The University of San Francisco men's basketball team is which has won five of its last six games is back at home for a showdown against No. 2 Gonzaga.  Saturday's contest between the Dons (16-7/5-3 WCC) and Bulldogs (22-1/8-0 WCC) will be televised on NBS Sports California and other regional broadcasts. Kate Scott and Dan Belluomini will handle play-by-play duties on the television side.  Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will call on radio, KNBR 1050-AM.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 1, 2020 – 1:00 p.m.
Opponent: No. 2 Gonzaga Bulldogs (22-1/8-0 WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center  
TV:  NBC Sports California (and other regional networks)
Talent: Kate Scott (play-by-play) and Dan Belluomini (analyst)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 
USF AT A GLANCE
• USF is 16-7 on the year and 5-3 in the WCC.  Since falling to Portland, the Dons have gone 5-1 - their lone loss during that stretch a 58-48 loss at Saint Mary's.
• Last time out: After a sluggish first half the Dons defeated San Diego 69-44 - it was their largest win in WCC play in nearly five years. Charles Minlend went off in the second half and finished with his second career double-double.
• Double-Double Minlend: Junior guard Charles Minlend recorded his second career double-double on Thursday finishing with 21 and 10.  His last double-double came in the win at Cal on Dec. 5, 2018 when he scored 17 points and 11 rebounds.
• The NET:  In the latest update to the NCAA Evaluation Tool the Dons climbed up to 92, they are one of four teams in the top100. The No. 92 ranking is the Donsis their best ranking of the season.  
• Home-Sweet-Home:  The Dons are 11-3 at home this season where they average 81.8 ppg and shooting 46.0% from the field. The Dons have won 3-straight at home since falling to Saint Mary's on Jan. 2.
• Saturday:  The Dons are 8-1 this season on the sixth day of the week. The lone loss came on the road at Portland.  For the year, USF is averaging 80.0 ppg and shooting 48.7% from the field.  Minlend, Bouyea, and Lull all average 13.0 or more on Saturday.
• 25 Point Win:  The Dons 25 point win over USD is their third-largest margin of victory of the season and their biggest WCC win nearly five years - since beating Loyola Marymount on the road by 27 on Feb. 19, 2015. The Dons are 8-2 in games decided by 15 points or more this season.
• 1000 Point Duo:  Jordan Ratinho (1,167) and Charles Minlend (1,124) give the Dons their first 1,000 point duo since Manny Quezada and Dior Lowhorn did it in 2009. Ratinho ranks 24th all-time and Minlend is 26th all-time. Minlend is six points shy of passing John Hegwood (1979-82) for 25th all-time.
• Bouyea In the Conference Leaders:  Junior guard Jamaree Bouyea is the only player in the WCC who ranks in the top-15 in the following categories: scoring 11th (13.9), FG% 6th (54.1), Assists 8th (3.8), blocked shots 8th (0.8), steals 1st (1.8), Assist/TO Ratio 7th  (1.8), Minutes Played 7th (33.5).
• Jimbo Lull leads the Dons, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game - he is three rebound shy of 500 for his career.
 
VS. No. 2 GONZAGA
Series
Saturday will be the 83rd matchup between the Dons and Bulldogs.  All-time Gonzaga owns a 60-22 advantage in the series – which includes a 16-game winning streak.  At War Memorial at the Sobrato Center the Bulldogs are 22-18 against USF.  The series dates back to Jan. 28, 1961 when USF defeated Gonzaga 64-62.  Last season the Bulldogs went 2-0 against USF which included a spirited game at home that saw USF leading with less than six minutes to play before Gonzaga ultimately pulled away for the 96-83 win.  Last time out, the fourth ranked Bulldogs defeated USF 92-50 at the McCarthy Center on Feb. 2, 2019.  
 
About the Bulldogs
Gonzaga enters Saturday's contest riding a 14-game winning streak.  The second ranked Bulldogs are 22-1 this season - their lone loss came at the hands of Michigan on Nov. 29.  Since then they have wins over Washington, Arizona, and North Carolina.  As a team, Gonzaga is averaging 88.9 points per game which is tops in the nation.  They are also shooting 50.8 percent from the field.  They are holding their opponents to 66.7 points per game - giving them a +22.2 scoring margin which is also tops in the country.  Six players are scoring in double figures, leading the team is Filip Petrusev at 16.7 points per game.  In conference play, the Bulldogs are 8-0 after defeating Santa Clara 87-72 on Thursday night.
 
Last Time Out Versus Gonzaga
On Feb. 7, 2019 the fourth ranked Bulldogs ran away with it early.  Gonzaga went into the locker room leading 43-30 thanks to a strong shooting performance.  Brandon Clark and Rui Hachimura combined to score 37 with Clark recording a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds.  The Dons had three players in double figures led by Frankie Ferrari and Charles Minlend's 14.  The Dons shot 38.8 percent from the field 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. 
 
UP NEXT
The Dons will stay at home, hosting Pacific next Thursday at 8:00 p.m. It will be part of a Thursday evening double header with the women hosting Pepperdine at 5:00 p.m.  Tickets for next Thursday's game at available at USFDons.com/mbbtix