Graham Ike’s return to the Gonzaga Bulldogs comes at a pivotal moment as they prepare to host their longstanding rival, Saint Mary’s, in Spokane on Saturday evening. The match holds significant implications, as both teams are competing for crucial victories in the West Coast Conference (WCC).
Saint Mary’s enters the game with an impressive record of 19-3 overall and 8-1 in conference play. Their only WCC defeat was a close loss against Santa Clara on January 17. Prior to that, they had faced setbacks against Vanderbilt and Boise State in non-conference matchups. This season has been marked by the remarkable performance of head coach Randy Bennett’s team, led by WCC’s top scorer, Paulius Murauskas, alongside promising sophomore guard Mikey Lewis. The Gaels boast one of the most efficient scoring profiles in the nation while excelling in physical defense and rebounding.
Notably, this year’s squad emphasizes youth, an unusual characteristic for Saint Mary’s. The young talent includes guards Lewis and Joshua Dent, with Dent standing out by logging an impressive 90.5% of available minutes, ranking 13th in the nation. He also leads the conference with a stellar free throw percentage of 93.6%, averaging 13.3 points and 5.4 assists. Freshmen Dillan Shaw and Liam Campbell contribute significantly, while the team benefits from the formidable presence of towering players like 7’3 junior Andrew McKeever and 7’1 senior Harry Wessels down low.
On the Gonzaga side, the Bulldogs are likely to utilize a small-ball strategy to cover the minutes without Ike, with 6’7 wings Jalen Warley and Tyon Grant-Foster taking up positions in the post. However, they will face a significant challenge from Saint Mary’s height advantage and rebounding strength.
The stakes of this rivalry are high, as Gonzaga looks to clinch what will be their final regular-season home matchup in Spokane before transitioning to the Pac-12. On the other hand, Saint Mary’s is eager for a Quad 1 win, a necessary boost to their NCAA Tournament chances, which currently appear tenuous.
The game is set to tip off at 7:30 PM PT on January 31 and will be aired on ESPN. Fans and analysts alike anticipate a thrilling encounter that could shape the trajectories of both teams heading into the postseason.
In terms of notable trends, Gonzaga currently holds a record of 21-1 but has struggled with a 14-8 mark against the spread. Comparatively, while Saint Mary’s shares a strong overall record of 19-3, their spread performance is more modest at 11-10, with a mixed 3-3 record on the road.
Betting odds indicate Gonzaga as favorites with a spread of -9.5, an over/under of 148.5, and a moneyline of Gonzaga (-630) versus Saint Mary’s (+450).
The atmosphere in Spokane is expected to be charged, and both teams are ready to give their all in this important contest, making it a must-watch for college basketball enthusiasts.