PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (Rogers' 10* NCAAB) >> 4-1 This Week with NCAAB 10*s!
(NCAAB) Saint Mary's-California vs. BYU,
Point Spread: -4.50 | -110.00 Saint Mary's-California (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -4.50 | -110.00 Saint Mary's-California (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Saint Mary's is 23-3 (13-2 in WCC play) and ranked No. 22 in the latest AP poll. The Gaels will be in Provo tonight to take on the 19-9 (10-5 in WCC) BYU Cougars, who have lost only twice on their home court this season. The Cougars' only setback at the Marriott Center in WCC play came at the hands of Gonzaga.
St. Mary's: The Gaels expect to see Gonzaga again in the WCC championship game and remembering that last year's 27-5 record was not enough to earn an NCAA at-large bid, a loss here and against Gonzaga, would leave them with at least five losses this season (trouble?). The Gaels bounced back from a loss to No. 1 Gonzaga last Saturday by routing Loyola Marymount 81-48 on Thursday night. Junior center Jock Landale recorded his 12th double-double of the season on Thursday and leads the Gaels in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (9.5), sharing the WCC lead in rebounding with the Cougars' Eric Mika. Both Naar (9.8 & 5.3 APG) and Rahon (8.7-4.1-5.8) are comfortable playing the point plus the 6-6 Hermanson (12.5) and the 6-9 Pineau (6.5 & 6.30 help out Landale up front.
BYU: I noted 6-10 center Mika's rebounding skills earlier but he also has 16 double-doubles on the season, averaging 20.0 PPG. Childs, a 6-8 freshman, helps out averaging 9.4 & 8.6. A trio of guards all average in double digits, led by freshman PG Haws (14.3-3.0-3.3) plus Emery (13.3) and Bryant (10.1). BYU is 14-2 SU at home, losing to only Gonzaga and shockingly, to Utah Valley State.
The pick: BYU fell at St. Mary's 81-68 back on Jan. 5. The Gaels shot 55 percent from the floor, had 21 assists on 31 FGs and outrebounded the Cougars, 37-27. The Cougars are hoping to have better answers for the Gaels' offense in the rematch but I wouldn't bet on it. St Mary's is 8-1 SU (7-3 ATS) on the road, losing to only Gonzaga. A loss to anyone else this year (other than to the Bulldogs) just may doom the team's at-large hopes. One could call this a "must-win!" St. Mary's is a 10* play.
St. Mary's: The Gaels expect to see Gonzaga again in the WCC championship game and remembering that last year's 27-5 record was not enough to earn an NCAA at-large bid, a loss here and against Gonzaga, would leave them with at least five losses this season (trouble?). The Gaels bounced back from a loss to No. 1 Gonzaga last Saturday by routing Loyola Marymount 81-48 on Thursday night. Junior center Jock Landale recorded his 12th double-double of the season on Thursday and leads the Gaels in scoring (17.0) and rebounding (9.5), sharing the WCC lead in rebounding with the Cougars' Eric Mika. Both Naar (9.8 & 5.3 APG) and Rahon (8.7-4.1-5.8) are comfortable playing the point plus the 6-6 Hermanson (12.5) and the 6-9 Pineau (6.5 & 6.30 help out Landale up front.
BYU: I noted 6-10 center Mika's rebounding skills earlier but he also has 16 double-doubles on the season, averaging 20.0 PPG. Childs, a 6-8 freshman, helps out averaging 9.4 & 8.6. A trio of guards all average in double digits, led by freshman PG Haws (14.3-3.0-3.3) plus Emery (13.3) and Bryant (10.1). BYU is 14-2 SU at home, losing to only Gonzaga and shockingly, to Utah Valley State.
The pick: BYU fell at St. Mary's 81-68 back on Jan. 5. The Gaels shot 55 percent from the floor, had 21 assists on 31 FGs and outrebounded the Cougars, 37-27. The Cougars are hoping to have better answers for the Gaels' offense in the rematch but I wouldn't bet on it. St Mary's is 8-1 SU (7-3 ATS) on the road, losing to only Gonzaga. A loss to anyone else this year (other than to the Bulldogs) just may doom the team's at-large hopes. One could call this a "must-win!" St. Mary's is a 10* play.
