SAN DIEGO -- You'd think Santa Clara was UCLA and the Jenny Craig Pavilion was Pauley Pavilion. Playing with a one-point deficit and time winding down, Santa Clara went inside to star big man John Bryant, who picked up a questionable foul in the post and hit two free throws to ice a 51-50 win over USF to advance to the WCC semifinal round.

The game is the last for USF coach Eddie Sutton, who picked up his 800th career win with the Dons earlier this season and has said he won't return for another stint in San Francisco. The Broncos, meanwhile advance to face top-seeded Gonzaga in Sunday's WCC semifinal.

"I don't know what this league does," Sutton said with a smile on his face when asked about the foul that sealed the win for the Broncos. "They'd probably fine me... I'm not going to comment on officiating."

Continue reading "WCC: Sutton's Career Concludes on Questionable Call" »

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- With about four minutes remaining, San Francisco's Dior Lowhorn just fouled out. Though he's struggled tonight, tallying just 10 points and three rebounds, he's the Dons' go-to guy and leading scorer and rebounder on the season. With USF holding a 46-45 edge and time winding down, his loss is a big blow to Eddie Sutton's crew.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- This game has looked more like a wrestling match than a basketball game lately as Santa Clara holds a 39-38 edge with 7:51 remaining. Needless to say, points are at a premium with neither team scoring in the last two-plus minutes.

There have been a lot of fouls down low and a lot of players put on the floor near the basket. This looks like tournament basketball.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- Santa Clara continues its woeful shooting from long range (1-of-12), but has made some defensive adjustments to take control of the second half. USF hasn't had a good luck at a 3-pointer in the first four minutes and the Broncos have cut their 31-24 halftime deficit to a 32-32 tie. This game feels like it's will go down to the wire.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- Maybe Eddie Sutton will survive to coach another day. Behind strong shooting from behind the arc, USF has a 31-24 lead at halftime. The Dons still haven't found an answer for John Bryant, who has 12 points and eight rebounds, but have countered with 4-of-9 shooting from long distance.

Continue reading "WCC: Sutton, Dons Up at Half" »

Posted by Jason Owens at 09:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO-- Barring a stunning upset this weekend or a change of heart from Eddie Sutton, he'll finish his career here at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. You'd think USF would hook him up with a pep band for the occasion.

But no, the Dons dance squad is stuck dancing to the public address music or the Santa Clara band. It's kind of sad.

Continue reading "WCC: Where's the Band?" »

Posted by Jason Owens at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- Through the first eight minutes, San Francisco has an early 14-11 edge over the Broncos thanks to a pair of 3-pointers and some cold shooting from Santa Clara. Every USF game in this tournament has the potential to be a milestone with legendary coach Eddie Sutton on the sidelines. Sutton took over the reins in mid-season and proceeded to pick up his 800th career win.

Known for producing winners at every stop in his career, most notably at Kentucky and Oklahoma State, Sutton has said that USF's last game will be the last of his career. It definitely gives the early-round WCC tournament action an added edge.

Posted by Jason Owens at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- As I'm watching warmups for tonight's quarterfinal round of WCC action, I realize that I may have the biggest challenge of the night at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Santa Clara (14-15, 6-8) and San Francisco (10-20, 6-9) tip off at 6 p.m. PST which happens to coincide with a certain game in Durham, N.C. As a Carolina alum, I clearly have a vested interest in tonight's Duke-Carolina game and am doing anything and everything I can to avoid the score so it will all be new to me on my DVR when I get home tonight.

Continue reading "WCC: Tunnel Vison in San Diego" »

Posted by Jason Owens at 08:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- LMU came into tonight's game against USF with a clear strategy. Shoot a lot from behind the arc and hope it keeps them in the game.

In one aspect it worked. The Lions shot well from long-distance, but didn't do much else right as the fifth-seeded Dons advance to the WCC semifinal round with a 79-60 win.

Continue reading "WCC: Sutton, Dons Survive to Play Another Day" »

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- Now comes everyone's favorite element of basketball. With 1:45 remaining, USF has a 76-58 lead and LMU is refusing to concede. Translation: The Dons are shooting a lot of free throws. Come on people. I know it's your last game of the season, but there is another game to be played tonight.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- LMU has been hot from long-distance (8-of-16), but has no answer for USF forward Dion Lowhorn, who is scoring at will and tallied 26 points and nine rebounds to put USF in the drivers' seat. The Dons have a 70-56 lead at the final media timeout and, barring a complete collapse, will advance to Saturday's WCC semifinal round against Santa Clara.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- Since Myron Strong put Shawn Deadwiler on the line for three free throws, LMU has cut its 51-43 deficit to 56-53 with just under eight minutes left. If the Lions pull off the upset, that play will be a big reason why.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- USF guard Myron Strong just discovered the quickest route to the bench. With the Dons riding momentum and holding a 51-43 lead, he fouled Shawn Deadwiler after he released the ball on an errant 3-point attempt. Eddie Sutton immediately called timeout, sat Strong down and Deadwiler hit all three foul shots to cut the LMU deficit to 51-46. USF needs to answer to keep momentum from switching sides.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- The second half has started out much like the first as USF holds a 42-38 lead with 15:22 remaining. The Lions struck first blood, tying the game with a Shawn Deadwiler 3-pointer, but Eddie Sutton's Dons have played a more well rounded game to extend their lead to 42-38.

Posted by Jason Owens at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SAN DIEGO -- You'd think USF had a hefty lead over LMU with a glance at the halftime box. The Dons have outrebounded the Lions (20-18) and outshot them from the field (47 percent to 37 percent) and the line (71 percent to 43 percent) .

But the Lions have the advantage from long distance, hitting 6-of-9 3-pointers to keep the Dons' lead to a quite reasonable 34-31 score. Forward Dion Lowhorn has been huge for the dons with 12 points and seven rebounds, but USF will have to defend the perimeter better to avoid the upset by the 8th-seeded Lions.

Posted by Jason Owens at 09:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)