Pepperdine

[EM_Puma]

It's hard to believe that BYU is 4-4 at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu over the last 8 years. In the period of 2014-16, Pepperdine beat us 3 of the 4 games we played, but we have won our last two (2) in Malibu, and the last five (5) games against them in a row.

Pepperdine's records in those years
2018-9 16-18 (6-10) @ Malibu BYU 87-76
2017-8 6-26 (2-16); @ Provo, BYU 83-63; @ Malibu, BYU 75-70 OT
2016-7 9-22 (5-13); @ Provo, BYU 99-70; @ Malibu, Pepperdine 99-83
2015-6 18-13 (10-8); @ Malibu, Pepperdine 75-65; @ Provo, BYU 88-77
2014-5 18-13 (10-8); @ Provo, Pepperdine 67-61; @ Malibu, Pepperdine, 80-74
2013-4 15-16 (8-10); @ Malibu, Pepperdine 80-74; @ Provo, BYU 84-72
2012-3 12-18 (4-12); @ Provo, BYU 76-51; @ Malibu, BYU 63-61
2011-2 10-19 (4-12); @ Provo, BYU 77-64; @ Malibu, BYU 86-48

2019-20 Season, Pepperdine is currently 15-14 (8-7) and are in 5th place in the WCC. We beat them in Provo 107-80. They haven't had any notable win other than sweeping both Santa Clara and San Diego and lost to the Zags in the Kennel by only 5 on January 4th.

They have four (4) players averaging double digit points, which is above average and they are a decent free throwing team.

[EM_Puma]

Whether or not this will come into play or not:

BYU is still #1 in the nation in 3Pt%. Pepperdine is 346th out of 353 teams in 3Pt% defense.

As you can probably tell, I worry about these kinds of games. I think this is just a much a trap gave as Santa Clara was because this isn't a bad Pepperdine team. Any team that can take the Zags at home and lose only by 5 are someone you have to worry about.

I guess too that I worry about whether or not we'll be on the 3-ball or not. We lost it vs Santa Clara and had it back again vs Gonzaga. We could probably beat Pepperdine without hitting our average on 3-pointers, but our game against them earlier in the season when we scored 107 points is what happens when we are. It always scares me when you blow out a team at home and then have to play them on the road.

[Gunk]

Colby Ross. Slow him down and Pepperdine becomes toothless.

On the offensive side of the ball, we just need to keep the ball moving and Pepperdine will be spinning in circles.

Pepperdine is in a pickle. If they double Yoli, he passes it out and we find an open shooter on the perimeter which they have a tough time guarding.

[Jarhead]

I don’t think our team will be looking past this game at all, but you never know.

[EM_Puma]

Interesting that Wikipedia says we have already clinched 2nd place in WCC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_West ... Tournament

[frdbtr]

BYU needs to win this game. Come out and take care of business. We just got a ton of National love for beating Gonzaga easily and a loss to Pepperdine would destroy all of that. I don't think it will keep us out of the NCAA tourney but we would probably drop out of the top 25 and it will definitely hurt our seed. If we take care of business against Pepperdine, then either beat Gonzaga to win the WCC tourney or take them down to the wire, I think it would help our overall NCAA seed tremendously. We need a top half of our bracket seed in order to win a couple of games and have a really great season.

[EM_Puma]

f we take care of business against Pepperdine, then either beat Gonzaga to win the WCC tourney or take them down to the wire, I think it would help our overall NCAA see tremendously.

Remember, even if we beat Pepperdine, we will still have to play the winner of #3 (SMC or Pacific) vs 6, 7 or 10; before we would get to the championship against presumably the Zags.

[frdbtr]

f we take care of business against Pepperdine, then either beat Gonzaga to win the WCC tourney or take them down to the wire, I think it would help our overall NCAA see tremendously.

Remember, even if we beat Pepperdine, we will still have to play the winner of #3 (SMC or Pacific) vs 6, 7 or 10; before we would get to the championship against presumably the Zags.

True, I didn't mention that but it was in my thought process. Technically what I was saying is BYU needs to not stumble on Pepperdine and then make it to the finals and either beat Gonzaga or give them all they can handle in the WCC tourney finals.

[EM_Puma]

Interesting that Wikipedia says we have already clinched 2nd place in WCC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_West ... Tournament

I've always been curious as to who updates everything in Wikipedia. I thought it was whoever. I still don't know, but someone is updating the WCC entry, but even though they have the updates from last night's games, they still believe BYU has #2 locked down, which they don't.

[EM_Puma]

Someone posted this over on CougarBoard that reflects by worrisome sentiments:

"Pepperdine is definitely a better team than their record indicates
Take away the fact that playing on the road in college basketball is always a crap shoot.

Pepperdine lost to:
@USC by 7
Neutral game vs. then #14 Arizona by 2
Neutral game by Providence by 3
vs. Pacific by 3
@#1 Gonzaga by 5
vs. SMC by 9
@ Pacific by 1
@ San Francisco by 2

That 32 points the difference between 15-14 and 23-6."