PREMIUM
GAME OF THE WEEK (Rogers' 10* NCAA) >> Won LW's on Xavier over Maryland!
(NCAAB) Xavier vs. Gonzaga,
Point Spread: 8.50 | -106.00 Xavier (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 8.50 | -106.00 Xavier (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: For all its success on the basketball court these last two decades (Gonzaga's been to 19 straight NCAA tourneys), the Bulldogs are in the Elite 8 for just the third time and Saturday hope to advance to their first-ever Final 4. The West's No. 1 seed (35-1 on the season) will meet the lowest-seeded team left in the tourney, 11th-seeded Xavier. The 24-13 Musketeers are also in only the school's third-ever Elite 8 and with a win, would become only the fourth 11th seed to reach a Final Four. Like Gonzaga, Xavier is also hoping for the school's first-ever Final Four appearance.
Xavier: The Musketeers' tourney run has been led by junior guard Trevon Bluiett (18.7 & 5.6), who has averaged 25.0 PPG in Xavier's three wins so far. He scored exactly 25 points against Arizona and fellow guard J.P. Macura (14.3 & 4.4) had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats. Guard Bernard, who averages just 6.6 PPG on the season, added 15 points. Xavier lacks a domianant inside player but the 6-10 O'Mara (6.1 & 3.0) scored the tie-breaking inside basket with 44.1 seconds to play in the Arizona win, when Xavier closed the game with a 9-0 run for the 73-71 upset victory. O'Mara has averaged 12.7 points on 11-of-13 shooting in three NCAA Tournament games.
Gonzaga: SG Jordan Mathews (10.7) drained the go-ahead three-pointer with 57.3 seconds remaining in Thursday's victory over West Virginia. Gonzaga averages 83.2 PPG on 51.0% shooting (2nd) but often overlooked is the team's defensive prowess. Gonzaga has allowed only 61.0 PPG on 36.5% shooting, which also ranks 2nd-best in the nation. That defense was on full display against West Va, which was held to just 26.7 percent shooting from the floor. PG Williams-Goss (16.5-5.9-4.7), the WCC player-of-the-year, has struggled this tourney, shooting just 12-of-42 (28.6%) in three NCAA Tournament games. Gonzaga has a huge edge in the frontcourt with the 7-1 Karnowski (12.4 & 5.9) backed up by 7-0 freshman center Collins (10.0 & 5.6) plus the 6-9 Williams (10.1 & 6.6) starts alongside Karnowski.
The pick: There can certainly be no doubt that there is more pressure on the Bulldogs as the school's inability to reach a Final Four was frequently brought up during their best campaign. "First of all, I don't know that I have a monkey on my back," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said after a 61-58 victory over fourth-seeded West Virginia. "I certainly don't wake up with one or walk around with one. So I don't think these guys think I have one. ... It would be phenomenal to get these guys, this team that I love deeply, the experience to go to a Final Four." Xavier as long ago put the season-ending injury to PG Sumner (14.3-4.2-4.8) behind it and comes in with its best player (Blueitt) on a roll. Meanwhile, Williams-Goss is shooting less than 30% from the floor this tourney for Gonzaga plus freshman Collins, after scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against lesser opponents in Gonzaga's first two games, was a "no-show" against West Va. with one point and four rebounds! I've noted this often. Don't forget that Xavier was 7th in the AP preseason poll. The Musketeers are playing at that level now.. Xavier is a 10* play.
Xavier: The Musketeers' tourney run has been led by junior guard Trevon Bluiett (18.7 & 5.6), who has averaged 25.0 PPG in Xavier's three wins so far. He scored exactly 25 points against Arizona and fellow guard J.P. Macura (14.3 & 4.4) had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against the Wildcats. Guard Bernard, who averages just 6.6 PPG on the season, added 15 points. Xavier lacks a domianant inside player but the 6-10 O'Mara (6.1 & 3.0) scored the tie-breaking inside basket with 44.1 seconds to play in the Arizona win, when Xavier closed the game with a 9-0 run for the 73-71 upset victory. O'Mara has averaged 12.7 points on 11-of-13 shooting in three NCAA Tournament games.
Gonzaga: SG Jordan Mathews (10.7) drained the go-ahead three-pointer with 57.3 seconds remaining in Thursday's victory over West Virginia. Gonzaga averages 83.2 PPG on 51.0% shooting (2nd) but often overlooked is the team's defensive prowess. Gonzaga has allowed only 61.0 PPG on 36.5% shooting, which also ranks 2nd-best in the nation. That defense was on full display against West Va, which was held to just 26.7 percent shooting from the floor. PG Williams-Goss (16.5-5.9-4.7), the WCC player-of-the-year, has struggled this tourney, shooting just 12-of-42 (28.6%) in three NCAA Tournament games. Gonzaga has a huge edge in the frontcourt with the 7-1 Karnowski (12.4 & 5.9) backed up by 7-0 freshman center Collins (10.0 & 5.6) plus the 6-9 Williams (10.1 & 6.6) starts alongside Karnowski.
The pick: There can certainly be no doubt that there is more pressure on the Bulldogs as the school's inability to reach a Final Four was frequently brought up during their best campaign. "First of all, I don't know that I have a monkey on my back," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said after a 61-58 victory over fourth-seeded West Virginia. "I certainly don't wake up with one or walk around with one. So I don't think these guys think I have one. ... It would be phenomenal to get these guys, this team that I love deeply, the experience to go to a Final Four." Xavier as long ago put the season-ending injury to PG Sumner (14.3-4.2-4.8) behind it and comes in with its best player (Blueitt) on a roll. Meanwhile, Williams-Goss is shooting less than 30% from the floor this tourney for Gonzaga plus freshman Collins, after scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against lesser opponents in Gonzaga's first two games, was a "no-show" against West Va. with one point and four rebounds! I've noted this often. Don't forget that Xavier was 7th in the AP preseason poll. The Musketeers are playing at that level now.. Xavier is a 10* play.
