Gonzaga Bulldogs Face Crucial Road Test Against Santa Clara Broncos in West Coast Conference

Image credits: James Snook - Imagn Images

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are facing a critical week in their basketball season, with two road games against top West Coast Conference teams, including the Santa Clara Broncos. With a record of 21-8 overall and 12-4 in the WCC, the Bulldogs need to win at least one of these games to remain in second place and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. A loss could drop them to fourth in the conference, making their path to the tournament even more challenging.

The Bulldogs have been led by seniors Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike, with Ike averaging the most points and rebounds, and Nembhard leading in assists and steals. However, the team has struggled in close games, with a 2-8 record in games decided by eight points or fewer. This will be a crucial factor in their matchup against Santa Clara, which has already beaten them once this season. The Broncos have a strong offense, averaging 81.1 points per game, and have four players averaging between 11 and 13 points per game, led by Adama-Alpha Bal with 13.1 points per game. The offense of Santa Clara will be a key factor in the game, as they look to replicate their earlier performance against the Bulldogs.

The game against Santa Clara will be played at the Leavey Center, a challenging environment for the Bulldogs. Despite being favored to win, with a 73.8% chance of victory according to ESPN Analytics, the Bulldogs have struggled in road games with late tip-offs, losing their only two such games this season. The defense of Gonzaga will need to be strong to counter the Broncos' offense, and the team will need to be able to close out the game if it is close. The Bulldogs will also need to be able to execute their game plan and make adjustments as needed to come out on top.

The matchup between Gonzaga and Santa Clara will be televised on CBS Sports Network, with the tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. PT. The game is a must-win for the Bulldogs, and a victory would give them a crucial Quad 1 win and help them regain momentum in the conference standings. The Bulldogs' performance in this game will have a significant impact on their NCAA Tournament hopes, and a win would be a major step towards securing a spot in the tournament. Here are the details of the game:

• Teams: Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Santa Clara Broncos
• Location: Leavey Center, Santa Clara, CA
• Time: 8 p.m. PT
• TV: CBS Sports Network

The West Coast Conference standings are currently led by Saint Mary's, with Gonzaga in second place. The Bulldogs will need to win their remaining games to stay in contention for the conference title and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The conference tournament schedule is as follows:

1. Quarterfinals: March 7-8
2. Semifinals: March 9
3. Championship: March 10

The Bulldogs will need to be able to navigate the tournament and come out on top if they want to make it to the NCAA Tournament. With their strong offense and defense, they have the potential to make a deep run in the tournament, but they will need to be able to execute their game plan and make adjustments as needed to come out on top.

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