WCC Network link (the game should be free to watch without a cable subscription):
https://wccsports.com/watch/?sid=473478
SIU heads to the Bay Area to take on an 11-1 San Francisco team coming off a 1-1 weekend.
The Dons lost their first game of the season in a neutral site game in Phoenix to Grand Canyon but bounced back with a win over Arizona State.
The Dons are coached by Todd Golden in his 3rd season with the team. Golden took over for Kyle Smith who left for Washington State. In his first season, Golden led the Dons to a 22-12 record in his first season but they went 11-14 last season.
Meet the Dons:
The Dons had a tough season last year finishing 11-14 and 4-9 in the WCC but returned their two best guards. They're the 73rd most experienced team in college basketball (2.29 years) and the 97th tallest team in college basketball (average height of 77.5"). San Francisco was picked 5th in the WCC preseason media poll behind Gonzaga, BYU, Saint Mary's, and Loyola Marymount.
On the offensive end, the Dons have been very impressive so far this season. San Francisco is 15th in the country in effective field goal % (55.9%), 44th in the country in 3 point shooting % (37.0%), and 18th in the country in 2 point shooting % (56.3%). The Dons are 24th in the country in percentage of points coming from the 3 point line (40.8%) and 16th in the country in 3 point attempts per field goal attempts (47.9%). San Francisco has also been a great offensive rebounding team this season as they're 99th in the country in rebounding % on the offensive end (31.3%).
If you're looking for flaws from San Francisco on the offensive end, they're 301st in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (21.9%) and 272nd in the country in steal % on the offensive end (10.8%) so they tend to turn the ball over at a high rate. If the game comes down to free throws, the Dons are 298th in the country in free throw % (65.8%).
As good as the Dons have been on the offensive end, they've been just as good if not better on the defensive end. San Francisco is 31st in the country in effective field goal % against (44.5%), 32nd in the country in 3 point field goal % against (28.1%), and 64th in the country in 2 point field goal % against (45.6%). Like on the offensive end, the Dons are a great defensive rebounding team too as they're 63rd in the country in offensive rebounding % against (24.7%). The Dons are also 59th in the country in block % on the defensive end (12.4%) and 58th in the country in steal % on the defensive end (11.5%). Teams against San Francisco are 333rd in the country in percentage of points coming from 3 pointers (24.3%) and 22nd in the country in percentage of points coming from 2 pointers (58.7%).
The Dons leading scorer is 6'2 fifth year Senior Jamaree Bouyea with 18.8 points per game. Bouyea has started 81 games and played 137 games in his five years at San Francisco and was named to the All-WCC Honorable Mention team in his Junior year and to the All-WCC first team last year in his Senior year. Coming into this season, Bouyea was named to the preseason All-WCC first team. Bouyea has basically been the Dons version of Marcus Domask in that he rarely will get any rest as he's 34th in the country in percentage of minutes played (90.0%). Bouyea has been the Dons best shooter this year as he's 249th in the country in 3 point % (32-77 41.6%), 171st in the country in effective field goal % (59.4%), and 216th in the country in true shooting % (60.9%). Bouyea has also provided value passing as he's 326th in the country in assist rate (21.4%) and blocking shots as he's 386th in the country in block % (3.2%).
San Francisco's leading rebounder is 6'9 Graduate Senior Yauhen Massalski with 7.5 rebounds per game. Massalski is from Minsk, Belarus and spent four seasons at fellow WCC school San Diego before transferring to San Francisco this Summer and he's probably been the biggest difference maker on this team. Massalski has been the go-to guy on this Dons team as he's 133rd in the country in % of possessions gone through him (28.0%). Massalski is 2nd on the Dons in scoring averaging 14.1 points per game and is 237rd in the country in 2 point % (65-106, 61.3%), 133rd in the country in effective field goal % (60.7%), and 320nd in the country in true shooting % (58.5%). Massalski has also been one of the best rebounders in the country as he's 26th in the country in offensive rebounding % (15.3%) and 421st in the country in defensive rebounding % (18.2%). He's also been a tremendous shot blocker this year as he's 64th in the country in block % (8.2%).
Another key play on the Dons is 6'0 Senior Khalil Shabazz. Shabazz started his collegiate career at D2 Central Washington before transferring to San Francisco after his Freshman year. Last year, Shabazz was named to the All-WCC Second team and despite taking a bit of a smaller role this season, he's still been productive. He's tied for 3rd on the team in points per game with 9.9 and he's 71st in the country in steal % (4.1%).
One interesting transfer for the Dons is 6'10 Graduate Student Patrick Tapé. Tapé started his collegiate career at Columbia and spent three seasons there before transferring to Duke last season where he played in 10 games and started 1. Tapé plays about 20 minutes per game and has started all 11 games this season and has provided value in rebounding as he's 174th in the country in rebounding % (11.2%).
San Francisco also has 2 players to watch out for that have provided outside shooting off their bench. 6'5 Junior Julian Rishwain was a 3 star recruit out of high school and started his collegiate career at Boston College before transferring to San Francisco after his Freshman season. This season off the bench, Rishwain is shooting 21-38 (55.3%) from 3 good for 8th in the country. 6'8 Junior Josh Kunen is from Melbourne, Australia and has shot 15-33 (45.5%) from 3 good for 121st in the country and he's 53rd in the country in effective field goal % (64.9%) and 74th in the country in true shooting % (65.3%).
Previous Meeting:
This is a return game from the game in Carbondale on November 16th, 2019. The Dons won 76-60 in Mullins' first D1 game at the Banterra Center as SIU head coach.
Links:
San Francisco Game Notes
Bryan Mullins pregame with Mike Reis
Rodney Watson interview with San Francisco Head Coach Todd Golden
SF has lost one game - to Grand Canyon. Just beat Ariz. St. by 1. Have also beaten Nevada and a good UAB team. They are 11 - 1.
I wish this was on ESPN again. I don't have WCC TV. I would love to call off of work and watch them. I live in the Seattle area so it comes on around 2. Go Dawgs!
Really hoping we have an answer for the big 6'10 Belarusian guy, Massalski. Getting rebounds on both ends of the court is necessary. Lets hope Filewich and Muila bring the heat.
Idle question: why is there an assumed outcome for our game listed on the chart?
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
Idle question: why is there an assumed outcome for our game listed on the chart?
KenPom projects the entire season based on current data. Currently has SIU finishing 17-13 and 10-8 in the MVC.
I wish this was on ESPN again. I don't have WCC TV. I would love to call off of work and watch them. I live in the Seattle area so it comes on around 2. Go Dawgs!
As far as I've seen, the game should be streamed online for free at https://wccsports.com/sports/mbball
Don't know if this article can be read without a subscription to the Athletic but here it is.
The game is showing up on my DirecTV schedule channel 608-1. Hope it isn't blacked out.
“True terror is waking up one morning and discovering your high school class is running the country.” —Kurt Vonnegut
I have Mediacom and espn+. When I go to the espn app, it has a place to show games by conference and wcc is one of them. I'm hoping it works. If not I guess I'll listen.
Don't know if this article can be read without a subscription to the Athletic but here it is.
Golden will be a power conference head coach sooner rather than later
I have Mediacom and espn+. When I go to the espn app, it has a place to show games by conference and wcc is one of them. I'm hoping it works. If not I guess I'll listen.
Should be able to watch here for free:
https://wccsports.com/watch/?sid=473478
great thanks
The game is showing up on my DirecTV schedule channel 608-1. Hope it isn't blacked out.
Good catch, I don’t think that is blacked out for people with the regional sports package.
It’s not ESPN so that’s a good thing.
We shall see though. I will have that WCC website fired up just in case.
HUGE opportunity for SIU tomorrow. This would be a tremendous win for the program and for the MVC. SIU can't afford a slow start and lapses during the game. Time for this team to step up!
