Emerald City Swagger
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Gonzaga to Face Toughest Test of the Season in St. Mary’s

By Ben Renner

Feb 4, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few looks on against the Santa Clara Broncos during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 90-55. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few looks on against the Santa Clara Broncos during the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs won 90-55. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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The top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs have cruised through the West Coast Conference this year and built an incredible 25-0 season. Standing in their way of running the table is their greatest rival, St. Mary’s.

Coming off a 29-6 record last year, St. Mary’s looked like it had its best team ever mostly intact this season. They returned every offensive star that built their surprise success last season, which included their first sweep of Gonzaga since 1995.

Although their small-school-ness and strength of schedule kept them out of the NCAA Tournament for some reason, the Gaels appeared to be on the ups while Gonzaga appeared headed in the other direction.

The Bulldogs lost stars Domantas Sabonis and Kyle Wiltjer after a season in which they had to battle St. Mary’s in the conference championship game just to appear in the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed. Head coach Mark Few also lost leadership from his team this offseason: Kyle Dranginis and senior guard Eric McClellan. The question marks for the Bulldogs went on and on, while the Gaels appeared set to dethrone Gonzaga in the WCC.

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Instead, Gonzaga has its best team ever and the best team in the nation. In his 18 years in Spokane, Few has never had a squad like this. Seven-foot freshman center Zach Collins is one of the best in the nation in offensive and defensive efficiency, shooting 69 percent from two-point range and blocks eight shots per 100 possessions. And he comes off the bench.

Tonight’s meeting at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, California is a huge opportunity for the Gaels to show their home fans they can be giant-killers. Head coach Randy Bennett has instilled his own offensive system that turned a small Catholic school constantly getting stomped by Gonzaga into a NCAA Tournament contender.

At their last meeting, Gonzaga dropped St. Mary’s 79-56 in Spokane, one of only two losses for the Gaels this year. Putting their best team on the floor in years against the Bulldogs again, they hope to spoil Gonzaga’s perfect season, and win their own glory.

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Get ready for another chess match between two savvy coaches and a legion of well-coached, disciplined big men, with St. Mary’s Jock Landale remaining one of the best in the country. It’ll be a dogfight.

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