28 days remain...
I'm writing a top-ten players in the WCC for Mid-Major Madness' season preview series. This guy is in that top-ten.
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Friday, October 11, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Countdown 9/13/13
57 days remain...
I normally post full games on Saturdays, but why not do a full game Friday once? Here's a really old game between San Francisco and Oregon State. The game used to be so different.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Countdown 8/29/13
72 days remain...
Like Matt Christiansen and Joe Edmonds, this video is a package deal. Edmonds, along with Frank Rogers, are not returning to USF next season.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Offseason Personnel Movement Around the WCC
The landscape of college basketball is ever-changing. Some of that change, conference realignment or selfish reasons for transferring, can be negative. Some though, like natural roster turnover due to graduation, is a necessary part of the college game. Regardless of whether the change is good or bad, we have to deal with it. Unfortunately, that can be really difficult. How are you supposed to keep track of players when so many are graduating, transferring in/out, coming off redshirts/redshirting or arriving for their first year at college?
Well, this is how. I've amassed all the information on the personnel movement happening at WCC basketball programs this offseason. It's all here, listed school-by-school. Take a look at who won't be back on your least favorite team next season (because you should already know who won't be back on your favorite team). You'll also find all the new recruits, the players who will be returning from a redshirt season or two year mission, the transfers, the dismissals as well as any coaching/staff changes. Plus, there are some charts to help you understand just how much each team is losing in terms of production.
Players listed under the "going" section are shown with the year they were listed as during the 2012-'13 season. Players listed under the "coming" section are shown with the year they will be for the 2013-'14 season.
Well, this is how. I've amassed all the information on the personnel movement happening at WCC basketball programs this offseason. It's all here, listed school-by-school. Take a look at who won't be back on your least favorite team next season (because you should already know who won't be back on your favorite team). You'll also find all the new recruits, the players who will be returning from a redshirt season or two year mission, the transfers, the dismissals as well as any coaching/staff changes. Plus, there are some charts to help you understand just how much each team is losing in terms of production.
Players listed under the "going" section are shown with the year they were listed as during the 2012-'13 season. Players listed under the "coming" section are shown with the year they will be for the 2013-'14 season.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
#9 LMU 61 - #5 USF 60
It took an extra five minutes but the Lions picked up their second win in a row here in Vegas. The team that couldn't win more than once during WCC play has more than doubled their total against WCC opponents this season.
Change for the better should be the motto for the LMU offense over the past few games. This offense, once a model of scoring inequality, has become something of a scoring socialism. While Ireland would once again lead the team in the end he needed the extra period to get there. Last night, for only the fifth time in the season, someone other than Ireland led the team. That someone would be Ashley Hamilton.
Tonight it was Godwin Okonji who filled that role in regulation. Okonji contributed 14 points in an exceptionally efficient way. He was 6-7 from the field and 2-2 from the line. Taylor Walker chipped in 13 points of his own including two of the Lions three pointers. Ashley Hamilton added 11.
Anthony Ireland picked up where he left off yesterday, quietly. Ireland had only four points in the first half. To start the second half though Ireland returned to his high octane offensive ways and went on a quick 5-0 run. Ireland finished with eight points in the second half and added another four in OT. The Lions scored only five points in the extra period.
The Dons couldn't get into their usual style of play from the beginning and unlike LMU they didn't thrive because of it. Cody Doolin was taking threes instead of driving to the hoop. Cole Dickerson tried to pick up the slack. His 23 point, 18 rebound night would normally be enough to do just that. However, the Dons couldn't buy a bucket at the free throw line. It took 11 attempts before the Dons could get a point from the charity stripe, they would finish shooting a meager 8-19. That was the difference in the game.
The Lions advance to play the only WCC team they beat in the regular season, #4 Santa Clara, Friday at 6:00 PM.
Change for the better should be the motto for the LMU offense over the past few games. This offense, once a model of scoring inequality, has become something of a scoring socialism. While Ireland would once again lead the team in the end he needed the extra period to get there. Last night, for only the fifth time in the season, someone other than Ireland led the team. That someone would be Ashley Hamilton.
Tonight it was Godwin Okonji who filled that role in regulation. Okonji contributed 14 points in an exceptionally efficient way. He was 6-7 from the field and 2-2 from the line. Taylor Walker chipped in 13 points of his own including two of the Lions three pointers. Ashley Hamilton added 11.
Anthony Ireland picked up where he left off yesterday, quietly. Ireland had only four points in the first half. To start the second half though Ireland returned to his high octane offensive ways and went on a quick 5-0 run. Ireland finished with eight points in the second half and added another four in OT. The Lions scored only five points in the extra period.
The Dons couldn't get into their usual style of play from the beginning and unlike LMU they didn't thrive because of it. Cody Doolin was taking threes instead of driving to the hoop. Cole Dickerson tried to pick up the slack. His 23 point, 18 rebound night would normally be enough to do just that. However, the Dons couldn't buy a bucket at the free throw line. It took 11 attempts before the Dons could get a point from the charity stripe, they would finish shooting a meager 8-19. That was the difference in the game.
The Lions advance to play the only WCC team they beat in the regular season, #4 Santa Clara, Friday at 6:00 PM.
#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.
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.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Weekend Thoughts
1: Congratulations to the 2013 West Coast Conference Regular Season Champions, the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The Zags went 16-0 in WCC play this season. This is the fourth time the Zags have gone undefeated in conference play (14-0 in 2004, 2006 and 2009). The Zags' 29 overall wins this season ties their all time high for wins in a season (29 in 2001-02 and 2005-06).
2: Shame on the Saint Mary's Gaels for breaking the NCAA's rules. Even in a day and age where the NCAA's rules aren't just extreme and convoluted but not followed in principle by the NCAA itself this is unacceptable. The Gaels' desire to get ahead has not just tarnished their reputation but that of the WCC. Now on four years probation and having to suffer through numerous other sanctions the Gaels will have to fight to stay one of the top mid-majors in the country. Not only does that hurt their program but the rest of the programs in the WCC as well.
3. If the Zags move up to number one in the AP Poll released on Monday morning it will be a first for the program. The last WCC school to be ranked atop the poll was the 1976-77 San Francisco Dons. Those Dons held the top spot for nine weeks. San Francisco had been ranked number one for for four weeks in February 1955 and for the entire 1955-56 season.
2: Shame on the Saint Mary's Gaels for breaking the NCAA's rules. Even in a day and age where the NCAA's rules aren't just extreme and convoluted but not followed in principle by the NCAA itself this is unacceptable. The Gaels' desire to get ahead has not just tarnished their reputation but that of the WCC. Now on four years probation and having to suffer through numerous other sanctions the Gaels will have to fight to stay one of the top mid-majors in the country. Not only does that hurt their program but the rest of the programs in the WCC as well.
3. If the Zags move up to number one in the AP Poll released on Monday morning it will be a first for the program. The last WCC school to be ranked atop the poll was the 1976-77 San Francisco Dons. Those Dons held the top spot for nine weeks. San Francisco had been ranked number one for for four weeks in February 1955 and for the entire 1955-56 season.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The WCC's March Madness is Orderly
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| Click image for full size view. |
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.
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.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Game Info 2/28
6:00 PM PST
San Francisco Dons at San Diego Toreros
Jenny Craig Pavilion, San Diego, California.
San Francisco is 13-15 on the season, 6-9 in WCC play and currently on a two game winning streak.
San Diego is 13-16 on the season, 6-8 in WCC play and currently on a four game losing streak.
TV: Fox Sports San Diego and Comcast SportsNet Plus.
Radio: 1090 AM in San Diego.
Online: Live audio from 1090 AM and USF Athletics.
8:00 PM PST
#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs at Brigham Young Cougars
Marriott Center, Provo, Utah.
Brigham Young is 20-9 on the season, 9-5 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
Gonzaga is 27-2 on the season, 14-0 in WCC play and currently on a ten game winning streak.
San Francisco Dons at San Diego Toreros
Jenny Craig Pavilion, San Diego, California.
San Francisco is 13-15 on the season, 6-9 in WCC play and currently on a two game winning streak.
San Diego is 13-16 on the season, 6-8 in WCC play and currently on a four game losing streak.
TV: Fox Sports San Diego and Comcast SportsNet Plus.
Radio: 1090 AM in San Diego.
Online: Live audio from 1090 AM and USF Athletics.
8:00 PM PST
#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs at Brigham Young Cougars
Marriott Center, Provo, Utah.
Brigham Young is 20-9 on the season, 9-5 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
Gonzaga is 27-2 on the season, 14-0 in WCC play and currently on a ten game winning streak.
TV: ESPN2.
Radio: BYU radio network: 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. Gonzaga radio network: 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: BYU Radio Sirius XM 143.
Online: Live audio from KSL and KGA. Live video from ESPN3.
Loyola Marymount Lions at Santa Clara Broncos
Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California.
Loyola Marymount is 8-19 on the season, 1-13 in WCC play and currently on a 12 game losing streak.
Santa Clara is 20-9 on the season, 8-6 in WCC play and currently on a one game winning streak.
TV: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and Northwest.
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles and KDOW 1220 AM in the Bay Area.
Online: Live audio from KXLU and KDOW.
Online: Live audio from KSL and KGA. Live video from ESPN3.
Loyola Marymount Lions at Santa Clara Broncos
Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California.
Loyola Marymount is 8-19 on the season, 1-13 in WCC play and currently on a 12 game losing streak.
Santa Clara is 20-9 on the season, 8-6 in WCC play and currently on a one game winning streak.
TV: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and Northwest.
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in Los Angeles and KDOW 1220 AM in the Bay Area.
Online: Live audio from KXLU and KDOW.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Gonzaga's Historic Ranking
For the first time in program history the Gonzaga Bulldogs are the #2 team in the AP Top 25. The Zags are the third WCC team to reach this height. They join the exceptional Dons' teams of the mid-century and a blip on the historic radar (funny to say that about a team that hit #2) Broncos squad from 1968-69. This is historic not just for the program or the conference, but the college hoops landscape on the whole.
In the history of the AP Poll only 24 other mid-major teams have earned a ranking of two or higher. For this article I considered any team that is not currently in a power-six conference to be a mid-major. Some teams got shafted with this definition (DePaul, you shouldn't have sold out), some teams got rewarded (Temple, good thing the move to the Big East isn't until next season).
In the history of the AP Poll only 24 other mid-major teams have earned a ranking of two or higher. For this article I considered any team that is not currently in a power-six conference to be a mid-major. Some teams got shafted with this definition (DePaul, you shouldn't have sold out), some teams got rewarded (Temple, good thing the move to the Big East isn't until next season).
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| The Top-25 of Mid-Majors in the Top-25's top-2. Click image for full size view. |
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Game Info 2/23
WCC Game of the Week
2:00 PM PST
Santa Clara Broncos at Portland Pilots
Chiles Center, Portland, Oregon.
Santa Clara is 19-9 on the season, 7-6 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
Portland is 11-18 on the season, 4-10 in WCC play and currently on a one game winning streak.
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Comcast SportsNet California and ROOT Sports Northwest/Rocky Mountain.
Radio: KPDQ 800 AM in Portland and KDOW 1220 AM in the Bay Area.
ESPN BracketBusters
3:00 PM PST
Creighton Bluejays at Saint Mary's Gaels
McKeon Pavilion, Moraga, California.
Creighton hails from the Missouri Valley Conference, is 22-6 on the season, 11-5 in conference play and currently on a two game winning streak. The Bluejays are 6-4 on the road this season.
Saint Mary's is 23-5 on the season, 12-2 in WCC play and currently on a two game winning streak. The Gaels are 14-1 at home this season.
TV: ESPN
Radio: KXSP 590 AM in Omaha, Nebraska.
Online: Live audio from KXSP.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
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.
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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.
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.
Learn about this image by clicking "Read more".
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| WCC Tournament Bracket. Click image for larger size. |
Saturday, February 16, 2013
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.
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.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Happy Valentine's Day
Stop reading this right now and go tell someone you care about that you care about them.
Did you do that? Don't lie to your computer screen. Did you? Okay, now that we've gotten the holiday out of the way let's get right into the WCC action for today.
Did you do that? Don't lie to your computer screen. Did you? Okay, now that we've gotten the holiday out of the way let's get right into the WCC action for today.
7:00 PM PST
Loyola Marymount Lions at Pepperdine Waves
Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, California.
LMU is 8-15 on the season, 1-10 in WCC play and currently on an eight game losing streak.
Pepperdine is 11-13 on the season, 3-8 in WCC play and currently on a one game winning streak.
Radio: KXLU 88.9 FM in the Los Angeles area.
Online: Live video from WCC Digital and live audio from KXLU.
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Portland Pilots at San Francisco Dons
War Memorial Gymnasium, San Francisco, California.
Portland is 9-17 on the season, 2-9 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
San Francisco is 11-13 on the season, 4-7 in WCC play and currently on a two game winning streak.
Radio: KPDQ 800 AM in the Portland area.
Online: Live video from WCC Digital and live audio from KPDQ.
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San Diego Toreros at Santa Clara Broncos
Leavey Center, Santa Clara, California.
San Diego is 13-13 on the season, 6-5 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
Santa Clara is 17-8 on the season, 5-5 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.
Radio: KDOW 1220 AM in the Bay Area and XX 1090 AM in San Diego.
8:00 PM PST
#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.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
WCC Saturday 2/2
WCC Game of the Week
2:30 PM PST
San Francisco Dons at Pepperdine Waves
Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, California.
San Francisco is 9-13 on the season, 2-7 in WCC play and is currently on a two game losing streak.
Pepperdine is 10-11 on the season, 2-6 in WCC play and currently on a two game losing streak.
TV: Time Warner Cable SportsNet, Comcast SportsNet. Delayed until 9:00 PM PST on ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain and Northwest.
Radio: 95.7 FM in the Bay Area
Online: Live video from Pepperdine Sports.
Pepperdine and San Francisco are coming off of close defeats at the hands of BYU and Saint Mary's respectively. Both teams played very well in those games and managed to, especially Pepperdine, put a major scare in their much more powerful foe.
In this game the chance for a major upset is gone but not the opportunity to play very well. San Francisco has the highest three point percentage of any WCC team. Not only can they score from deep but they like doing so. San Francisco is second in the WCC, by a slight margin to Santa Clara, in percentage of total points coming from long range. 33.78% of the Dons' points come from deep. That long range savvy will come in handy against a Waves team that likes to run a slow and methodical offense.
Pepperdine has the least possessions per forty minutes of any WCC team with 64.4. Against a Dons team that struggles mightily to defend, their slow pace and reliance on the two point shot should normally allow them to control the game and grind out a win. However, as I said earlier, the Dons can light it up from deep. If the Dons get going from downtown they will be able to burst past Pepperdine's slow, two by two buildup of points.
Hey, there are two great guards playing in this game. It's a WCC game after all. Cody Doolin and Lorne Jackson are the experienced core of their young teams, and they're really good at basketball.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Game Info 1/30
7:00 PM PST:
Saint Mary's Gaels at San Francisco Dons
War Memorial Gymnasium, San Francisco, California.
Saint Mary's is 17-4 on the season, 6-1 in WCC play and currently on a five game winning streak.
San Francisco is 9-12 on the season, 2-6 in WCC play and currently on a one game losing streak.
TV: CSN California.
The Gaels and Dons wrap up this year's two game series tonight at War Memorial. Last time the Dons played the Gaels they put quite a scare in the defending champions but ultimately came up short with a six point loss. War Memorial is a place where the big dogs in the conference go to suffer defeats. Okay, mostly just Gonzaga suffers that fate. Though BYU and Saint Mary's have come very close to defeat.
The Dons are hard to figure out this year. They have a talented and deep roster but it's a young and inexperienced roster. They're four games under .500 but they're number 148 in the RPI. They've played very well against some of the top teams in the WCC, though they've come up short each time, or they've looked absolutely hapless against them. They've had streaks of five games on both the winning and losing side. I see them to be the only team not in the top four in the standings with the ability to beat a team in the top four. Tonight, based on how they played against the Gaels earlier this season in Moraga, may be their best chance to pull that off.
Saint Mary's is far superior talent and team wise to San Francisco but, as we learn each March when a David beats a Goliath thanks to a fortunate match-up, the Dons have the right personell to take down the Gaels. Guards Cody Doolin and De'End Parker have the ability to slash inside to create a mismatch with the Gaels' bigs. Cole Dickerson is .2 rebounds per game short of averaging a double-double and despite his lack of size (6'7'') he's a tough big man who could exploit a soft Gaels front court.
That said, none of that should be enough to warrant a Dons' victory. Saint Mary's is better in nearly every statistical category. They have better and more experienced players. I mean, they've even got an Olympian. They're one of the best offenses in the country. Not only are they efficient but they're high scoring. Put a well oiled offense up against a rather horrid defense and the offense should have no problem coasting to victory.
Well, "should have no problem" is why they play the game and it's why the Dons were able to put a big scare into the Gaels earlier this month. Another big scare tonight would be bigger than big it would be bubble-bursting big. If the Dons manage to pull of this upset the Gaels' at-large hopes would suffer a brutal blow. San Francisco has a bright future, a year or two from now. Saint Mary's does as well but they have an equally luminous present. If these teams are playing with the intent of making the conference look as good as possible Saint Mary's will win comfortably, but not after experiencing a few of San Francisco's freshmen have a break out game, and stay on track to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. But they aren't and that's why this is going to be a really entertaining game.
Well, "should have no problem" is why they play the game and it's why the Dons were able to put a big scare into the Gaels earlier this month. Another big scare tonight would be bigger than big it would be bubble-bursting big. If the Dons manage to pull of this upset the Gaels' at-large hopes would suffer a brutal blow. San Francisco has a bright future, a year or two from now. Saint Mary's does as well but they have an equally luminous present. If these teams are playing with the intent of making the conference look as good as possible Saint Mary's will win comfortably, but not after experiencing a few of San Francisco's freshmen have a break out game, and stay on track to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. But they aren't and that's why this is going to be a really entertaining game.
Oh yeah and it's yet another WCC game featuring two exceptional floor generals.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Win Total Forecast
As of today the average number of conference games played by WCC teams is 7.111. Is that number important? Not as far as I can tell. It's just a good time to take a look at how things were at this nearly mid-point last season and compare them with the season we're going through right now.
Last season, for the first time ever, five WCC teams had 20+ win seasons. At this point in the season that didn't look too probable. How does this season compare?
20 win teams:
Last season, for the first time ever, five WCC teams had 20+ win seasons. At this point in the season that didn't look too probable. How does this season compare?
(Through seven conference games)
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