The Seattle Redhawks are set to face off against the Pacific Tigers on Saturday night in a crucial West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament matchup, with the game starting at 11:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. Pacific comes into this contest as the sixth seed while Seattle holds the seventh seed. The winner of this game will move on to compete against Santa Clara on Sunday.
In their previous meeting on January 24, Pacific narrowly edged out Seattle with a score of 56-54. This time, the Tigers are slight 1.5-point favorites, with DraftKings Sportsbook listing Pacific at -115 on the moneyline, and Seattle at -105. The total points for the game is set at 129.5.
During the regular season, Seattle achieved a record of 20-12, with an 8-10 slate in WCC play. The Redhawks enter the tournament on a positive note, having won their last four games against Portland, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, and San Diego. Although they hold a mark of 13-17 against the spread, they have consistently fallen short of the total points in 18 of their 30 games.
Brayden Maldonado has been the standout player for Seattle, averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting 36.8% from three-point range. Will Heimbrodt contributes significantly as well, with averages of 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a league-best 2.5 blocks. Another key player for the Redhawks is Junseok Yeo, who adds 11.8 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Known for their strong defensive approach, Seattle ranks 34th nationally in points allowed and boasts impressive defensive ratings, including 17th in defensive efficiency. However, the team’s offense struggles, ranking 270th in scoring among Division I programs.
Conversely, Pacific finished the regular season with a record of 17-14, also posting an 8-10 record in the WCC. Unfortunately, the Tigers are looking to break a four-game losing streak against tough competition, including teams like Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga. Pacific has a record of 15-14 against the spread and has also failed to reach the total in 17 of 29 games.
Elias Ralph leads the Tigers in scoring with an average of 16.5 points and 6.8 assists per game, while TJ Wainwright closely follows with 13.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. Both players have proven to be reliable scorers from beyond the arc.
On the scoreboard, both teams have struggled throughout the season, with Pacific ranking 256th in scoring and Seattle sitting at 182nd in possessions per game. The matchup is expected to maintain a defensive focus, evidenced by their previous low-scoring encounter.
In terms of predictions, while Pacific successfully handled Seattle in their first matchup, the expectation is that they will again emerge victorious by covering the modest spread. However, due to both teams’ tendencies to play tough defensive basketball, the total points are expected to remain under the 129.5 mark. The combination of their defensive strengths and relatively slow-paced offensive play suggests a hard-fought game, where scoring opportunities may be limited.
Fans can anticipate a strategic clash featuring solid defense, revealing the intensity that comes with tournament play. A classic battle is on the horizon for both teams, with high stakes leading to a passionate display of college basketball.