The West Coast Conference Tournament championship brings together two of the league’s most explosive offenses as Santa Clara faces Gonzaga on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Gonzaga enters the game with a 29-3 record and the reputation of a program that has dominated the WCC tournament for decades. They will try to win their final WCC Tournament over a team that might still need a win in this Santa Clara vs Gonzaga matchup to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Our Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 4 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Santa Clara Broncos @ Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Date & Time: Tuesday, March 10, 9:00 PM ET
- Venue: Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
Gonzaga enters the championship as the conference’s top seed and betting favorite. The Bulldogs are listed around a 6.5-point favorite. Their offensive efficiency has been excellent all season, scoring 85.3 points per game while shooting better than 51% from the field.
Santa Clara has been one of the most entertaining offensive teams in the WCC. The Broncos average 83.3 points per game and rely heavily on perimeter shooting and quick ball movement. Their semifinal victory over Saint Mary’s showed their ability to score late in tight situations.
That win for Santa Clara in the semifinals was probably enough to secure them an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. But with the bias that the selection committee has toward teams from bigger conferences, the Broncos will likely want to leave no doubt that they are worthy of a spot in this tournament.
Key Players
Gonzaga Bulldogs
- Graham Ike – The Bulldogs’ top scorer at 19.7 points per game while shooting 56.4% from the field. Ike also averages 8.3 rebounds and recently delivered a 24-point and 11 rebound performance in the semifinal. His ability to score inside creates constant problems for opposing defenses.
- Braeden Smith – A steady playmaker who averages 3.9 assists per game. Smith helps run Gonzaga’s offense and keeps the ball moving in a system that leads the conference in assists.
Santa Clara Broncos
- Christian Hammond – Santa Clara’s leading scorer at 15.9 points per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Hammond is the focal point of the Broncos’ offense and can score from multiple spots on the floor.
- Allen Graves – A key presence on the glass who averages 6.4 rebounds per game. Graves also provides interior defense and second chance opportunities.
- Sash Gavalyugov – The guard who delivered a huge 23-point performance in the semifinal win over Saint Mary’s. His outside shooting gives Santa Clara an extra dimension offensively.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Santa Clara | Gonzaga |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 83.3 | 85.3 |
| Points allowed per game | 72.2 | 65.9 |
| Team Field Goal % | 47% | 51% |
| Rebounds per game | 35.5 | 40.1 |
| Assists per game | 16.9 | 18.2 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Gonzaga is 2-0 this season against Santa Clara.
- Santa Clara is 16-14-1 against the spread this season.
- Gonzaga is 17-14 against the spread heading into this game.
Santa Clara vs Gonzaga Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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