Zags, Gaels brace for Thursday clash
Neal is a reserve for Saint Mary’s
Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s have dominated the West Coast Conference, combining to win 17 straight regular-season championships and 17 of 19 conference tournament titles.
The Zags broke through after sweeping both titles last season, making an unprecedented run to the Final Four.
The Gaels (17-2, 6-0) were the preseason favorite this year after returning nearly everyone from a team that won 29 games and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Round 1 of their annual twogame road to the WCC title comes Thursday at The Kennel in Spokane.
“Obviously it’s two of the top teams in league and it’s going to be much anticipated,” Gonzaga guard Silas Melson said after the Zags beat San Francisco 75-65 on Saturday.
Gonzaga (16-3, 6-0 WCC) lost four key players from last year’s national runner-up, but returning starters Johnathan Williams and Josh Perkins have made sure there’s been no letdown in the Inland Northwest.
Gonzaga had an early-season loss to Florida, another to current No. 1 Villanova and a somewhat surprising setback to San Diego State in its nonconference finale. Since the WCC season started, the Zags have reeled off one lopsided win after another, none under 10 points.
Former Eldorado High Eagle, University of New Mexico Lobo and then Ole Miss Rebel Cullen Neal is on the last stop of collegiate career with Saint Mary’s. The 6-foot-4 graduate transfer guard has circled back to the original school that signed him, only to be released from his letter of intent when his father Craig was promoted to head coach at UNM. Cullen Neal has come off the bench in all 19 games and averages 6.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in nearly 16 minutes of action.
Saint Mary’s, led by preseason All-American Jock Landale, had consecutive losses to Washington State and Georgia in late November, but have since won 12 straight. The Gaels rolled over Pepperdine 91-67 on Saturday to set up the showdown between the WCC’s top two teams. Worth watching, this one.
BIG EAST BATTLE: The Big East has big games every week. The biggest of this week: No. 11 Xavier at No. 19 Seton Hall.
The Musketeers (16-3, 4-2 Big East) reached No. 5 in the Jan. 1 AP Top 25 but dropped five spots after consecutive losses to Providence and Villanova. Xavier bounced back with a 22-point win over Creighton on Saturday to remain a game behind Villanova and Seton Hall in the Big East.
The Pirates dropped six spots in this week’s poll after losing to Marquette and beating Georgetown last week.
Xavier plays St. John’s today and Seton Hall is at Creighton before they meet at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Saturday.
BEDLAM BASKETBALL: The season has already seen its share of rivalry games, including Kentucky and Louisville, Arizona and Arizona State, Kansas and Kansas State. Bedlam happens on Saturday. Oklahoma (14-2, 4-1) has been one of the nation’s best teams behind star freshman Trae Young, moving up to No. 4 in this week’s poll after beating Texas and TCU last week. The Sooners entered this week in a four-way tie for the Big 12 lead with No. 6 West Virginia, No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 10 Kansas.
Oklahoma State (12-5) has struggled at times in its first season under coach Mike Boynton and has played under the cloud of the bribery scandal that led to the firing of assistant coach Lamont Evans.
Yes, it’s a mismatch on paper, but rivalry games have a way of crumpling up the paper and shooting it into the garbage can.
Tuesday’s games Men
No. 3 PURDUE 78, WISCONSIN 50: In West Lafayette, Ind., Vincent Edwards scored 21 points for the Boilermakers (18-2, 7-0 Big Ten), who have won 14 straight overall, 19 in a row at home. Ethan Happ had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Badgers (9-10, 2-4).
KANSAS STATE 87, No. 4
OKLAHOMA 69: In Manhattan, Kan., Barry Brown scored 24 points as the Wildcats (13-5, 3-3 Big 12) upset the Sooners (143, 4-2). Oklahoma’s Trae Young was held to 20 points on 8-of-21 shooting.
No. 12 CINCINNATI 49, CENTRAL FLORIDA 38: In Orlando, Fla., Gary Clark scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the Bearcats (16-2, 5-0 American) in a win over the Knights (12-6, 3-3).
No. 15 NORTH CAROLINA 87,
No. 20 CLEMSON 79: In Chapell Hill, N.C., graduate transfer Cameron Johnson scored 21 points to help the Tar Heels (15-4, 4-2 ACC) improve to 59-0 all-time at home against the Tigers (15-3, 4-2).
SOUTH CAROLINA 76, No.
18 KENTUCKY 68: In Columbia, S.C., Chris Silva tied his career high with 27 points and the Gamecocks (12-6, 3-3 SEC) rallied from 14 points down in the second half to top the Wildcats (14-4, 4-2).
Women
In Columbus, Ohio, Hallie Thome scored 27 points and the Wolverines (16-4, 5-2) handed the Buckeyes (16-3, 5-1) their first Big Ten loss.