catalyst for them here in Vegas, for the Zags it's been the catalyst all season long. The Zags scoring depth goes beyond the starting five. Eleven players have put up double figures for the Zags this season. 

Depth has been key for Gonzaga this season. Kelly Olynyk, the WCC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year candidate, is averaging only 25.6 minutes per game (tied for 1,184th in the nation in MPG). That depth allows the Zags to keep five fresh players on the floor at all times and wear down teams at an impressive rate. 

Wearing down the Lions might not take depth tonight. This will be the Lions fourth game in as many days. 

6:00 PM PST
#9 Loyola Marymount Lions vs. #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
LMU is 11-22 on the season, 1-15 in WCC regular season play and currently on a three game winning streak.
Gonzaga is 29-2 on the season, 16-0 in WCC regular season play and currently on a 12 game winning streak.
Gonzaga swept the season series 2-0.
TV: ESPN2.
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in LA, KGA 1510 AM and KEYF 101.1 FM in Spokane, KTEL 1490 AM in Walla Walla, KALE 960 AM in the Tri-Cities, KKRT 900 AM in Wenatchee, KWIQ 1020 AM in Moses Lake and KMAS 1030 AM in the Puget Sound region. 
Satellite Radio: Sirius 110 and XM 193.
Online: Live video from ESPN3. Live audio from KXLU and KGA.