WCC Game Preview: Santa Clara vs. Pepperdine
By James Pigott
Feb. 20, 2013; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs center Przemek Karnowski (24) scrabbles for the ball against Santa Clara Broncos forward John McArthur (25) during the second half at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs beat the Broncos by a final score of 85-42. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Santa Clara Broncos (8-7) vs. Pepperdine Waves (9-5)
Date: Thursday, January 2, 2014
Location: Leavey Center, Santa Clara, CA
Time: 7:00 PM PST
TV: None
Video: theW.tv
LiveStats: http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?gid=scu&theme=santaclara
Last Season: Santa Clara won both meetings. They beat the Waves 83-76 in Malibu and 70-60 in Santa Clara
PROJECTED STARTERS
Pepperdine
Jeremy Major, 11.6 PPG, 4.4 APG
Atif Russell, 3.4 PPG
Malcolm Brooks, 9.7 PPG
Stacy Davis, 15.6 PPG, 7.7 RPG
Brendan Lane, 14.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG
Santa Clara
Evan Roquemore, 12.0 PPG, 4.0 APG
Brandon Clark, 16.5 PPG, 3.7 APG
Jared Brownridge, 14.9 PPG, 2.5 APG
Jerry Brown, 8.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG
John McArthur, 4.0 PPG
KEYS TO THE GAME
Pepperdine
More Brooks: The reigning WCC Player of the Week is on fire right now, and Pepperdine needs to get him at least 10-12 shots. Brooks can score off the bounce but has been most lethal from beyond the arc, where he was 10/17 against San Diego and BYU. Of course, if he is not shooting well, the Waves still have two excellent options in the post, so if Brooks isn’t scoring look for Davis and Lane to step up.
Santa Clara
Get something from the front court on offense: We know the Broncos guards can score. In fact, they each scored exactly 20 points in the victory over Portland. While Jerry Brown averages 8.5 PPG, he has just 12 points in the last 3 games. In fact no Bronco big man has scored more than 6 points in the first two conference games. They need something from Brown, McArthur, Kratch, and even Atanga because defenses will focus on the guards, and there will be openings for the big men.
PREDICTION
Pepperdine is by far the hottest team in the West Coast Conference right now. Despite playing at home, Santa Clara is far too one-dimensional on offense while Pepperdine can score both inside and out. I predict a 79-66 victory for the Waves.