Cougar Tracks: GUt Check

Here are some quick hitters on the day of BYU's latest "game of the year"--a first-ever visit to Gonzaga for a crucial West Coast Conference clash--

: while Gonzaga has dominated the WCC for more than a decade, the Zags in recent years have been challenged by St. Mary's, and now, by BYU. Last season, Gonzaga shared the regular season conference crown with the Gaels, and this season, the Bulldogs are locked in a second place tie with BYU, one game behind St. Mary's. Gonzaga is on a nation's-best 11-year regular season league championship streak, but the Zags' reign as the kings of the conference is in jeopardy. Tonight's game may amount to a "last stand" of sorts for the WCC's long-standing flag-bearer.

: this will be the third meeting between these two teams in less than a year, but the first in Spokane, and from a Gonzaga perspective, it's about time. The Zags have a 102-7 record at The Kennel (McCarthey Athletic Center, officially), with only two of those losses coming to conference foes (Santa Clara in 2007 and St. Mary's in 2011). In games last year at the NCAA Tournament, and earlier this month at the Marriott Center, Gonzaga has lost to BYU by double-digits.

: in the two meetings over the last year, Gonzaga has done much of what it seeks out to do, under the backboards and on the free throw line. The Zags have out-rebounded BYU by 13, have taken 17 more free throws, and made 15 more from the stripe. BYU, conversely, has forced the Bulldogs into 14 more turnovers and turned them in a 25-point advantage in points off of turnovers.

: BYU has been the dominant team from the three-point line, having made 17-of-40 long distance attempts over the two meetings; the Zags have hit on only 5-of-28. In a two-game series BYU has won by a combined 32 points, BYU has outscored the Bulldogs by 36 points at the arc.

: BYU and Gonzaga are peppered among the league leaders in conference play. BYU tops the WCC in scoring offense, scoring margin, rebounds, assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, and steals. Gonzaga shares the league lead in scoring margin, and leads in scoring defense, FG%, FG% defense, rebounds against, rebound margin and blocked shots.

: since shooting 41% from the field in its Feb. 2 loss at BYU, Gonzaga has shot 50% or better from the field in its ensuing five games. BYU has shot 50% or better in each of its last two games, both on the road.

: BYU has won seven consecutive away games, one away from the school single-season record for consecutive away wins, set by the 1979-80 squad.

: Gonzaga has made more three throws (463) than its opponents have attempted (386). On a per game basis, Gonzaga attempts 10 more free throws, and makes eight more free throws, than its opponents. Earlier this month at the Marriott Center, Gonzaga took 11 more free throws than BYU, and made exactly eight more. In other words, an average game for the Zags.

: including non-league games against West Coast Conference teams, Dave Rose is 20-4 against WCC squads; 2-0 against Gonzaga. Rose's four losses are two setbacks apiece versus St. Mary's and Loyola Marymount. The first loss to LMU came in Rose's first game as head coach in the season opener of 2005-06; in his next game, BYU played a neutral floor game versus Washington State, and got Rose his first win. The game was played in Spokane.

: Rose and Gonzaga's Mark Few are two of the three winningest active D1 head coaches, by win percentage. North Carolina's Roy Williams leads the way at 79.98%, followed by Few at 79.29% and Rose at 78.11%.

: Gonzaga is 21-5 on the season; BYU has played six games against five teams which have lost five or fewer games this season. The Cougars record in those six games is 3-3, with wins over Weber State, Nevada and Gonzaga; the three losses were one to Baylor, and two to St. Mary's.

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