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#4 ranked Gonzaga hosts San Francisco Thursday night in a West Coast Conference matchup. Gonzaga leads the all time matchup 59-22, and have rattled off 15 straight wins head to head against the Dons including a 96-83 win in January.
San Francisco is coming off an 86-80 loss at St. Mary’s on Saturday. On Thursday (1/24) they beat Portland at home 83-61, and last Saturday (1/26) they lost to San Diego 67-63 on the road.
Gonzaga is coming off an 85-69 win over San Diego on Saturday at home. On Thursday (1/24) they smoked Santa Clara 98-39 on the road, and last Thursday (1/31) they beat BYU on the road 93-63.
On the season, San Francisco is 10-8-3 ATS, 3-5 ATS on the road, and 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 games. On the season Gonzaga is 16-7 ATS, 12-3 ATS at home, and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
Bovada has Gonzaga as 17 point favourites with an O/U total of 150.5.
San Francisco Dons
(17-5 overall, 5-3 on the road, 5-3 in conference)
The Dons average 76.7 PPG, 38.2 RPG, 14.0 APG, 3.5 BPG, 6.1 SPG, and 10.2 TPG. As a team they shoot 47.4% from the field, 65.6% from the free throw line, and 35.0% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 63.8 PPG, 33.2 RPG, 41.4% shooting from the field, and 29.4% shooting from 3 point range.
They are led by Charles Minlend, who averages 15.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.3 APG and 0.9 SPG while shooting 43.8% from the field, 68.0% from the free throw line, and 31.1% from 3 point range. Frankie Ferrari chips in 14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.7 APG and 1.5 SPG while shooting 42.3/87.3/37.8. Matt McCarthy contributes 10.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG and 42.9% shooting from 3. Jordan Ratinho (9.3 PPG/3.1 RPG/0.9 SPG), Jimbo Lull (8.1 PPG/5.4 RPG/58.7% from the field), Nate Renfro (7.4 PPG/5.2 RPG/0.9 SPG/1.1 BPG) and Jamaree Bouyea (6.2 PPG/3.4 RPG/1.5 APG) round out their rotation.
Key Injuries
None
#4 Gonzaga Bulldogs
(21-2 overall, 15-0 at home, 8-0 in conference)
The Bulldogs average 91.2 PPG, 39.6 RPG, 18.7 APG, 5.5 BPG, 7.6 SPG, and 10.6 TPG. As a team they shoot 52.7% from the field, 75.3% from the free throw line, and 37.2% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 66.3 PPG, 33.2 RPG, 38.8% shooting from the field, and 30.5% shooting from 3 point range.
They are led by forward Rui Hachimura, who averages 20.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.9 SPG and 0.7 BPG while shooting 60.6% from the field, 73.0% from the free throw line, and 45.8% from 3 point range. Brandon Clarke is a great #2, averaging 16.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 3.0 BPG and 68.9% shooting from the field. Zach Norvell Jr. contributes 15.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.4 SPG. Josh Perkins (10.9 PPG/6.7 APG/1.5 SPG), Corey Kispert (9.1 PPG/3.8 RPG/39.3% from 3), Filip Petrusev (7.0 PPG/3.1 RPG/0.7 BPG) and Killian Tillie (6.3 PPG/4.4 RPG/0.9 SPG/0.9 BPG) chip in big time as well.
Key Injuries
None
Predictions
San Francisco is the only team in the West Coast Conference to give Gonzaga a run for their money to this point. In their game on January 12th, the Dons led Gonzaga 81-79 with under 4 minutes in the game before Gonzaga closed the game on a 17-2 run. No other WCC team has finished a game within 15 points of Gonzaga, and the Bulldogs have won their 8 conference games by a staggering average of 29.4 PPG. If any team has a chance of knocking off Gonzaga, who have dominated the WCC over the past several years, it’s the Dons and their well rounded play. San Francisco plays a clean game offensively, minimizing turnovers and playing for quality shots.
However, Gonzaga is in peak form offensively, averaging 92 PPG over their last 3 games and allowing just 57 PPG. Their dynamic and multifaceted offensive attack is just too much for San Francisco to handle. While the Dons may keep pace with Gonzaga over the first 30ish minutes of this game, Gonzaga will inevitably go on a run offensively to seal this one, much like they did last time against San Francisco.
Final Pick: Gonzaga Bulldogs (-17)
