Countdown: Weekend Waster

98 days remain...

It's a Saturday, you've got time to kill and I'm here to help. Every Saturday during the countdown I will post a link to a full game. BYUtv Sports' Film Room and the NCAA Vault are two incredible, free and fully legal resources for this. Today's game comes from the NCAA Vault, which does not allow videos to be embedded on other sites like BYUtv does.

The game that opens up the era of the Weekend Waster is the game that opened up what I consider to be the modern era of the West Coast Conference (though the two games played by this team immediately prior to this game could also lay claim to that title). It was a one point victory in typical March Madness style. The other team featured a couple players that have won a couple NBA Championships over the past couple of years. Any ideas what this game is?

Stop wasting your time trying to figure out what game this is and start wasting your time watching the game, click here!

CBI Champions!

CBI Championship Series Game Three

 Santa Clara Broncos 80 at George Mason Patriots 77

Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia.

Santa Clara finishes the season at 26-12.

For the second time in three years Santa Clara finishes the season with a win. Two years ago the Broncos won the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). This season they win the College Basketball Invitational.

Only four teams get to finish their season with a postseason win. Santa Clara, along with East Carolina (CIT champs), Baylor (NIT champs) and the to-be-determined NCAA Tournament champs, is one of those teams. 

The 2012-2013 Santa Clara Broncos become only the fifth WCC team to finish the season with a win. San Francisco did it three times, twice by winning the NCAA Tournament (1955 and 1956) and once by winning the NIT. The other? The 2010-2011 Santa Clara Broncos that won the CIT.

BYU has won two NITs, in 1951 and 1966, well before becoming a WCC team.

Kevin Foster had 24 points, Marc Trasolini had 20, Evan Roquemore had 19 and Raymond Cowels III had 9. Foster hit a big three with 1:13 left to give the Broncos the final lead of the game, he also scored the final point of the game on a free throw. Marc Trasolini was dominant early in the second half, scoring eight of the Broncos' first 12 points, as the Broncos rallied from a 33-37 deficit at the break. Evan Roquemore hit clutch free throw after clutch free throw in the waining minutes to keep the lead with Santa Clara. Raymond Cowels III scored all nine of his points in the first half, which kept the Broncos from falling out of striking distance.

This was the last game for seniors Kevin Foster, Marc Trasolini, Raymond Cowels III, Niyi Harrison and Kyle Perricone. 

One Last Game

Friday, April 5th, 4:00 PM PDT

CBI Championship Series Game Three

Santa Clara Broncos at George Mason Patriots

Patriot Center, Fairfax, Virginia.

George Mason hails from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Patriots are 22-15 on the season, 10-8 in CAA regular season play, 9-6 at home and are currently on a one game winning streak.

Santa Clara is 25-12 on the season, 9-6 away from home and currently on a one game losing 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 (at 7:00 PM).

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

 

For the fifth time in the six year history of the CBI a third game is needed to determine the champion. Santa Clara won game one on Monday, at home. George Mason came back to win game two on Wednesday, at their practice facility. Today's game three will be held at the regular home of George Mason, the 10,000 seat Patriot Center.

Not much was going well for the Broncos in game two. A poor shooting night combined with an inability to follow the rules (as decided by the officials) resulted in a 66-73 loss. Considering the 37.5% shooting, 32 fouls, -6 rebounding margin and making only 5 threes, the Broncos did pretty well to keep the scoring margin so close. That bodes well for this game. George Mason, in game two, was a completely different team than in game one. However, the Patriots were pretty much the same team they had been all season long. The Broncos happened to have one of their worst games of the season on the same night that George Mason had one of it's most regular games of the season.

 

If the Broncos' offense can return to form tonight on a real basketball court (game two was at the practice facility/volleyball arena), anything short of a stellar performance by the Patriots should come up short. 

NIT Semis: BYU vs. Baylor

National Invitation Tournament Semifinals

#3 BYU Cougars vs. #2 Baylor Bears

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York.

Monday, April 2, 2013, 4:00 PM PDT.

Baylor hails from the Big 12 conference. The Bears are 21-14 on the season, 9-9 in Big 12 regular season play, 6-9 away from home and currently on a three game winning streak.

BYU is 24-11 on the season, 10-6 in WCC regular season play, 7-8 away from home and currently on a three game winning streak.

TV: ESPN2

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.

Comparison of the Cougars' stats over the season, in the NIT and in their first game against Baylor. Colors are 100% subjective. Click for full size view.

CBI Championship Series Game One

CBI Championship Series Game One

George Mason Patriots 73 at Santa Clara Broncos 81

Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California.

George Mason falls to 21-15 on the season. 

Santa Clara improves to 25-11 on the season.

Next game at George Mason on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013 at 4:00 PM PDT.

It was an off night by recent Broncos' offensive standards. Santa Clara shot just 44.2% from the field tonight, compared to 48%, 48% and 51% in the first three of its CBI games. That proved to be enough though, thanks in part to a 10-24 night behind the three point arc and another large scoring output from senior guard Kevin Foster. 

Santa Clara vs. George Mason

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).

Here we have a game between two former Cinderellas for whom the clock struck midnight long ago. Santa Clara's Steve Nash led 15 over 2 upset of Arizona is pretty much forgotten save for the times (like this year) when a 15 beats a 2 in the NCAA Tournament. George Mason opened the door for mid-majors to run to the final four when the Patriots did so in 2006. Neither team has had nearly the same level of success in the years since, but now they're playing for a national championship.

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.

FGCU, Gonzaga, Cinderella and Memories

Florida Gulf Coast plays Florida in the Sweet Sixteen tonight. Savor this moment. Use it as a way to remember what this time of year is about.

When Gonzaga made its first NCAA Tournament in 1995 FGCU was no more than a parking lot. When the Zags ran to the Elite Eight in 1999 (with a Sweet Sixteen victory over Florida) no students had been at FGCU for a full two school years.

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.

CBI Quarterfinals: Santa Clara 86 - Purdue 83

Santa Clara Head Coach Kerry Keating opened the post game press conference by saying, "I told Matt [Painter, Purdue Head Coach] how much I appreciated that they played."

Purdue, a founding member of the Big Ten Conference, is a school with over 30,000 undergraduates and a completely self-sustaining athletic budget of $60 million. The Boilermakers have more Big Ten basketball championships than any other school in the conference and they boast winning records against all members of the conference.

The Boilermakers did not need to play in this tournament in the way Santa Clara did.

But, they played, and the Broncos weren't phased. Mackey Arena isn't exactly Cameron Indoor after all. Santa Clara led from the get go, busting out to a 7-2 lead by the first media timeout. During those early minutes the Boilermakers had four turnovers and five missed field goals.

Purdue got the offense going after that first break. The Boilermakers would close the gap to one possession on multiple occasions, but just couldn't get past that hump.

#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. #6 Memphis

NCAA Tournament Round of 64

#11 Saint Mary's Gaels vs. #6 Memphis Tigers

March 21, 2013, 11:45 AM PDT, Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Memphis hails from Conference USA and is 30-4 on the season, 16-0 in C-USA regular season play and currently on a six game winning streak. The Tigers are 12-3 away from home.

Saint Mary's is 28-6 on the season, on a one game winning streak and 12-5 away from home.

TV: CBS.

Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 85.

Online: Live video from the NCAA.

Tuesday's Action

Saint Mary's played in the First Four, BYU played in the NIT and Santa Clara played in the CBI last night. All three teams won their first postseason games.

NCAA First Four:
#11 Saint Mary's 67 - #11 Middle Tennessee 54
NIT Opening Round:
#3 BYU 90 - #6 Washington 79
CBI Opening Round:
Santa Clara 77 - Vermont 67

#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.

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

The WCC's March Madness is Orderly

Click image for full size view.

This morning only three seeds were set in stone. Since then the tournament has come into form, and the BYU at LMU game isn't even over yet! At this point, 11:50 PM Central Standard Time, the five and six seeds are not official. San Francisco and San Diego have the same conference record, necessitating a tie-breaker. The tie-breaker in this case is the teams' RPI rating. The RPI used in the tie-breaker will be taken Sunday morning. There's no way for San Diego to pass San Francisco in the RPI between now and then though, so it's the Dons that will come up with the five seed.

WCC Thursday 2/21

We're three weeks into February. That means there is only one week left until March Madness. Though don't let the calendar fool you into thinking that this will be one final week of calm. It may not have the same alliterative ring but February madness is upon us.

7:00 PM PST

San Francisco Dons at Loyola Marymount Lions

Gersten Pavilion, Los Angeles, California.

San Francisco is 11-15 on the season, 4-9 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.

Loyola Marymount is 8-18 on the season, 1-12 in WCC play and currently on a ten game losing streak.

Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles.

Online: Live video from WCC Digital; Live audio from KXLU.

---

San Diego Toreros at Portland Pilots

Chiles Center, Portland, Oregon.

San Diego is 13-14 on the season, 6-6 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.

Portland is 10-18 on the season, 3-10 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.

TV: ROOT Sports Northwest and Rocky Mountain.

Radio: KPDQ 800 AM in Portland and 1090 AM in San Diego.

Online: Live audio from KPDQ and 1090 AM.

8:00 PM PST

Brigham Young Cougars at Saint Mary's Gaels

McKeon Pavilion, Moraga, California.

Brigham Young is 20-8 on the season, 9-4 in WCC play and currently on a two game winning streak.

Saint Mary's is 22-5 on the season, 11-2 in WCC play and currently on a one game winning streak.

TV: ESPN2 and ESPN Pacific Rim.

Radio: KSL 1160 AM & 102.7 FM along the Wasatch Front.

Satellite Radio: BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.

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

Learn about this image by clicking "Read more".

WCC Tournament Bracket. Click image for larger size.