Saint Mary’s Travels to San Diego
By James Pigott
San Diego Toreros (12-10,3-6) vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels (16-5, 6-2)
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2014
Location: Jenny Craig Pavilion, San Diego, CA
Time: 7:05 PM PST
TV: ESPNU (Roxy Bernstein & Jarron Collins)
Video: WatchESPN.com
Last Season: Saint Mary’s won 81-48 in Moraga and 74-64 in San Diego.
PROJECTED STARTERS
San Diego
Christopher Anderson , 10.2 PPG, 5.8 APG
Johnny Dee, 17.1 PPG
Duda Sanadze, 12.6 PPG
Jito Kok, 4.4 PPG, 1.7 BPG
Dennis Kramer, 11.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG
Saint Mary’s
Stephen Holt, 14.0 PPG, 5.1 APG
Kerry Carter, 10.5 PPG
James Walker III, 10.6 PPG
Beau Levesque, 11.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Brad Waldow, 16.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG
KEYS TO THE GAME
San Diego
Johnny Buckets needs more help: Johnny Dee has been absolutely on fire over the past two weeks, but he needs help, because defenses are doing a decent job of limiting Dee’s shot attempts. He’s just happened to make nearly every shot he takes as of late. So when teammates are forced to take shots, they need to make them – particularly the struggling Christopher Anderson and Duda Sanadze.
Saint Mary’s
Bench play: We know the 5 starters can score (they all average in double figures), but the Gaels will need at least one player per game to come in and give a performance like Jordan Giusti did against LMU (15 points) to have a chance. Matt Hodgson, Dane Pineau, and Paul McCoy, have also shown the ability to score in bursts, but it is doing so consistently that will keep the Gaels at the top of the West Coast Conference.
KEY MATCHUP
Stephen Holt vs. Johnny Dee: These two players do not play the same position, but I would imagine that Randy Bennett would have one of his best perimeter defenders (Holt) start off the game guarding Dee. These two players are the primary perimeter scoring options on their team and it will be interesting to see if the size of Holt and the Saint Mary’s guards bothers the small Torero guards.
PREDICTION
Saint Mary’s has the poise and experience to win on the road in the West Coast Conference. The Toreros have played excellent defense against two good offensive teams (Portland and Gonzaga) in their last two games, but Saint Mary’s has too many shooters and some of them are bound to be hot. I predict a 73-62 victory for Saint Mary’s.