Santa Clara in the CBI Championship Series

Monday, April 1st, 7:00 PM PDT

CBI Championship Series Game One

George Mason Patriots at Santa Clara Broncos

Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California.

George Mason hails from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Patriots are 21-14 on the season, 10-8 in CAA regular season play, 12-8 away from home and are currently on a three game winning streak.

Santa Clara is 24-11 on the season, 15-5 at home and currently on a three game winning streak.

TV: AXS TV

(Honestly, I don't know anything about AXS other than Mark Cuban owns it. Find out if you have it here.)

Radio: KDOW 1220 AM in the Bay Area.

Online: Free live audio from KDOW and live video from Santa Clara Athletics ($9.95).

The Broncos are on the brink of their best season, based on win total, since the 27-2 mark from 1969. One win puts them at 25 and they'll get two chances to get that one win. The CBI abandons the typical single elimination format for the championship and takes on a best of three series style.

The first of the three games will be in Santa Clara. Games two and three (if necessary) will be at George Mason, in Fairfax, Virginia. 

This young tournament's past champions are Pittsburgh, Oregon, VCU, Oregon State and Tulsa. Other than this year's Broncos the only WCC team to participate in the CBI was last season's San Francisco Dons. USF lost their opener to a Washington State squad that went on to fall to Pittsburgh in game three of the championship series.

Six of the ten schools that have played in the CBI Championship Series have gone on to play in subsequent NCAA Tournaments.

NIT Quarterfinals: #3 BYU at #1 Southern Miss.

National Invitation Tournament Quarterfinals

#3 Brigham Young Cougars at #1 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Reed Green Coliseum, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

 Wednesday, March 27, 2013. 5:00 PM PDT.

Southern Mississippi hails from Conference USA, is 27-9 on the season and 12-4 in C-USA regular season play. The Golden Eagles are on a two game winning streak and 14-1 at home this season.

BYU is 23-11 on the season, 10-6 in WCC regular season play, 6-8 away from home and currently on a two game winning streak.

TV: ESPNU

Radio: KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM along the Wasatch Front, KMGR 95.9 FM in Manti, KSUB 590 AM in Cedar City, KDXU 890 AM in St. George and KTHK 105.5 FM in Idaho Falls.

Satellite Radio: BYU Radio, Sirius XM 143.

Online: Live audio from KSL and video from ESPN3.

The Cougars have run through the NIT so far. First it was an 82 possession, 90 point, victory over Washington. Last night Mercer was routed, 90-71, by a 1.272 points per possession version of the Cougars. Next up, Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles are a defensive minded team, holding teams to 0.93 points per possession. At home they're exceptionally strong on defense, their top eight performances in terms of points allowed per possession came at home.

Santa Clara at Purdue

College Basketball Invitational Quarterfinals

Santa Clara Broncos at Purdue Boilermakers

Monday, March 25, 2013. 4:00 PM PDT.

Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Purdue hails from the Big Ten, is 16-17 on the season and went 8-10 in the Big Ten regular season. The Boilermakers are on a one game winning streak and are 12-6 at home.

Santa Clara is 22-11 on the season, went 9-7 in WCC regular season play, 7-6 away from home and is on a one game winning streak.

Online: Live video from Purdue Athletics. Live audio from Santa Clara Athletics.

Santa Clara features an experienced and efficient offensive attack. Purdue features an inexperienced and inexperienced offensive attack. Per KenPom, Santa Clara is the 47th most experienced team in the country while Purdue is 310th. The Boilermakers roster has seven freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and two seniors. The Broncos roster has five seniors, five sophomores and two juniors.  The Boilermakers score 0.96 points per possession, the Broncos score 1.06 points per possession.

#1 Gonzaga vs. #9 Wichita State

NCAA Tournament Round of 32

#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. #9 Wichita State Shockers

Saturday, March 23rd, 2013. 5:40 PM PDT.

EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Wichita State hails from the Missouri Valley Conference, is 27-8 on the season and 12-6 in MVC regular season play. The Shockers are on a one game winning streak and are 12-6 away from home.

Gonzaga is 33-2 on the season and 16-0 in WCC regular season play. The Zags are on a 15 game winning streak and are 17-1 away from home.

TV: TNT.

Radio: 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 93.

Online: Live video from the NCAA.

Wichita State defeated #8 Pittsburgh 73-55 on Thursday to advance to the Round of 32. Gonzaga defeated #16 Southern 64-58 on Thursday to advance to the Round of 32. 

#1 Gonzaga vs. #16 Southern

NCAA Tournament Round of 64

Thursday, March 21st, 2013, 1:10 PM PDT.

EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah.

#1 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. #16 Southern Jaguars

Southern hails from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Jaguars are 23-9 on the season, 15-3 in SWAC regular season play and currently on a three game winning streak. Southern is 10-9 away from home. 

Gonzaga is 31-2 on the season, 16-0 in WCC regular season play and currently on a 14 game winning streak. Gonzaga is 16-1 away from home.

TV: TBS

Radio: 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 93.

Online: Live video from the NCAA.

Southern's offense is horrible, Gonzaga's offense is the best in the country. Southern's defense is good, Gonzaga's defense is great. Yep, this is a one versus sixteen game. No sixteen seed has ever won an NCAA Tournament game.

#11 Saint Mary's vs. #11 Middle Tennessee

NCAA Tournament First Four

#11 Saint Mary's Gaels vs. #11 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Tuesday, March 19th, 6:10 PM PDT.

University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio.

Middle Tennessee hails from the Sun Belt Conference. The Blue Raiders are 28-5 on the season, they went 19-1 in the Sun Belt regular season. They are 13-5 away from home this season.

Saint Mary's is 27-6 on the season and went 14-2 in WCC regular season play. The Gaels are 11-5 away from home this season.

TV: TruTV.

Satellite Radio: Sirius XM 91.

Online: Live video from the NCAA, live audio from WNSR (Nashville, TN).

This is exactly what the first four should be (though not necessarily always between mid-majors). Two at large teams that were on the bubble fighting for the right to enter the field of 64. Saint Mary's played seven games against four teams that made the NCAA Tournament field. Middle Tennessee played six games against five teams that made the NCAA Tournament field. Neither made a great case for their inclusion into the field but both have the look of teams that should be in.

Advanced statistics from KenPom.com and BBstate.com.
Click for full size view.

BYU vs. Washington

#6 Washington Huskies at #3 BYU Cougars

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, 6:30 PM PDT.

Provo, Utah.

Washington hails from the Pac-12. The Huskies went 18-15 on the season, 9-9 in Pac-12 regular season play. They are on a one game losing streak, to Oregon in their second game of the Pac-12 Tournament. Washington is 6-7 away from home this season.

BYU is 21-11 on the season, went 10-6 in WCC regular season play and is currently on a one game losing streak, to San Diego in the WCC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Cougars are 15-3 at home this season.

TV: ESPN

Radio: KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM along the Wasatch Front, KMGR 95.9 FM in Manti, KSUB 590 AM in Cedar City, KDXU 890 AM in St. George and KTHK 105.5 FM in Idaho Falls.

Satellite Radio: BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.

Online: Live video from Watch ESPN and live audio from KSL.

BYU has one of the best offenses not playing in the NCAA Tournament. Washington has an offense that is average by national standards. BYU's defense is better than Washington's. BYU is playing at home. Sure fire recipe for a win? Not so fast...

Santa Clara vs. Vermont

College Basketball Invitational: First Round

Vermont Catamounts at Santa Clara Broncos

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, 7:00 PM PDT

Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California.

Vermont hails from the America East. The Catamounts are 21-11 on the season, 11-5 in America East regular season play, they are currently on a one game losing streak. Vermont is 10-8 away from home this season.

Santa Clara is 21-11 on the season, went 9-7 in WCC regular season play and is currently on a one game losing streak, to LMU in the WCC Tournament Quarterfinals. Santa Clara is 13-5 at home this season.

Radio: KDOW 1220 AM in the Bay Area.

Online: Live audio from KDOW.

Vermont is in the CBI because it missed the NCAA Tournament by four points. The Catamounts lost, at home, to Albany in the America East championship game on Saturday.

Santa Clara is in the CBI because it lost in the WCC Quarterfinals to Loyola Marymount back on March 8th. The Broncos will have only played two games in the month of March at tip time on Tuesday, the other being a defeat at Saint Mary's on the 2nd.

Harvard (91) and Stony Brook (80) are the only top-100 wins for Vermont this season. The Catamounts have played only three top-100 teams (Connecticut being the other). Santa Clara has faced six top-100 teams, nine times total, and won twice. The Broncos have defeated Saint Louis (15) and Pacific (97), both are NCAA Tournament teams and both victories came on the road.

National College Basketball Tournament Invitational

While most people were digesting the teams, seedings and first round (second round) match-ups from the NCAA Tournament, some people were thinking about the NIT, CBI and CIT. BYU and Santa Clara fans fit into the latter group.

BYU was pretty much a lock to make the NIT and Santa Clara was a lock to make one of the three tournaments.

BYU made the NIT, Santa Clara made the CBI.

Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and The West Coast Conference Championship

The same thing over and over normally gets old. That doesn't apply to Gonzaga playing Saint Mary's.

6:00 PM PST

WCC Tournament Championship Game

#2 Saint Mary's Gaels vs. #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs

Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Saint Mary's is 27-5 on the season, 14-2 in WCC regular season play and currently on a six game winning streak.

Gonzaga is 30-2 on the season, 16-0 in WCC regular season play and currently on a 13 game winning streak.

Gonzaga won the season series 2-0.

TV: ESPN.

Radio: 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 93, Sirius 110 and XM 193.

Online: Live video from ESPN3 and live audio from KGA.

The Zags and Gaels have met in the past four WCC Tournament Finals and seven of the past ten. Gonzaga has reached the past 15 Finals and 17 of the past 18. You have to go all the way back to the 1993-94 season to find a WCC Tournament that did not end with either Saint Mary's or Gonzaga playing in the Final.

Over the past four WCC Tournament Finals Saint Mary's has won two (2012 and 2010) and Gonzaga has won two (2011 and 2009). Over the past ten games between the two Gonzaga has totaled 746 points to Saint Mary's 741. This is a rivalry

WCC Semifinals Game 2 Preview

#6 San Diego Toreros vs. #2 Saint Mary's Gaels

Two teams fighting for their postseason lives face off in the WCC's nightcap.

San Diego sits one game below .500 on the season. To make a postseason tournament you have to be at or above .500. With two games remaining the only way the Toreros can earn a berth in one of the four postseason tournaments is with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by way of winning the WCC Tournament.

Saint Mary's sits on the NCAA Tournament bubble. A position that is never comfortable and increasingly uncomfortable. Just today fellow bubble teams Baylor, Tennessee, Alabama and Cincinnati picked up wins. Saint Mary's is at the point that, as a program, failing to make the NCAA Tournament would be a failure. A loss tonight would not guarantee a trip to the NIT, but it would, minimally, double the amount of sweat that will soak the Gaels' clothes on Selection Sunday.

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. 

Game Info: WCC Semifinals

Click for full size.

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.

8:30 PM PST (30 minutes after the finish of the previous game.)
#6 San Diego Toreros vs. #2 Saint Mary's Gaels

Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

San Diego is 16-17 on the season, 7-9 in WCC regular season play and currently on a three game winning streak.

Saint Mary's is 26-5 on the season, 14-2 in WCC regular season play and currently on a five game winning streak. 

Saint Mary's swept the season series 2-0.

TV: ESPN2.

Radio: XX 1090 AM in San Diego.

Satellite Radio: Sirius 110 and XM 193.

Online: Live video from ESPN3. Live audio from 1090 AM.

WCC Quarterfinals Game 2 Preview

#6 San Diego Toreros vs. #3 Brigham Young Cougars

If this quarterfinal match-up seems familiar that's because it should. These two teams met last season in the WCC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Toreros hung with the Cougars but couldn't do much more than that. BYU escaped with a five point victory. Last season the Cougars were an NCAA Tournament bubble team. This season they're an auto-bid-needed team, an unusual position for BYU.

Last Year's BYU vs. San Diego match-up in the WCC Tournament.

WCC Tournament Quarterfinals Info

Click image for full size view.

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.

8:30 PM PST (30 minutes after the first game ends.)
#6 San Diego Toreros vs. #3 Brigham Young Cougars
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
San Diego is 15-17 on the season, 7-9 in WCC regular season play and currently on a two game winning streak.
BYU is 21-10 on the season, 10-6 in WCC regular season play and currently on a one game winning streak.
The season series between these two teams was split 1-1.
TV: ESPNU.
Radio: XX 1090 AM in San Diego, KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM along the Wasatch Front, KMGR 95.9 FM in Manti, KSUB 590 AM in Cedar City, KDXU 890 AM in St. George and KTHK 105.5 FM in Idaho Falls.
Satellite Radio: Sirius 110, XM 193 and BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.
Online: Live video from ESPN3. Live audio from KSL and 1090 AM.

#7 Pepperdine vs. #6 San Diego

These two teams are young. San Diego has more seniors than Pepperdine. Pepperdine has a senior at the position where experience matters. The Toreros stellar sophomore back court of Johnny Dee and Christopher Anderson have been playing like veterans. Pepperdine's Lorne Jackson is a veteran, the fifth year senior has been here before and won't be back unless he gets a victory tonight.

Both teams feature members of the WCC's All-Freshman Team. Center Jito Kok is a block machine for the Toreros. Stacy Davis' 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game earned him WCC Newcomer of the Year honors. 

The first time these two met the Toreros won easily, by 12, in Malibu back in January. The second time was less than a week ago and the Waves proved to be much more pesky than the first time with the Toreros winning by only seven. Familiarity is the name of this game as neither team has played since Saturday. Having the last game fresh in their minds both teams know what the need to do differently this time. KenPom.com projects this to be a two point game when the final buzzer sounds. He uses stats to figure that out. Based upon familiarity I would have to agree that this will be a close one.

#9 LMU vs. #5 USF

The first time these two teams met, January 19th on the Hilltop, they were in pretty similar positions. Both were 1-5 in WCC play, both had eight wins overall and both had either 10 losses (San Francisco) or 11 (LMU). The Dons won by 9 and broke their second five game losing streak of the season. From then the Dons went from bottom of the conference standings to the five seed in the tournament. LMU, on the other hand, continued to flounder for nearly the rest of the season.

The second time these two teams met, February 21st in L.A., they were in vastly different positions. Not just compared to each other but compared to where they were in the previous meeting. LMU lost, again, but this time it was only by two, 61-59. Last night, if you watched the Lions beat the Pilots, you saw baskets being made by Lions not named Anthony Ireland. That was the case in on the 21st as well.  Alex Osborne and Ashley Hamilton both pitched in 11 points and Taylor Walker added nine. Ireland hit his average of 21 but the key was that he wasn't doing it alone. Last night it was Hamilton that contributed 21 points. LMU was figuring out in the second USF game that Ireland couldn't do it alone, they just came up short. Last night the Lions broke through with that strategy and got the win.

WCC Tournament Day Two Info

WCC Tournament Second Round

6:00 PM PST
#5 San Francisco Dons vs. #9 Loyola Marymount Lions
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Loyola Marymount is 9-21 on the season, 1-15 in the WCC regular season and currently on a one game winning streak.
San Francisco is 14-15 on the season, 7-9 in WCC play and currently on a three game winning streak.
San Francisco swept the Lions 2-0 in the regular season.
TV: BYUtv.
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles.
Satellite Radio: Sirius 110 and XM 193.
Online: Live video from WCC Digital and live audio from KXLU.

Approx. 8:30 PM PST (30 minutes after USF vs. LMU)
#6 San Diego Toreros vs. #7 Pepperdine Waves
Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pepperdine is 12-17 on the season, 4-12 in WCC play and currently on a four game losing streak.
San Diego is 14-17 on the season, 7-9 in WCC play and currently on a one game winning streak.
San Diego swept the season series 2-0.
TV: BYUtv.
Radio: XX 1090 AM in San Diego.
Satellite Radio: Sirius 110 and XM 193.
Online: Live video from WCC Digital, live audio from 1090 AM and Pepperdine Athletics.

WCC Tournament Opening Day Info

6:00 PM PST

#9 Loyola Marymount Lions vs. #8 Portland Pilots

Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

LMU is 8-22 on the season, 1-15 in WCC play and currently on a 14 game losing streak.

Portland is 11-20 on the season, 4-12 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.

The Pilots won both meetings with the Lions this season.

TV: BYUtv.

Radio: KPDQ 800 AM in Portland and KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles.

Online: Live video from BYUtv Sports. Live audio from KPDQ and KXLU. 

The beginning of the end is tomorrow. When the eight and nine seeds meet in the first game of the WCC Tournament they will play a game of basketball. The winning team advances to play #5 San Francisco on Thursday. The losing team has to wait until next November before they can play another game. 

Game Day Info 2/2

It's the last day of the regular season so the bracket for the WCC Tournament has to be determined today. Still up for grabs are seeds three through eight. Here are the possible seedings.
1: Gonzaga. Bye to the semifinals.
2: Saint Mary's. Bye to the semifinals.
3: BYU if Santa Clara loses at Saint Mary's. Santa Clara if the Broncos win at Saint Mary's and BYU loses at LMU. Bye to the quarterfinals.
4: Santa Clara if the Broncos lose at Saint Mary's. BYU if the Cougars lose at LMU and Santa Clara wins at Saint Mary's. Bye to the quarterfinals.
5: San Francisco if San Diego loses to Pepperdine. San Diego if the Toreros beat Pepperdine and have a better RPI than San Francisco on Sunday morning (very unlikely, San Diego is 29 spots behind San Francisco at the time of this post).
6: San Diego if the Toreros lose to Pepperdine. San Francisco if San Diego beats Pepperdine and has a better RPI than the Dons on Sunday morning.
7: Pepperdine if the Waves win at San Diego. Portland if the Pilots win at Gonzaga and Pepperdine loses at San Diego.
8: Portland if the Pilots lose at Gonzaga. Pepperdine if the Waves lose at San Diego and Portland wins at Gonzaga.
9: Loyola Marymount.

Click "read more" for the times and TV/Radio/Online coverage of today's four WCC games.