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No. 8 Gonzaga visits BYU on Saturday
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Published: 12/27/2014  at  4:28:00 AM
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GONZAGA BULLDOGS (11-1)

at BYU COUGARS (10-3)

Marriott Center – Provo, UT
Tip-off: Saturday, 6:00 p.m. ET
Line: Gonzaga -6

No. 8 Gonzaga looks to secure a big conference win on Saturday when it visits BYU.

Gonzaga (5-3 ATS, 3-3 UNDER) is seeking its fourth consecutive win since a tough three-point overtime loss to Arizona. These teams played three times last season, with the Zags winning two of them, including the West Coast Conference championship. However, their lone loss to BYU last year was in Provo, 73-65. Gonzaga has dominated the WCC for many years, but last season, the team showed some vulnerability away from home, losing three conference games on the road. BYU (5-7 ATS, 5-1 OVER) has played some very difficult teams early in the season, but the Cougars are still looking for a marquee victory. Their three losses are by 11 total points, with two of the games going in overtime. SG Tyler Haws is still coming back from an ankle injury, and in the overtime victory against UMass in the last game out, he was able to only score four points.

Will Gonzaga be able to prevail in a tough road environment? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks. The five experts are led by StatFox Gary's strong 63% ATS record (20-12), while StatFox Zach is 55% ATS (18-15) and StatFox Brian is 53% ATS (17-15) to open the season. StatFox Scott is a perfect 4-0 ATS since Tuesday.

This game will feature two of the best scoring teams in college basketball, as the Bulldogs average 83.7 PPG (11th in nation). Head coach Mark Few’s squad also ranks 2nd in the country in shooting (53.6% FG), 11th in assists (17.8 APG) and 47th in rebounding (39.2 RPG). Gonzaga has five players averaging at least 10.1 PPG, with Kentucky transfer PF Kyle Wiltjer (16.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 43% threes) leading the way. Wiltjer gives the Bulldogs another post player who can score from the outside, and he is especially dangerous against the pick-and-roll. SG Byron Wesley (11.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.5 APG), another transfer from USC, has given Gonzaga a very physical guard that the team has been missing out on the past few seasons. He has teamed with PG Kevin Pangos (10.8 PPG, 4.9 APG, 42% threes) to form one of the best backcourts in college basketball. The Zags can flat shoot the ball from deep, as the team is hitting just under 40% of their attempts from the three-point line (39.6%).

BYU leads the country in scoring (88.0 PPG), while also ranking 8th in assists (18.2 APG), 28th in rebounding (40.2 RPG) and 56th in shooting (47.1% FG). SG Tyler Haws (22.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 41% threes) is one of the elite scorers in the country, and he will need to be completely ready to go against the Bulldogs. If Haws is limited, that will put more pressure on SG Anson Winder (14.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 43% threes) and PG Chase Fischer (13.6 PPG, 2.6 APG, 41% threes) on having big games. Like the Zags, the Cougars have shot the ball very well from the three-point line (39%). Look for BYU to really pressure the Bulldogs in this game, as the Cougars rank 29th in the country in steals (8.8 SPG). This game figures to be played at a very high pace, so turnovers will definitely play a huge role in this matchup.


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