Gonzaga vs. San Francisco: A West Coast Conference Showdown
SAN FRANCISCO – The Gonzaga Bulldogs are keeping a brisk pace, even after the final buzzer. Following their Saturday night victory at the Leavey Center, the Zags quickly transitioned to travel preparations, highlighting the demanding schedule of a team vying for a West Coast Conference (WCC) championship.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few acknowledges the consistent challenge posed by San Francisco, stating, “San Francisco’s always been a really, really tough game for us. Expect nothing less on Wednesday.” As February progresses, every game carries significant weight for Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1), aiming to secure both the WCC regular-season title and a top seed in the conference tournament.
A Quick Turnaround and a Familiar Foe
The Zags faced a swift turnaround, returning home to Spokane for a mere 48 hours before heading back to Northern California for their next WCC contest. Their previous encounter with the Dons (15-13, 7-8) was a close call, a two-point victory in Spokane last month, underscoring the need for focused preparation.
Wednesday’s tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (ESPN2) at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. A win against San Francisco, coupled with victories in their remaining home games against Pacific and Portland, could secure Gonzaga the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
Key Players and Injury Concerns
Gonzaga survived a narrow 68-66 win over San Francisco on January 24th without Graham Ike. The Dons nearly stole the win with a last-second 3-pointer attempt by Barry Wang that missed. Ike, averaging 26.7 points in his last seven games, presents a significant challenge for the Dons.
San Francisco may also be dealing with injury concerns. Sophomore wing Tyrone Riley IV, averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, has missed the last two games with a knee injury. Dons coach Chris Gerlufsen stated, “He’s kind of day to day… remains to be seen what his availability will be.”
Rebounding and Offensive Strategies
In their previous meeting, San Francisco controlled the rebounding battle, winning that category 41-37. USF coach Gerlufsen recognizes the increased difficulty of rebounding against Gonzaga with Ike on the floor, but expects forward David Fuchs to have a larger role this time around.
The Dons will heavily rely on leading scorer Ryan Beasley, who had 14 points, six assists, five turnovers, and four rebounds in the first matchup. Beasley is averaging 13.8 ppg and recently scored 30 points against LMU, impressively shooting 21 of 24 from the free-throw line.
Defensive Focus: Limiting Three-Pointers
Gonzaga’s primary focus will be to limit San Francisco’s three-point shooting. The Dons made 14 of 28 three-pointers in their narrow loss to the Zags, despite only making eight 2-point shots. Controlling the perimeter will be crucial for Gonzaga’s success.
As Coach Gerlufsen noted, rebounding is key to their success: “In my time being here, I think we’re like 62-10 in games we outrebound our opponent.”
This rematch promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to prove their dominance in the WCC. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an exciting game at the Chase Center.
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