SAN BRUNO, Calif. - West Coast Conference men's basketball will be featured on national television three times this week, including No. 8 Gonzaga hosting Santa Clara on Thursday night on ESPN2. The conference boasts six teams in the top 120 in the latest NET rankings.
Notes From Around The Coast
Six In Top 120 In NET Rankings
Six West Coast Conference teams rank inside the top 120 in the latest NET rankings as of Monday morning - No. 4 Gonzaga, No. 24 Saint Mary’s, No. 62 Santa Clara, No. 108 Seattle U, No. 109 San Francisco, No. 117 Pacific. Ranked No. 8 among conferences in KenPom, the league also features four teams in that top 100, as well - No. 5 Gonzaga, No. 27 Saint Mary’s, No. 55 Santa Clara and No. 100 San Francisco.
In The National Polls
Gonzaga is ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches poll. Saint Mary’s is receiving votes in both polls
Four In Top 101 In WAB
The West Coast Conference also boasts four teams ranked inside the top 101 in the latest WAB rankings (Wins Above Bubble). Gonzaga leads at No. 7, followed by No. 23 Saint Mary’s, No. 75 Santa Clara and No. 101 Seattle U.
Margin Of Victory Leaders
Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara are all 4-0 in conference play, but all three also rank nationally inside the top-20 in margin of victory in conference games - No. T-2 Santa Clara (23.0), No. 5 Gonzaga (22.3) and No. T-16 Saint Mary’s (17.5). The Bulldogs and the Broncos square off Thursday night at 8:30 on ESPN2 from Spokane.
National TV
In addition to Gonzaga facing Santa Clara on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2, San Francisco heads to LMU at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. On Saturday, Saint Mary’s hosts Washington State at 2 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
More Notes From Around The Coast
Santa Clara is 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 1997-98 when the Broncos won their first five straight. The Broncos are 4-1 in Quad 2 games this season, including wins at Xavier and a neutral-site win over Minnesota. SCU has a chance for a Quad 1 win at Gonzaga on Thursday.
Gonzaga had its hands full last Friday against Seattle U, needing a big second-half comeback to send the game into overtime before eventually winning, 80-72. The Redhawks got strong performances once again from Brayden Maldonado (17 points, five assists, four steals) and Will Heimbrodt (10 points, 12 rebounds).
Saint Mary’s, winners of the last six in a row is allowing just 63.9 points per game, which ranks 13th in the nation. The Gaels also lead the nation in free throw percentage at .807, the only team in the nation at over 80 percent. The Gaels also rank No. 10 in rebound margin (11.4).
Gonzaga defeated LMU convincingly, 82-47. The 47 points allowed are the second fewest allowed in a conference game by a West Coast Conference team this season and tied for the ninth fewest in the nation in conference games. The Bulldogs are currently enjoying a nine-game winning streak.
San Francisco improved to 3-1 in conference play thanks to the efforts of David Fuchs and Ryan Beasley. Fuchs earned double-doubles in two of his last three games. In conference games, Fuchs is averaging 9.30 rebounds per game, which leads the West Coast Conference.
Pacific’s Elias Ralph ranks third in the West Coast Conference in scoring at 17.5 ppg and also third in conference games (19.0). Securing double-doubles in three of his last four games, he scored 24 in the 84-53 win over Oregon State before garnering a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Tigers’ 74-69 win over Pepperdine.
Ralph owns four double-doubles this season, tied with Andrew McKeever of Saint Mary’s for second after the nine by Gonzaga’s Graham Ike. The nine double-doubles by Ike rank tied for fifth in the nation, three shy of the national leader.
Portland freshman standout Joel Foxwell leads the nation in assists per game among freshmen (7.4), while Ace Glass from Washington State is No. 16 among freshmen in scoring (15.5).
Glass scored 16 points in the 81-67 win over Oregon State as Washington State begins the week winners of five of its last six.