San Diego (1-3) • San Francisco (6-4) • BYU (9-2)
Thursday, December 31 • 5 p.m. | Saturday, January 2 • 4 p.m.
War Memorial Gym (5,300) • San Francisco, Calif. | Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100) • San Diego, Calif.
TV • WCC Network | Live Audio • USDToreros.com | Live Stats • USDToreros.com
SAN DIEGO—San Diego will open up the 2020-21 conference season on the road at San Francisco on Thursday before hosting BYU on Saturday in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The Toreros (1-3) are set to tip off with the Dons (6-4) inside War Memorial Gym at 2 p.m. PT on New Year's Eve. Next, USD will play host to its first WCC opponent this season, taking on the Cougars (9-2) at 5 p.m. PT on Saturday.
The games will be streamed via the WCC Network and live audio will be available on USDToreros.com with Jack Cronin on the call. Live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Toreros have had an extended break from action after experiencing a number of COVID-19 related schedule disruptions to end the non-conference slate. USD's last competition came on Dec. 19, in a 53-85 loss at UC Irvine.
- After a slow start, USD shot 50 percent in the second half behind 14 points from
Joey Calcaterra, but the Toreros could not overcome a 34-15 halftime deficit for their third loss of the season.
- UCI dominated the rebounding battle, 44-21, including 13 offensive boards, compared to two for USD. The Anteaters collected 17 second-chance points compared to three for the Toreros and outscored USD in the paint, 42-18.
ALL TIME SERIES WITH SAN FRANCISCO
- Thursday will be the 85th meeting between the Toreros and the Dons. USD trails the all-time series 41-43, and fell last season 44-69 in the only matchup of the year.
- The teams first met during the 1980-81 season, while San Diego has won four of the last five meetings, sweeping the series in 2018-19 and 2017-18.
ALL TIME SERIES WITH BYU
- Saturday is the 24th meeting between USD and BYU, with the Toreros trailing in the all-time series 6-17. USD dropped both contests last season, including a heartbreaker 71-72 in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Feb. 15.
- The teams first met during the 2001-02 campaign, and the Cougars have taken five of the last six meetings. USD's last win came during the quarterfinals of the 2019 WCC Tournament, a dominating 80-57 performance in Las Vegas, Nev.
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Toreros will remain home for a Thursday matchup with Saint Mary's on Jan. 7, before traveling to take on Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 9 to continue the conference slate.
CALCATERRA PACING OFFENSE
- Redshirt junior guard
Joey Calcaterra has been a standout for the Torero offense to start the season, leading USD in all scoring categories.
- Calcaterra has scored double-digit figures in all four games to start the season, averaging 15.5 points per game. He leads USD beyond the arc, hitting 45 percent (9-for-20) and is 13-for-13 from the free throw line.
BIG MAN IN THE RANKINGS
- The Toreros currently rank first in the WCC (24th nationally) in blocked shots per game (5.0), overwhelmingly led by senior
Yauhen Massalski. The 6-10 forward ranks 17th nationally in blocks per game with 2.75 and ranks fourth in the WCC (75th nationally) in total blocks with 11.
- Massalski also ranks second in the conference in defensive rebounds per game (6.50) and third in rebounds per game (8.5).
