Pregame
The West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas is still a week away, but the stakes have already been raised for the Gonzaga and San Francisco men’s basketball teams.
The Zags (22-8, 13-4) and Dons (23-7, 13-4) will play for second place in the WCC at the Chase Center in San Francisco tonight. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN. The winner will gain the coveted No. 2 seed and bye into the WCC Tournament semifinals.
Better yet for Gonzaga, a win will all but ensure its standing as an at-large team for the NCAA Tournament.
The Zags are looking for a second-straight Quad 1 (NET rankings) win, after beating Santa Clara 95-76 on Tuesday, thanks in large part to a breakout performance from freshman center Ismaila Diagne.
USF has won three straight since losing to Gonzaga 88-77 at McCarthey Athletic Center on Feb. 13. The Dons have also won seven of their last eight games, including over Saint Mary’s, the Gaels’ only WCC loss this season.
Emmanuel Innocenti, who missed Tuesday’s game with illness, is warming up at the Chase Center about 80 min. before tip. pic.twitter.com/NKYCAOBHx0
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) March 2, 2025
Here is every team’s efficiency rating at https://t.co/cegyfz96ax compared to their current seed based on recent bracketology.
Teams labeled as “under-seeded” are much stronger than typical for their seed and advance 59% further in the bracket historically 👇 pic.twitter.com/jSX6cuogXg
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) February 28, 2025
Series history
Gonzaga holds a 75-22 series lead over San Francisco since 1949 and has won 31 straight since 2012.
Team stats
San Francisco (23-7, 13-4)
Gonzaga (22-8, 13-4)
Points
75.6
87.4
Points allowed
67.3
69.9
Field goal pct.
45.8
50.2
Rebounds
34.9
39.0
Assists
13.9
19.8
Blocks
3.6
3.0
Steals
6.9
7.5
Streak
Won 3
Won 1
Individual leaders
POINTS
PPG
FG%
FT%
Malik Thomas (USF)
19.3
46.8
83.5
Graham Ike (GU)
17.1
59.6
79.4
REBOUNDS
RPG
DRPG
ORPG
Tyrone Riley IV (USF)
5.7
4.0
1.7
Graham Ike (GU)
7.5
5.4
2.1
ASSISTS
APG
TOPG
MPG
Marcus Williams (USF)
4.2
2.5
30.5
Ryan Nembhard (GU)
9.8
2.4
35.1
Game preview
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