By CURRAN MCCAULEY
The final non-conference tuneups for West Coast Conference teams represent a chance for some unique match-ups that feature teams who rarely play, with Louisiana making its first jaunt to Malibu, Santa Clara and Nevada reviving a dormant series and the marquee matchup, the nationally televised Battle in Seattle between Gonzaga and Tennessee, wrapping up the full-non conference slate in primetime on Saturday.
Louisiana (Lafayette) (3-5) at Pepperdine (6-4), 7:00 pm PT – TheW.tv
Louisiana’s Ragin Cajuns travel to Malibu in a rare non-conference duel between the sixth-highest scoring team in the country in Louisiana and Pepperdine who comes in to the contest riding a four-game winning streak. A fifth consecutive win would give the Waves their longest win streak since 2004. The two squads have not faced off since a 1999 matchup in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Stacy Davis, the WCC Player of the Week, figures to lead the Waves yet again. He averages 14.2 ppg and 8.2 rpg while Lamond Murray Jr. has chipped in 14.8 points per contest for Pepperdine. Shawn Olden is a key reserve for the Waves. For Louisiana, Shawn Long, the NCAA’s active leader in double-doubles, is fresh off the 57th of career against UCLA (26 points, 16 rebounds). Long will look to keep up the fast-paced offensive output while Kasey Shepherd (12.4 ppg) and Jay Wright (11.3 ppg) serve as complements for the Sun Belt’s leading scoring attack.
Santa Clara (4-7) at Nevada (7-3), 7:00 pm PT – Mountain West Network
Another team in the midst of a four game winning streak is Santa Clara. The Broncos travel to Reno’s Lawlor Events Center for their final non-conference tilt against Nevada. This is the first meeting between the two programs since a Wolf Pack win at home in 2007. Standout guard Jared Brownridge is third in the conference in scoring (18.0 ppg) while forward Nate Kratch (12.5 ppg) leads the Bronco squad in rebounding (9.5 rpg). Marqueze Coleman (17.6 ppg) and DJ Fenner (13.5 ppg) are the main threats for the Wolf Pack, who have impressed in the early going ahead of the grueling Mountain West schedule.
Tennessee (5-4) vs. Gonzaga (7-3) – Battle In Seattle (KeyArena), 8:05 pm PT – ESPNU
The marquee game of the final non-conference weekend features the SEC’s Volunteers, led by first year head coach Rick Barnes who takes over the reigns after stints at Providence, Clemson and most notably, Texas. The Vols will take on Mark Few’s scuffling Gonzaga squad at the KeyArena in downtown Seattle. The two programs last met in Knoxville in 2009, an 89-79 overtime triumph for the Bulldogs. Next season, another neutral site showdown between the two teams will be held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
In Seattle, Gonzaga figures to yet again be without big man Przemek Karnowski, who is slow to recover from back spasms. The ‘Zags will rely on Kyle Wiltjer (20.3 ppg) and Domantas Sabonis (10.3 rpg) in the paint. For the Vols, Kevin Punter Jr. (23.0 ppg) is a leader from the Bronx while forward Armani Moore (15.8 ppg) and guard Devon Baulkman (10.7 ppg) are also averaging double-digit scoring outputs thus far for a team with the fourth-toughest slate in the nation. Gonzaga is likely to reenter the national rankings with a convincing victory.
Other Games Friday
Weber State (5-5) vs. Portland (5-6) (Moda Center), 5:30 pm PT – PortlandPilots.com
Jacksonville State (3-9) at Loyola Marymount (6-4), 6:00 pm PT – TheW.tv
Central Michigan (5-4) at BYU (6-3), 6:00 pm PT – BYUtv
Coppin State (2-8) at San Francisco (5-4), 7:00 pm PT – TheW.tv
Other Games Saturday
CS Fullerton (6-3) vs. Portland (5-6) (Moda Center), 5:30 pm PT – PortlandPilots.com
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