Gonzaga-St. Mary's Preview: Zags Go for Season Sweep of Gaels

Gonzaga Bulldogs (17-5, 8-0) at Saint Mary’s Gaels (19-4, 6-3)

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 – 8:00 PM PST

The Gonzaga Bulldogs will attempt to remain undefeated in conference play when they square off against the St. Mary’s Gaels for the second time in two weeks.

Gonzaga is looking to sweep the season series after they handed the Gaels a seven-point defeat back on Jan 29.

Despite suffering an 18-point home setback last weekend to Memphis, the Zags have been on fire as of late. Before the Memphis game, they had won nine straight—including a road game at Tennessee.

A lot of teams would like to have a backcourt that consists of Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin. The tandem combines to average a shade below 23 ppg and 8.5 apg. Bouldin also shoots a team best of 41.6 percent from three-point land.

Another guard, 6’8” Micah Downs, can stroke it from three (38.5 percent) and from the free throw line (a team best 83.7 percent).

Up front, the Zags rely on Josh Heytvelt (14.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and the future NBA prospect Austin Daye (13.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg). In addition to being the teams’ leading rebounder, Daye knocks down 40.3 percent of his threes.

St. Mary’s ran out to a blistering record of 18-1—the lone loss coming at the hands of UTEP—to begin the season. Led by star guard Patrick Mills, the Gaels ran off 15 straight heading into their game at Gonzaga. That’s when the Gaels’ season took a drastic turn.

Mills broke his right hand in the Gonzaga game and the Zags rallied to beat the Gaels despite 18 first-half points by Mills.

Since the injury, St. Mary’s has dropped three of their last four (including the Gonzaga game).

In the absence of Mills, St. Mary’s will lean on Omar Samhan (13.6 ppg) and Diamon Simpson (13.4 ppg) to lead the offense.

Samhan (6’11”) and Simpson (6’7”) are beasts on the back boards as they combine for 19.9 rpg. The Gaels will need those two to deliver inside scoring and to control the glass in order to limit Gonzaga’s possessions.

The Gaels are only averaging 65 ppg with Mills out of the lineup so they will definitely look to control tempo and make this a low scoring affair.

Current line: Gonzaga -4.0

Gonzaga is only 9-10 against the spread this year with a mark of 4-4 in the eight prior conference games.

St. Mary’s is 11-7-1 against the spread with a mark of 2-2 since Mills was lost.

The Gaels will look to even the score with their conference rival and will feed off of a raucous home crowd.

Steve’s pick: Saint Mary’s +4.0