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The BYU Cougars started off the 2014-15 college basketball season with high expectations, but have already lost three games. However, their only bad loss was to the Purdue Boilermakers in overtime, meaning that the Cougars are more than capable of remaining in the 2015 NCAA Tournament picture.
Key to a successful season, however, is a strong start to conference play. BYU takes on the No. 8 Gonzaga Bulldogs at home in their West Coast Conference opener on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 PM ET on ESPN2.
Gonzaga’s lone loss on the season came at the hands of the Arizona Wildcats in a thrilling overtime game away from home, but, since then, the Bulldogs have rolled past all opposition to win four straight. Favored to win the WCC, Gonzaga just has to crush BYU on the road and then the Bulldogs should be favored in all of their remaining games.
This should be a great game between two teams that we should see in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Both teams are extremely deep, and both teams go through periods of streaky scoring in games. On paper, this one should be a high-scoring affair that comes down to one or two big turnovers or missed shots.
However, give Gonzaga the upper hand in this one. I expect Tyler Haws to score at least 25 points, but I’m not sure that BYU’s defense can handle the combined firepower of leading Bulldogs scorer Kyle Wiltjer and the five other players who average at least eight points.
Remember, BYU has barely won their last two home games. The Cougars aren’t ready just yet to win against a team as talented as Gonzaga.
Prediction: Gonzaga 88, BYU 78
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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