Few rivalries in college basketball are as consistently compelling as St. Mary’s and Gonzaga. When these two West Coast Conference powers meet, the stakes are usually high, the margin thin, and the basketball elite.
When and Where:
The game is in Spokane at the McCarthy Athletic Center at 7:30 pm PT on ESPN on Saturday.
The Gaels of Saint Mary's
St. Mary’s enters the matchup looking to assert its identity as one of the most disciplined and efficient teams in the country. The Gaels thrive on controlling tempo, valuing possessions, and executing in the half court. Their offense is built around smart shot selection and physical interior play, while defensively they excel at limiting mistakes and forcing opponents to beat them late in the shot clock.
Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs
Gonzaga, meanwhile, brings its trademark blend of athleticism and offensive firepower. The Bulldogs push the pace, attack the rim relentlessly, and spread the floor with shooters. At home in the Kennel, Gonzaga is especially dangerous, feeding off the crowd and turning runs into blowouts in a matter of minutes.
Keys to the Matchup
The key matchup will be tempo. If St. Mary’s can slow the game down and make it a half-court battle, they’ll be in prime position to grind out a win. If Gonzaga speeds things up and turns defense into transition offense, the Bulldogs could overwhelm the Gaels.
Expect a physical, high-level game between two teams that know each other inside and out, and one that could have major implications for the WCC title race and NCAA tournament seeding.
Favorites at Home
The Bulldogs are big favorites at home in this gae. Gonzaga checks into the game listed at -10.5 points at BetStamp. The total for the affair is at 148.5. They think this game will end somewhere around the score of 79-68 Gonzaga.