With Gonzaga's Close Call Against Pepperdine Will Duke Return To The Top Spot In The AP Top 25 Poll, Week 10?
For the last two weeks Gonzaga out of the West Coast Conference who has a record of 16-1 has been ranked the top team in the country haven won eight straight games but they had a close call against Pepperdine over the weekend who like Gonzaga is a member of the West Conference.
Top-ranked Gonzaga went undefeated through the West Coast Conference last season, but the road looks a little tougher this year.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
For the second league game in a row, Gonzaga needed to come back to beat a WCC rival nestled near the bottom of the standings.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Killian Tillie scored 20 points and blocked a potential tying shot in the closing seconds to help Gonzaga beat Pepperdine 75-70 for its 32nd consecutive home win. “according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Filip Petrusev scored 16 points and Joel Ayayi had 12 for Gonzaga (16-1, 2-0 West Coast). The Bulldogs have the longest home winning streak in the country. They have won eight consecutive overall since losing to Michigan. “according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
But coach Mark Few was mostly full of criticism for his team after the game. “according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
"'We turned the ball over way, way too much,'' Few said about his team's 17 turnovers. "'That was the story tonight.'' “according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
""We were trying too hard on the offensive end,'' Few added, after his team shot 49% for the game and made just 5 of 18 from 3-point range.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
But he praised Tillie for "'an unbelievably courageous effort. He really helped us tonight with his energy.'' according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Tillie hit 9 of 16 from the floor and added four rebounds and four assists, plus that key blocked shot on Pepperdine leading scorer Colbey Ross.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Admon Gilder added 11 points and Corey Kispert had 10 for the Zags.”according to
Petrusev added 10 rebounds for a double-double, but said the Zags on defense "'weren't as good as we need to be."' “according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
"'We've got to keep getting better,'' Petrusev said. "'We've got to execute the game plan better, contest every shot, make them make shots over us."'“according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Ross scored 24 points and Kameron Edwards 14 for Pepperdine (7-9, 0-2). The Waves have has lost 38 straight games to Gonzaga since their last win in 2002.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
While Pepperdine has a losing record, they had close losses to USC, Arizona and Providence this season.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
"'We kind of play to the level of our competition, which has resulted in mediocrity,"' Romar said. "Hopefully we can use this game as a springboard.''“according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
This game was a nail-biter from the start.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Pepperdine led 18-16 early in the first half, behind 11 points by Ross, when Gonzaga went on a 9-0 run to take a 25-18 lead. Gonzaga pushed the lead to 33-24.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
But the Zags didn't score for more than three minutes and Pepperdine outscored them 13-4 the rest of the way to tie the game at 37-37 at halftime. Ross led all scorers with 15 points in the first half and both teams committed nine turnovers.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Consecutive baskets by Petrusev, Kispert and Tillie put Gonzaga up 48-42 early in the second.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Pepperdine went on a 9-0 run and Skylar Chavez hit a 3-pointer to put the Waves ahead 53-51.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Tillie hit two baskets and two free throws to put Gonzaga up 57-54.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Ross scored to tie the game at 59-59. Gonzaga replied with a 10-2 run for a 69-61 lead.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
But the Zags went cold and Ross hit a pair of free throws to bring Pepperdine within 71-68 with 1:27 left.”according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Each team scored and Ross launched a 3-pointer that would have tied the game, but Tillie blocked the shot with 5 seconds left. “according to https://gozags.com/news/2020/1/5/mens-basketball-tillie-leads-no-1-gonzaga-over-pepperdine-75-70.aspx
Meanwhile Duke out of the Atlantic Coast Conference has won seven straight with their most recent victory coming at Miami over the weekend in dominating fashion.
With Gonzaga’s close call against Pepperdine and Duke’s dominating win on the road in Coral Gables Florida over Miami. Could Duke who was the top ranked team in the country weeks three and four return to the top spot in this weeks AP Top 25 poll?
The answer is no. Despite Gonzaga’s close call against Pepperdine they’re still the top ranked team in the country as we head into week ten of the season while Duke is still the second ranked team in the country.
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