The Gonzaga Bulldogs aim to begin their WCC schedule on a winning note against the feisty Pacific Tigers.
TV Schedule: Thursday, December 28, 9:00 pm E.T., ESPN2
Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington
The invincibility cloak worn by the Gonzaga Bulldogs in recent years has worn off. For the first time in several seasons, the Bulldogs appear to be human.
They are 10-3 entering conference play, with two of the losses to Villanova and Florida. Most recently, however, they lost on the road against the San Diego State Aztecs, their first true road defeat in 22 months.
The AP No. 20 team in the country is still the best team in the WCC, with Saint Mary’s failing to live up to the hype at this stage. Meanwhile, the battles between those two teams will still be the matchups of the WCC season.
But Gonzaga can’t stumble before those. At 90.2 points per game, the Bulldogs are one of the top ten scoring teams in the nation. French sophomore Killian Tillie looks like a star in the making, averaging 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The potential for another deep NCAA Tournament run is there; it always will be with Mark Few in charge.
As for the Pacific Tigers…things could get ugly on Thursday. The team’s 5-8 record is worse than their non-conference record last year, when they went on to win just four WCC games. They have no victories against major conference opponents this year.
Last year, they couldn’t make a game out of a Gonzaga contest. Pacific met the Bulldogs three times (including the WCC Tournament), losing by at least 20 points each time. Head coach Damon Stoudamire should use his NBA pedigree to attract talent to his school, but that’s going to take time.
Next: 5 questions ahead of WCC play
The Bulldogs are hungry to prove they are still the best team in the WCC. The Tigers are just another team in the way of that goal.
Prediction: Gonzaga 81, Pacific 58