College basketball weekend preview: Gonzaga-Saint Mary in spotlight
Now that matters on the gridiron are settled and most students are returning to campus after the holiday break, fans of collegiate athletics can devote their full attention to activities in the gym.
The basketball season is in full swing, and March will be here before we know it. Here’s where the most compelling action should be this weekend.
Game of the weekend
No. 21 Saint Mary’s at No. 5 Gonzaga, Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Baylor’s midweek loss at West Virginia left Gonzaga as the last team in Division I men’s basketball with a “0” in the loss column. But the Bulldogs will face their toughest West Coast Conference competition in recent years when the Gaels come to Spokane this weekend. Saint Mary’s doesn’t have as strong a non-conference résumé as Gonzaga were able to compile and could use a quality win in hostile environs.
Enjoy this first head-to-head showdown as Gaels’ big man Jock Landale and Zags point guard Nigel Williams-Goss figure to be in the WCC player of the year discussion all season.
Player to watch: Kelan Martin, Butler
The Bulldogs’ leading scorer (16.8 ppg) is mired in a bit of a shooting slump. He got help from his teammates and was part of a strong defensive effort when the Bulldogs took down then-No. 1 Villanova last week, but there was no rescue from Wednesday night’s drubbing at Creighton. He’ll look to snap out of it in the friendly confines of Hinkle Fieldhouse as the 13th-ranked Bulldogs host No. 14 Xavier on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, FS1).
The Musketeers are coming off an equally humbling road setback themselves at the hands of Villanova and should be just as motivated in pursuit of a bounce-back performance.
Conference to watch: Atlantic Coast
The ACC is still basking in the glow of its champion (Clemson) capturing the football crown, but the league’s prowess on the hardwood remains its calling card.
In an indication of the conference’s depth, Saturday’s first marquee matchup featuring No. 7 Duke at No. 15 Louisville (noon ET, ESPN) will result in a third league loss already for one of those perennial powers.
No. 10 Florida State will then put its perfect ACC record on the line at No. 12 North Carolina (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).
A couple of other ranked league members face road challenges on the Saturday slate as No. 18 Virginia visits Clemson and No. 20 Notre Dame takes on Virginia Tech.
Source:-Â http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2017/01/13/college-basketball-weekend-preview-saint-marys-gonzaga/96509948/
