WCC Semifinal Preview: #2 BYU vs. #3 San Francisco

Feb 8, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard

(5) passes the ball just out of the reach of San Francisco Dons guard

(5) during the second half at Marriott Center. Brigham Young Cougars won the game 68-63.Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

#2 BYU Cougars (22-10, 13-5) vs. #3 San Francisco Dons (21-10, 13-5)

Date: Monday, March 10, 2014

Location: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.

Time: 8:30 PM PST

TV: ESPN2

Video: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index

Live stats: http://www.wccsports.com/gametracker/launch/gt_mbaskbl.html?event=1334504&school=west&sport=mbaskbl&camefrom=&startschool=&

This Season: The Cougars won both matchups.  BYU won 83-76 at War Memorial Gymnasium and 68-63 at the Marriott Center.

PROJECTED STARTERS

BYU

Kyle Collinsworth, 13.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 4.8 APG

Anson Winder, 6.4 PPG

Tyler Haws, 23.3 PPG

Luke Worthington” href=”http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cbk/players.asp?id=121158″ target=”_blank”>Luke Worthington, 1.1 PPG

Nate Austin, 4.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG

San Francisco

Matt Glover, 7.8 PPG, 3.4 APG

Avry Holmes” href=”http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/avry-holmes-1.html”>Avry Holmes, 12.7 PPG, 2.9 APG

Cole Dickerson, 14.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG

Kruize Pinkins, 12.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG

Mark Tollefsen, 10.8 PPG

Keys to the Game

BYU

Keep Winder going: The key to BYU’s recent success has been the emergence, virtually out of nowhere, by Anson Winder.  Winder is averaging 15.8 points over the last 4 games after averaging just 3.1 points per game the previous 8.  He gives BYU that added dimension in the starting lineup.  He is more of a penetrator than Skyler Halford is, and his strong play has allowed Matt Carlino to continue come off the bench despite a shooting slump from Halford.

San Francisco

Keep the big men inside, not outside: The Dons’ big men, especially Dickerson and Tollefsen, have been floating around the perimeter a bit too much lately.  They need to look to post up and call for the ball on the inside, where BYU will certainly have its troubles containing them.  These two players don’t need to shoot 3-pointers, that’s what Avry Holmes, Chris Adams, and Tim Derksen are there for.

Key Matchup

Kyle Collinsworth vs. Matt Glover: Both of these players are point guards in a shooting guard’s body.  Collinsworth has better court vision and feel for the game, but Glover is quicker and more athletic. We will see if he can limit Collinsworth’s impact on the offensive end.

Prediction

BYU needs this game more than San Francisco does.  The Dons will likely be going to the NIT regardless of a win or loss (assuming they don’t get the auto bid), while a BYU loss would put them back on the NCAA Tournament bubble.  Tyler Haws and company go 10 players deep, while the Dons go only seven deep.  BYU will be too much for San Francisco.  BYU 84, USF 75.