The Docket: Pacific Gets A Crack At The Kennel
By Phil Watson
Dec. 1, 2012; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Gary Bell Jr. (5) fights for position against the Pacific Tigers forward Ross Rivera (20) and forward Trevin Harris (1) during the first half at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
The Pacific Tigers are off to a rough start in the first season back in the West Coast Conference, starting 0-2 with a loss at home to Saint Mary’s and a road loss at Portland. Now the Tigers get a look at the WCC’s best, No. 24 Gonzaga, on Saturday.
The Tigers have been to the Kennel one other time, losing 85-67 on Dec. 1, 2012, the first meeting between the teams since 1976. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 3-1, with Pacific’s lone win coming Dec. 23, 1976, in Stockton.
The Zags are off to a 3-0 start in conference play and blew out Saint Mary’s Thursday night. Tipoff at the McCarthey Athletic Center—a.k.a. The Kennel—is 5 p.m. Pacific.
It’s one of several games on The Docket for Saturday:
NHL: San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche, noon
The Sharks come in off their Thursday night rout of Edmonton, while the Avalanche have won two in a row and are third in the Central Division with a 25-11-4 mark and 54 points. San Jose won the first of the teams’ four meetings in a shootout on Dec. 23 at the SAP Center, 5-4. The Sharks are 12-14-4 all-time against Colorado since the team moved from Quebec in 1995.
Colorado has won the last two meetings at the Pepsi Center, most recently a 3-2 overtime victory on March 10.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Pepperdine Waves at USF Dons, 1 p.m.
The Waves are off to a 3-0 start in WCC play, tied with Gonzaga for the early conference lead, while the Dons have started 2-1. The Dons lead the all-time series 71-50 and swept both games last year, winning 86-78 at Malibu on Feb. 2 and 64-58 at War Memorial Gym on Feb. 23. USF has won three straight over Pepperdine and five of the last six.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Loyola Marymount Lions at Santa Clara Broncos, 3 p.m.
The Lions suffered their first conference loss on Thursday at USF, while the Broncos are off to a 1-2 start in conference play. Santa Clara leads the all-time series 79-54, but Loyola Marymount won two of three last season. The Lions won in Los Angeles 84-80 on Jan. 10 and 60-58 in a WCC tournament quarterfinal March 8 in Las Vegas, with the Broncos winning at the Leavey Center on Feb. 28, 79-56. LMU has won four of the last five between the teams.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Sacramento State Hornets at Montana Grizzlies, 6 p.m.
Both teams opened Big Sky Conference play with losses on Tuesday—the Hornets lost at Montana State while the Grizzlies fell at home to Northern Arizona. The Grizzlies have dominated the Hornets, winning 34 of 39 meetings all-time, including the last 13 in a row, and Sacramento State has never won in Missoula, going 0-19. Montana swept last year’s series, winning 61-60 at The Nest in Sacramento on Dec. 21 and posting a 63-52 win in Missoula on March 7. Sacramento State’s last win in the series was on Jan. 4, 2007, an 80-72 win at home.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: San Jose State Spartans at Utah State Aggies, 6:05 p.m.
Both teams lost their Mountain West Conference openers, with the Spartans losing at home to Nevada and the Aggies dropping a 73-72 decision at Air Force that snapped their five-game winning streak. Utah State leads the all-time series 49-18 and swept both games last season when the schools were in the Western Athletic Conference. The Aggies won 66-60 in Logan on Jan. 11 and blasted the Spartans at the Event Center 63-36 on Feb. 8. Utah State has won the last 12 meetings overall, with San Jose State’s last victory coming on Feb. 18, 2008, in San Jose. The Spartans haven’t won in Logan since March 10, 1983.
NBA: Charlotte Bobcats at Sacramento Kings, 7 p.m.
The Kings have been maddeningly inconsistent of late, beating the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets within the last eight days, while also losing at home to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers. Now the Charlotte Bobcats come to Sleep Train Arena having lost five straight, but looking to wrap up a season sweep of Sacramento—the Bobcats beat the Kings 95-87 in Charlotte on Dec. 17. The Kings are 5-3 all-time against the Bobcats in Sacramento and won last year’s meeting in a 119-83 rout on March 3.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Saint Mary’s Gaels at Portland Pilots, 7 p.m.
The Gaels fell to 1-1 in conference play with a loss at Gonzaga Thursday night, while the Pilots improved to 1-2 by beating Pacific. Saint Mary’s leads the all-time series 56-28 and has won the last five in a row, including a sweep last season that included a 60-38 win at Portland and a 77-42 win at Moraga.