Jan. 28, 2011
USD-GU Notes 
GAME #22: The USD Toreros (4-17; 0-6 wcc) head to Spokane, Washington to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (13-8; 3-3 wcc) on Saturday, January 29th. Game time is 5:00 p.m. from GU's McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000 capacity).
SERIES RECORD: This is the 78th meeting between USD and Gonzaga with the Bulldogs owning a commanding 56-21 series advantage... GU has won 4 straight and 17 of 18... The Toreros lone win during this stretch came on March 11, 2008 with a 69-62 win at the JCP in the championship game of the 2008 WCC Tournament, Bill Grier's first year at the helm... In last year's game in Spokane, the Zags opened the game with a 19-0 run on their way to a 82-65 victory... USD's Brandon Johnson led the Toreros with 21 points on his way to becoming San Diego's all-time leading scorer.
TV/RADIO/INTERNET: Saturday's game will be televised by FSN and KHQ-TV Spokane (Greg Heister and Craig Ehlo). The game will also be broadcast live on XTRA Sports 1360 AM with Andy Masur bringing you all the action; his pre-game show will air 15 minutes prior to tip-off. In addition to the live broadcasts airing on XTRA's terrestrial signal, fans will also be able to hear the broadcast on their computers via live stream at XTRASports1360.com and on their smart phones via the free iheartradio application. A audio feed is also available free of charge at www.usdtoreros.com.
WEST COAST CONFERENCE STANDINGS (thru Jan. 28th): #24 Saint Mary's College Gaels (6-0 wcc; 18-3), University of San Francisco Dons (5-1; 11-10), Santa Clara Broncos (4-2; 13-9), University of Portland Pilots (3-3; 15-6), Gonzaga University Bulldogs (3-3; 13-8), Pepperdine University Waves (2-4; 8-15), Loyola Marymount University Lions (1-5; 8-12), and the San Diego Toreros (0-6; 4-17). A LOOK AHEAD: The Toreros return home next week to begin the second half of WCC play by hosting Loyola Marymount (Feb. 3; 7pm) and Pepperdine (Feb. 5, 6pm; 4SD TV).
COACH GRIER (4TH YEAR): Coach Bill Grier (Oregon, 1990), 47, is in his fourth season at the helm of the USD program... He enters the Gonzaga game with a four-year mark of 53-68 (20-27 WCC)... Last season (team record of 11-21) was highlighted by wins over Stanford, #25 Oklahoma, Houston and Boise State... His second campaign (16-16 mark in 2008-09) was highlighted by road wins over Oregon and Mississippi State... In his rookie year (2007-08) he guided the Toreros to an overall mark of 22-14 and 3rd place finish in the WCC race at 11-3... He guided the Toreros to three wins and the championship title at the WCC Tournament (hosted by USD) with wins over Pepperdine, Saint Mary's and No. 20 Gonzaga... The Toreros then upset No. 15 UCONN in the NCAA Tournament opener with a 70-69 overtime victory, before falling to Western Kentucky in the second round... His 11 WCC wins were the second most for league wins in a single season in program history... Hired on March 26, 2007, Grier is USD's 11th head coach overall and just the 4th head coach since the Torero program moved to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1979-80... His 22 wins in 2007-08 were also the most by a Torero coach in his first season at USD. In addition to knocking off Kentucky on the road, 81-72, the Toreros earned three wins over Top-25 teams: #21 Saint Mary's, #20 Gonzaga and #15 Connecticut... Prior to USD Grier spent 16 years at Gonzaga, including the last 8 seasons as Mark Few's top assistant. Bill and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters, Giselle & Ashley.
TORERO TIDBITS: As a team, USD ranks in the top-4 in two WCC team categories for all games: 3rd in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.344), and 4th in turnover margin (-0.05)... USD individuals listed among the WCC's top-10 for all games include Darian Norris (6th in steals, 1.4; 7th in free throw%, .806; 9th in assists, 3.1; and 9th in assist/turnover ratio, 1.2), and Chris Manresa (8th in blocked shots, 1.0 bpg)... Norris leads the team with 12 games in double-digit scoring games... Norris' 24 point effort at LMU was the high mark for any Torero this season... He is also the team leader in minutes played per game (31.9), scoring (11.0), assists (3.1), and steals (29)... Ken Rancifer has reached double-digit scoring 10 times and owns a season-best 19 points at New Mexico; that total was one-point shy of his career high (20 pts vs. Portland in 2nd round of 2010 WCC Championships)... Matt Dorr has scored in double-digits 5 of last 7 games and owns 10 games in double digits; season-high 16 points vs. Pepperdine... Chris Gabriel grabbed 10 rebounds against the USF Dons becoming the first Torero to reach double-digits in that department this season... Chris Manresa pulled down 11 boards the next game against St. Mary's to match his personal best... Coach Grier owns 4 wins against top-25 ranked teams with his best win coming against #15 UCONN in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament in Tampa, Florida (70-69 ot).
COACH GRIER JOINS FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: Head Coach Bill Grier is pledging $3 for every three-pointer made by the Toreros this season in support of Coaches vs. Cancer. Coach Grier is hoping Torero fans will join in the effort. Pledge cards and flyers can be found at the USD Marketing table in the JCP lobby prior to each home game. Through 21games USD has converted 111 three-pointers... For more info, contact the USD Athletic Development Office (619.260.5917).
2011 COACHES VS. CANCER SUITS AND SNEAKERS AWARENESS WEEKEND: The annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend is this Friday, January 28th through Sunday, January 30th. College basketball coaches nationwide will wear sneakers with their sideline attire (USD will wear special polos and sneakers at Saturday's game vs. Gonzaga) to raise cancer awareness and remind fans that by making healthy choices, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet, they can reduce their own cancer risk. Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
SCOUTING THE GONZAGA BULLDOGS: The Gonzaga Bulldogs (13-8; 3-3 wcc) will look to snap their first 3-game West Coast Conference losing skid since 1997 when they host the Toreros on Saturday... On Thursday they dropped a 73-71decision to first place Saint Mary's as the Gaels' Mickey McConnell (27 points) converted a tough lean-in jumper near the free throw line with 2 seconds left for the game winner... The loss was just the second league defeat for Gonzaga since moving into the McCarthey Athletic Center... The Zags were paced by Robert Sacre and Elias Harris, each with 17 points... For the season the Bulldogs are being paced by guard Steven Gray (15.2 ppg), Sacre (14.0 ppg) and Harris (12.5 ppg)... GU is averaging 77.9 ppg and 37.4 rpg, while limiting its opponents to an average of 68.7 ppg and 30.9 rpg... Head Coach Mark Few is in his 12th year at the helm of the Bulldogs program (304-81 record)... Media Contact - Oliver Pierce (pierce@athletics.gonzaga.edu).
