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 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. #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.

#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.

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

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. 

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 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. 

WCC Wednesday 2/27

8:00 PM PST

#23 Saint Mary's Gaels at Pepperdine Waves

Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, California.

Saint Mary's is 24-5 on the season, 12-2 in WCC play and currently on a three game winning streak.

Pepperdine is 12-15 on the season, 4-10 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.

TV: ESPNU and ESPN Pacific Rim.

Online: Live video from ESPN3, live audio from Pepperdine Athletics.

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.

The Heart of College Hoops: BYU vs. Utah State

7:00 PM MST

Utah State Aggies at Brigham Young Cougars

Marriott Center, Provo, Utah.

Utah State hails from the Western Athletic Conference. They are 18-6 on the season, 9-5 in WAC play,    7-2 on the road and currently on a one game winning streak.

BYU is 19-8 on the season, 9-4 in WCC play, 14-2 at home and currently on a one game winning streak.

TV: BYUtv.

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

Satellite Radio: BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.

Online: Live video from BYUtv Sports, live audio from KSL.

There's a very good reason this non-conference match-up is taking place just as we approach the home stretch of conference play. Utah State was going through it's last practice in Logan before heading south to Provo when forward Danny Berger collapsed on the court. Aggies' trainer Mike Williams quickly used a defibrillator on Berger, saving his life.

WCC Saturday 2/16

Today in brief:

Gonzaga looks to remain unbeaten in WCC play, remain on track for a two seed in the NCAA tournament and pick up their 25th win of the season (sixth straight year with 25+ wins if they win tonight). The Zags have lost three straight at San Francisco and no player on their roster has won a game there.

Saint Mary's will be looking to rebound after getting crushed (relative to how they play the Zags) by Gonzaga on Thursday. A trip to the worst team in the WCC should make that easy. 

BYU hosts a Portland team that should have no chance against what should be an angry Cougars squad. BYU is on a two game skid that includes a rare home loss to a (even rarer) sub .500 San Francisco team. 

Santa Clara will be looking to put some distance between themselves and San Diego in the standings. Raymond Cowels III is seven points away from becoming the Broncos' fourth active player to amass at least 1,000 points, he averages 10 points per game.

1:30 PM PST

West Coast Conference Game of the Week

#5/#3 Gonzaga Bulldogs at San Francisco Dons
War Memorial Gymnasium, San Francisco, California.

Gonzaga is 24-2 on the season, 11-0 in WCC play and currently on a seven game winning streak.

San Francisco is 11-14 on the season, 4-8 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.

TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Root Sports NW and Rocky Mountain and KHQ TV.

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.

Online: Live audio from KGA.

Good Ol' Valentine's Day Hatred

#5/#3 Gonzaga Bulldogs at Saint Mary's Gaels

McKeon Pavilion, Moraga, California.

Gonzaga is 23-2 on the season, 10-0 in WCC play and currently on a six game winning streak.

Saint Mary's is 21-4 on the season, 10-1 in WCC play and currently on a nine game winning streak.

TV: ESPN2 and ESPN Australia.

Radio: KGA 1510 AM in the greater Spokane area, KMAS 1030 AM in the Puget Sound area, KALE 930 AM in the Lower Columbia Basin and 1490 AM in the Walla Walla area.

Online: Live video from WatchESPN, Live audio from KGA.

Here we go again. Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's for first place in the West Coast Conference. I'm not sure these two teams can play each other anymore without first place being on the line.

This year Gonzaga has risen to elite status, garnered talk of runs to the final four or beyond in the NCAA tournament, earned a top five ranking in both major polls, been called "Mark Few's best team ever" and so on and so on. Despite that it's still entirely possible that the Zags don't win the WCC regular season title outright. This year Saint Mary's got off to a rough start, lost a few games they really shouldn't have, won a couple they came within a second of losing and have had a seat reserved for them on the bubble since December. That said, they're still within 40 minutes of sitting alone atop the West Coast Conference.

It hasn't been a long lived rivalry. Over the past 10 years the Zags hold a 19-6 advantage over the Gaels in head to head match ups. Over the past five that advantage dwindles to just 8-4. Over the past eight games though, each team has won four. They've alternated victory and defeat for the past five. They've met in the past four WCC Tournament Finals.

That's the history. What about the now?