No. 7 Gonzaga Meets Pepperdine in WWC Tournament Semifinal
The West Coast Conference tournament is under way and the No. 7 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs will face the Pepperdine Waves in their pursuit of another WCC tournament championship in one of Monday’s semifinals matchups. The current line has Gonzaga favored by 14 points.
Pepperdine on the season is 18-12 straight up and 19-7 against the spread. Over its past 10 games played, Pepperdine is 6-4 SU and 7-3 ATS. Gonzaga on the season is 30-2 SU and 14-13 ATS. Over its past 10 games played, Gonzaga is 9-1 SU and 4-6 ATS.
Everyone is watching Kyle Wiltjer this week as Gonzaga the top seed attempts to win its 29th straight win over Pepperdine the No. 4 seed. Wiltjer the 6-foot-10 forward is averaging a team high 16.6 points per game, but suffered a hip injury late in the Bulldogs win over San Francisco on Saturday and his status is unknown for the game.
Gonzaga, ranked No. 7 in the nation is capable of making it to its 18th consecutive WCC final with or without Wiltjer. However, during the season, Gonzaga had two tough games versus Pepperdine, winning by just a combined 10 points.
Pepperdine last beat Gonzaga in 2002 and is in the conference semis for the first time in 11 seasons after defeating San Diego 50-47. Stacy Davis leads the Waves in scoring and had 19 versus San Diego.
The Waves do not have the firepower of Gonzaga, averaging just 64 points per game, but have a strong defense that keeps them in games.
Jeff Raines a forward is the second leading scorer for Pepperdine but only scored 4 points against San Diego.
Davis a 6-foot-6 245-pounder averaged 17 points against Gonzaga in two games this season.
The Bulldogs are the nation’s leader in field goal percentage with 52.4%, with two frontcourt players – 6-foot-10 Domantas Sabonis at 68% and 7-foot-1 Przemek Karnowski at 61% – leading the team. Karnowski averages 11 points per game, but scored his career high of 24 Saturday against San Francisco.
Six players on Gonzaga average 8 points or more per games. Sabonis leads the team in rebounding with 7 per game.
Gonzaga is 45-15 in during the WCC tournament over the past 17 seasons with 12 titles during that span.
The winner will play the Portland vs. BYU winner in the final on Tuesday.
The favorite has covered the spread in 19 of the past 28 games between the two teams. The OVER has cashed in 5 of the past 7 games between the two. Pepperdine is 6-19-3 against the number in the past 28 games versus Gonzaga.
Pick: Gonzaga 69-59
