WCC Game Preview: San Francisco @ Pepperdine
By James Pigott
Jan 18, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; The San Francisco Dons bench celebrates after guard
Avry Holmes(12, not pictured) made a jump shot at the buzzer against the San Diego Toreros at War Memorial Gymnasium. The San Francisco Dons defeated the San Diego Toreros 64-62. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Pepperdine Waves (15-13, 8-8) vs. San Francisco Dons (18-10, 11-5)
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014
Location: Firestone Fieldhouse, Malibu, CA
Time: 7:00 PM PST
TV: None
Video: http://www.thew.tv/
LiveStats: http://www.wccsports.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbaskbl.html?event=1287526&school=west&sport=mbaskbl&camefrom=&startschool=&
This Season: Pepperdine won the first matchup 76-66 at War Memorial Gymnasium.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Pepperdine
Jeremy Major, 9.5 PPG, 4.5 APG
Amadi Udenyi, 5.8 PPG, 2.8 APG
Malcolm Brooks, 10.2 PPG
Jett Raines, 4.4 PPG
Brendan Lane, 13.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG
San Francisco
Matt Glover, 8.2 PPG, 3.3 APG
Avry Holmes, 11.9 PPG, 2.9 APG
Cole Dickerson, 14.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Kruize Pinkins, 12.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Mark Tollefsen, 11.5 PPG
LIVESTREAM *Brought to you by thew.tv:
Keys to the Game
Pepperdine
Guard production: Brendan Lane and Stacy Davis have scored consistently all season long, but guard production has fluctuated throughout the season, explaining Pepperdine’s 8-8 conference record. If Jeremy Major can recover from his donut game vs. LMU and get back to looking to score, he gives Pepperdine another scoring threat to match the high powered San Francisco Don offense.
San Francisco
Attack, Attack, Attack: San Francisco frontline of Cole Dickerson, Kruize Pinkins, and Mark Tollefsen is tough for any team to match up with, especially a team that starts 6’7, 215 pound Jett Raines at power forward. The Dons have the ability to beat Pepperdine in the interior when Davis is not in the game, and doing so will help them get out to an early lead.
Key Matchup
Avry Holmes vs. Malcolm Brooks: Both wing players are excellent shooters and both will be needed to knock down open shots with both teams focusing their defense on the interior (as they should). Whoever can shoot the ball better will really help his team to victory.
Prediction
San Francisco will likely have to win both games this weekend if they want a chance to get the #2 seed in the WCC Tournament. They do not have the tiebreaker with BYU, who plays at USD on Saturday. The sense of urgency and recent momentum will push the Dons past the Waves. San Francisco 77, Pepperdine 64.