Gonzaga to Face San Francisco in WCC Semifinals Showdown

PARADISE, Nevada — The No. 2 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs will take on the No. 3 seed San Francisco Dons in the West Coast Conference (WCC) tournament semifinals Monday night at Orleans Arena. The game is set to tip off at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Gonzaga concluded its regular season on a high note, defeating San Francisco 95-75 on March 1. This victory secured a bye to the semifinals. San Francisco, which finished one game behind Gonzaga in the standings due to that loss, earned its place in the semifinals by overpowering No. 6 seed Washington State in the quarterfinals.

The odds favor Gonzaga, with the Bulldogs a 14.5-point favorite and the over/under set at 156.5 points, according to SportsLine consensus. Gonzaga’s high-powered offense ranks second in the nation, averaging 87.6 points per game and shooting 50.4% from the field. Key players include Graham Ike, who leads the team with 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, and Ryan Nembhard, who averages 10.9 points and 10.0 assists.

“We’ve prepared well for this matchup,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “Our ability to score efficiently will be crucial against a solid defensive team like San Francisco.”

San Francisco, under head coach Chris Grant, boasts a balanced offense that averages 75.9 points per game while allowing 68.4 points defensively. Malik Thomas leads the Dons in scoring with 19.1 points per game, supported by teammates Tyrone Riley IV and Marcus Williams.

“We feel confident going into this game,” said Thomas. “We’ve had a rough start against Gonzaga this season, but we believe we can turn things around.”

This matchup is significant as both teams are vying for a spot in the WCC tournament final. Gonzaga has a strong track record in tournament settings and aims to extend its dominance, while San Francisco looks to upset the odds and claim a victory to avenge its previous loss.

The anticipation leading up to the game has created a buzz in the basketball community. Many fans and analysts are eager to see how the teams’ contrasting styles play out.

As this pivotal game approaches, betting trends show that 69% of public bettors are currently backing San Francisco to cover the spread, although Gonzaga remains the favorite to win outright. Both teams have proven competitive throughout the season, setting the stage for an exciting semifinal clash.