Category Archives: NCAA Basketball

NCAA Basketball Lines: Indiana Hoosiers against Iowa Hawkeyes

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Indiana at Iowa
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 19, 2012
Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa

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THE STORY: Iowa ranks last in the Big Ten in scoring defense, while No. 20 Indiana is the highest-scoring team in the conference. The Hoosiers had one of their best offensive showings of the season in their first meeting with the Hawkeyes, riding Cody Zeller’s 26 points to a 103-89 home win Jan. 29. Indiana is the most improved of all BCS conference programs this season, already eight wins ahead of last year’s finish. Iowa point guard Bryce Cartwright, who has a high ankle sprain, missed Thursday’s loss at Penn State and is unlikely to play Sunday.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.

ABOUT INDIANA (20-6, 8-6 Big Ten): Zeller, a freshman forward, has been a major difference-maker for the Hoosiers in their turnaround season, leading the team with 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 65.6 percent from the floor. Indiana leads the conference in points per game (78.4), field-goal percentage (49.5) and 3-point percentage (42.7), and they are generating more points per game at the foul line (18.5) than any major conference team. Senior guard Matt Roth and junior guard Jordan Hulls are the league’s top two 3-point shooters at 54.5 and 48.6 percent, respectively.

ABOUT IOWA (13-13, 5-8): The Hawkeyes have remained competitive in league play thanks to a balanced and effective offense that averages 73.4 points, but they could be in trouble if Cartwright remains sidelined. Iowa has averaged only 62 points in two losses without the senior point guard this season. Senior guard Matt Gatens (14.2) scored a team-high 21 points against Penn State, and freshman forward Aaron White is averaging 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds over the last three games. Despite their defensive struggles (72.3 points allowed), the Hawkeyes average a Big Ten-best 7.9 steals.

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1. Indiana leads the all-time series 95-73, but has lost 10 of the last 15 meetings, including four straight defeats prior to this season.

2. The Hawkeyes have won six of the last seven meetings in Iowa City, including a 91-77 victory last January. Current sophomore forward Melsahn Basabe had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

3. Neither team has been overwhelming on the boards this season, but Indiana finished with a lopsided 37-22 rebounding edge in its win over Iowa three weeks ago.

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Duke Blue Devils vs Boston College Eagles: NCAA Basketball Picks

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Duke at Boston College
When: 6:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 19, 2012
Where: Silvio O. Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

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THE STORY: Duke travels to Boston College in a game between an ACC have and have not. The No. 4 Blue Devils can move into a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a win over the Eagles, who are tied for 10th and have the league’s worst overall winning percentage. Expect to see a few 3-pointers: Duke leads the ACC with 8.2 per game and Boston College ranks third at 7.2. Duke leads the series 9-1 since the 2005-06 season. The Eagles’ win came in Chestnut Hill and the three home losses were by an average of 4.3 points.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT DUKE (22-4, 9-2 ACC): The Blue Devils will be trying to win their sixth straight league game for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Brothers Mason and Miles Plumlee are combining to average 17.9 points and 16.3 rebounds, and one of them has led the team in rebounding in 24 of 26 games. Seth Curry is averaging 18.6 points over the last five games, during which he’s been in double figures every time and shot 43.2 percent on 3-pointers. Austin Rivers, named the ACC Freshman of the Week for the fourth straight time, is averaging 15 points and has had 22 double-figure games. Duke has trailed at the half in three of its last four games.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (8-18, 3-9): Freshman Ryan Anderson has put together three straight impressive outings, averaging 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds and shooting 54.3 percent over that span. Anderson had 22 points and 10 rebounds in the last game against Maryland and improved his season average of 10.4 points. Over the last six games, Matt Humphrey is averaging 12.7 points and has scored in double figures five times. He is averaging 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. Dennis Clifford (9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Lonnie Jackson (8.5 points) have also been steady freshmen performers.

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1. Boston College is 0-11 when the opposition shoots 40-49 percent.

2. Duke is one win short of winning at least 10 conference games for the fifth straight season.

3. The Eagles have at least eight 3-pointers in eight games.

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NCAA Basketball Gambling: Michigan Wolverines Host Ohio State Buckeyes

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Ohio St. at Michigan
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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THE STORY: The time is now for No. 19 Michigan if it wants to stake its claim in the Big Ten race. The Wolverines, who are 14-0 at the Crisler Center, find themselves one game out of first place in the conference standings behind co-leaders Michigan State and Ohio State with five games left on their schedule. However, the No. 6 Buckeyes – who have won six straight in this series, including a 64-49 triumph on Jan. 29 – will present the biggest challenge to Michigan’s home winning streak yet as the highest-ranked opponent the Wolverines have faced at Crisler this season.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com

ABOUT OHIO STATE (22-4, 10-3 Big Ten): As one of the top-scoring teams in the conference that leads the Big Ten in scoring margin (18.7) and field goal percentage (48.1), it’s not surprising the Buckeyes have lost two of the five games in which they were either held to 67 points or less or shot less than 43.1 percent from the field. Michigan held the Buckeyes to their third-lowest point total of the season and fourth-lowest shooting percentage (42.6) in January. While standout Jared Sullinger struggled in the first meeting, sophomore Lenzelle Smith Jr. emerged with 17 points and 12 rebounds for his only career double-double.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (19-7, 9-4): The Wolverines are one of two Big Ten teams – along with Michigan State – who are undefeated at home this season. Michigan held Sullinger to 13 points in the teams’ first meeting – his low in conference play – and will likely need another strong defensive performance from 6-foot-8, 250-pound Jordan Morgan to reverse its fortunes in this contest. In the four games since the loss to the Buckeyes last month when the Wolverines committed 13 turnovers and shot 35.8 percent from the field, Michigan has averaged only eight turnovers and shot 47.8 percent or better in three of those contests.

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1. Ohio State has five wins in eight tries against ranked teams this season.

2. Michigan has shot better than 40 percent from the 3-point line three times in the last four games, one more than it did in its first nine conference games.

3. Sullinger and William Buford each need three rebounds to reach 600 for their careers, which would allow them to become the 18th and 19th players in school history to do so.

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NCAA Betting Odds: Louisville Cardinals vs DePaul Blue Demons

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Louisville at DePaul
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois

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THE STORY: No. 18 Louisville had a six-game winning streak snapped against one of the best defensive teams in the Big East on Monday. The Cardinals won’t have to worry about that when they visit DePaul. The Blue Demons rank last in the conference in scoring and field goal percentage defense by wide gaps and have allowed at least 80 points in three straight games. Louisville did not quite get to 80 against DePaul on Jan. 14, but still posted a comfortable, 76-59, victory behind 25 points from Russ Smith. The Cardinals shot 51 percent in that contest.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, Big East Network, WHAS (Louisville), The U Too (Chicago), ESPN Full Court, ESPN3

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (20-6, 8-5 Big East): The Cardinals missed their opportunity to knock off No. 2 Syracuse on Monday, squandering a five-point lead in the final minutes to suffer a 52-51 loss. The setback dropped Louisville into a tie for sixth place in the Big East and marked its lowest-scoring output of the season. That should not be a problem against the Blue Demons, who have dropped eight straight to the Cardinals. Louisville was without leading scorer Kyle Kuric in the first meeting but got 13 points and 14 rebounds from Gorgui Dieng while controlling the inside.

ABOUT DEPAUL (11-14, 2-11): The Blue Demons rank last in defense and rebounding in the Big East, two areas that were on display in an 80-54 loss at Connecticut on Wednesday. DePaul was outrebounded 47-22 in that contest. The Blue Demons lean heavily on sophomores Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young for their offense, which ranks third in the Big East. Young, however, is mired in a long slump, shooting 32 percent during the current five-game slide. Young scored 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting in the Jan. 14 meeting.

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1. Louisville averages 9.1 steals – seventh best in the NCAA.

2. The Cardinals have held eight of its last 13 opponents under 40 percent shooting.

3. DePaul has used eight different starting lineups this season.

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NCAA Betting Lines: Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Villanova Wildcats

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Notre Dame at Villanova
When: 9:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: The Pavilion, Villanova, Pennsylvania

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THE STORY: Notre Dame and Villanova are heading in opposite directions of late, with the No. 25 Fighting Irish riding a seven-game winning streak and the Wildcats having dropped four of their last five. Villanova may have to play without leading scorer Maalik Wayns, who missed Wednesday’s loss at South Florida with a sprained MCL. The Wildcats sputtered offensively without Wayns, scoring a season-low 51 points – more than 20 below their season average.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU, ESPN3.com

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (18-8, 10-3 Big East): The Fighting Irish have found surprising success in league play by slowing the pace of the game – their 60.5 possessions per game in conference action are the fewest among Big East teams. Notre Dame has held six of its last seven opponents to less than 60 points, allowing 58.7 points during conference play. Junior forward Jack Cooley (11.9 points , 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks) has posted three consecutive double-doubles, including a 22-point, 18-rebound effort against Rutgers on Wednesday.

ABOUT VILLANOVA (11-14, 4-9): The Wildcats had little trouble scoring before Wednesday, averaging a healthy 72.7 points, but they rank 15th in the league in points allowed (71.8) and in turnover margin (minus-2.2). Villanova has generated a great deal of its offense at the foul line, where it leads the Big East by a wide margin at 76.0 percent to make up for a league-worst field goal percentage of 41.5. Wayns (17.8 points, 4.5 assists, 90.2 percent free throws) has been the team’s driving force offensively, with junior forward Mouphtaou Yarou (11.1 points, 8.2 rebounds) providing some inside strength.

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1. Villanova holds a slight 18-15 edge in the series, including 10-6 at home.

2. The Fighting Irish coasted to a 93-72 home victory in last season’s lone meeting with the Wildcats, but current Notre Dame players scored only 10 of the points.

3. The two teams have split their last 10 meetings, with each side sporting a 3-2 mark on its home floor during that stretch.

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St. Mary’s Gaels visit Murray State Racers: NCAA Online Betting

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St. Mary’s at Murray St.
When: 6:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: CFSB Center, Murray, Kentucky

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THE STORY: A national audience will get to see arguably the two best programs not in “power” conferences collide in the annual BracketBuster event when No. 14 Murray State hosts 16th-ranked Saint Mary’s. Both teams have been knocked from their lofty perches of late. Murray State was the last unbeaten team in the nation and was upset at home on Feb. 9 by Tennessee State after starting the season in school-record style at 23-0. Saint Mary‘s has lost two of its last three after a 12-game winning streak and is coming off a surprising 15-point home loss to Loyola Marymount on Wednesday.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com

ABOUT SAINT MARY’S (23-4): The Gaels are led by the inside-outside combination of Matthew Dellavedova and Rob Jones. Dellavedova leads the team in scoring (15.3) and assists (6.4). He is ninth in the nation in assists and needs one to set the school record. Jones averages 15.3 points and 10.8 rebounds. Jones leads the West Coast Conference in rebounds, which in eighth in the nation, and his 16 double-doubles are fifth in the country. Stephen Holt averages 10.4 points. The Gaels are eighth in the nation in rebound margin (plus-7.4) and ninth in assist to turnover ratio (1.4). Saint Mary’s leads the WCC by a half game over rival Gonzaga.

ABOUT MURRAY STATE (25-1): The Racers have rebounded from their home loss to Tennessee State last week with a pair of convincing wins, most recently 75-66 at Southeast Missouri. The Saint Mary’s game will mark the sixth consecutive sellout for Murray State at CFSB Arena. Isaiah Canaan is 23rd in the nation in scoring (19.2), sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (47.3) and 10th in 3-point field goals per game (3.0). The senior class of Ivan Aska, Donte Poole and Jewuan Long has won 98 games. The school record for a class is 99 set by the 1996-2000 group. Murray State also clinched its third straight outright Ohio Valley Conference title and 23rd in school history.

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1. This will be the third meeting. The Gaels won the previous two meetings in 2004 and 2006, both in Moraga, Cal.

2. Saint Mary’s is one of eight teams have won 25 or more games the past four years and three of those schools are from the WCC (Gonzaga and BYU).

3. Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Vitale will make his first appearance in Murray, Ky., on Saturday and broadcast the game for ESPN. Vitale has only done two Saint Mary’s games and those were in a preseason tournament in New York City in 2004.

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Florida Gators against Arkansas Razorbacks: NCAA Odds

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Florida at Arkansas
When: 6:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville, Arkansas

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THE STORY: Following a rough week, the Gators righted the ship Tuesday, winning at outmanned Alabama to snap a two-game losing streak. After sputtering through losses to Kentucky and Tennessee, Florida more resembled the SEC’s top offense in the opening minutes of the second half, using a 16-0 spurt to put away the Crimson Tide. That could be bad news for an Arkansas team that ranks last in the SEC in scoring defense. The Razorbacks have lost three of their past four, including a 22-point loss to Georgia and a 19-point defeat to Tennessee.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT FLORIDA (20-6, 8-3 SEC): Injuries and cold shooting slowed the Gators during their mini-slump, but Patric Young and his sore ankle carried Florida with 19 points against Alabama. Young shot 9 for 12 from the field, and Erik Murphy nailed four 3-pointers as the Gators played without key reserves Will Yeguete (concussion) and Mike Rosario (hip). Freshman Bradley Beal is mired in a miserable shooting slump (11 for 35, 3 for 15 from 3-point range in his past three games). But Beal is 19 for 23 from the free-throw line during that same stretch.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (17-9, 5-6 SEC): The Razorbacks allow a SEC-worst average of 67.6 points, but give up just 62.3 points at Bud Walton Arena. Against the 3-point shot, Arkansas ranks second in the SEC at 30.2 percent, and will need strong perimeter defense against a Florida team ranked second in the conference in 3-point shooting (39.1 percent). BJ Young remains one of the top freshmen in the league, ranking sixth in the SEC in scoring (14.5 points). Young has averaged 20.3 points in his past three games, shooting 21 for 36 from the field.

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1. The Gators have won 20 games for 14 consecutive seasons, the fifth longest streak in the nation and the longest current streak in the SEC.
2. Florida leads the series 14-10, but Arkansas holds a 7-3 advantage at home.
3. Arkansas’ Mardracus Wade leads the SEC in 3-point shooting at 48.6 percent.

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Saturday NCAA Betting: Georgetown Hoyas at Providence Friars

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Georgetown at Providence
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, Rhode Island

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THE STORY: Georgetown opens a four-game stretch that it hopes to use to earn one of top four positions in the Big East standings, which comes with a bye for the first two rounds of the conference tournament. Georgetown, which is tied for fourth in the Big East, used its defense to shut down Providence in the first meeting this season, holding the Friars to 25.5 percent from the floor by limiting their ability to connect from the outside. Providence didn’t score a basket in the final 4:32 of that game and is on a four-game losing streak. A win would give Georgetown its sixth 20-win season in seven years.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big East Network (MASN, Cox, SNY)

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (19-5, 9-4 Big East): Jason Clark (14.9 points, 4.1 rebounds) had his problems early against St. John’s but wound up scoring seven points in the final five minutes. Clark had 16 points and eight rebounds in the first game with Providence. Hollis Thompson averages 13.4 points, but managed only six shots in the last game as the Johnnies were determined to keep the ball away from him. Henry Sims is the only player ranked among the top 15 in the league in assists (3.3) and blocks (1.5), and is averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last seven games. Otto Porter would like to duplicate his earlier effort on the glass against Providence, when he had 12 rebounds.

ABOUT PROVIDENCE (13-14, 2-12): The young Friars, with no senior scholarship players, have taken the predictable pounding in the conference. But the guard combo of junior Vincent Council and sophomore Gerard Coleman remains formidable. Council, coming off a 29-point effort against Cincinnati, is averaging 16.6 points and a league-leading 7.3 assists, and had 10 points and six assists against the Hoyas in the first meeting. Coleman averages 13.7 points. Bryce Cotton is only 2 for 17 from the field in the last two games, including 1 for 15 on 3-pointers. LaDontae Henton, who had 24 points against Cincinnati, had 13 points and 11 rebounds against Georgetown earlier, and is averaging 13.9 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds.

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1. The five Providence starters played all but 24 minutes in the first game, with Bryce Cotton and Vincent Council never leaving the court.

2. The teams have produced similar offensive results: Georgetown averages 70.6 points, Providence 70.0.

3. Georgetown leads the regular-season series 31-15 since the formation of the Big East, but Providence is 12-11 at home.

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Kansas State Wildcats visit Baylor Bears: NCAA Basketball Lines

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Kansas St. at Baylor
When: 1:45 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: The Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas

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THE STORY: Three weeks from now, if Kansas State fails to make a third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, it might look back on a series of losses against unranked opponents — including one at home — as the main reason why. The Wildcats have been in free-fall mode, losing four of six to fall into sixth place in the Big 12 Conference standings. After suffering a 59-53 home loss to 5th-ranked Kansas on Monday, the Wildcats must now play two more games against top-10 opponents, starting with No. 10 Baylor. The Bears beat K-State earlier this year, 75-73, and are currently two back of the Jayhawks and Tigers in the conference standings.

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, KMCI-TV (Kansas City), ESPN Full Court, ESPN3.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (17-8, 6-7 BIG 12): Angel Rodriguez, Kansas State’s freshman point guard, struggled against Baylor in the first meeting — committing four turnovers, including a few late that swung momentum in the Bears’ favor. On Monday against Kansas, Rodriguez had yet another forgettable performance, accounting for seven of the team’s 11 turnovers. The Wildcats have had a tendency to be turnover-prone on the road, but can’t afford to make mistakes against Baylor. K-State is 2-4 in Big 12 road games, and has lost three of its last five in Waco.

ABOUT BAYLOR (22-4, 9-4 BIG 12): Baylor, in all likelihood, has already played its way out of a legitimate chance at its first-ever Big 12 title. All four of the Bears’ conference losses have come against Missouri and Kansas, the two teams in front of them. But with a strong finish, the Bears, who are a game ahead of Iowa State, could still record their best conference record since the league’s inception in 1996. In 2009-10, the Bears went 11-5 and finished in a three-way tie for second. Baylor has lost two of four at home, but both were against ranked opponents.

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1. Baylor hasn’t lost at home to an unranked opponent since a 78-69 loss to Texas Tech on Feb. 19, 2011.

2. Kansas State is 10-1 when holding opponents to 60 points or less.

3. The Bears’ senior class — consisting of Quincy Acy, Fred Ellis and Anthony Jones — is the winningest group in program history with 92 career victories.

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NCAA Basketball Predictions: Gonzaga Bulldogs at San Francisco Dons

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Gonzaga at San Francisco
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Where: War Memorial Gymnasium, San Francisco, California

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THE STORY: Gonzaga can move into a tie for first place with Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference standings with a win over San Francisco. The No. 24 Bulldogs, who are looking for their 12th consecutive regular season championship, have won eight of their last nine games, including four straight. The Dons, meanwhile, are in a difficult position as they can only fall in the conference standings. San Francisco is three games behind Loyola Marymount for fourth place with only two games remaining. Gonzaga has won 25 of the last 28 meetings, including three straight.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, KHQ (Spokane), ROOT Sports (FSN)

ABOUT GONZAGA (21-4, 11-2 WCC): With a share of the conference lead on the line, Gonzaga will need repeat performances from its top two scorers, Kevin Pangos (13.7) and Elias Harris (12.9). Pangos and Harris combined for 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the Bulldogs’ 74-63 victory over San Francisco on Jan. 19. Gonzaga led by as many as 20 points and held the Dons to their third-lowest point total of the season. The Bulldogs, who are ranked in the Top 25 for the third time this season, have held each of their last four opponents to less than 65 points.

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO (17-11, 7-7): San Francisco is known for its up-tempo approach on offense and ranks 30th in scoring with 76.1 points per game. Four players average in double figures, including Angelo Caloiaro, who paces the Dons with 15 points and 6.3 rebounds. San Francisco can fall as low as sixth it if loses its final two games and San Diego wins two of its final three. The Dons, who finished with 19 turnovers in the first meeting with the Bulldogs, have committed 32 turnovers in their last two games.

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1. Gonzaga is 7-3 as a Top 25 team this season.

2. San Francisco has won its last two home games against the Bulldogs. Both came in overtime – 96-91 in 2011 and 81-77 in 2010.

3. All but one of Gonzaga’s 11 conference victories have been by double digits.

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