The University of San Francisco men's basketball team, fresh off an 83-62 drubbing of Portland, begins a crucial three-game road trip that will see the Dons play at San Diego, Saint Mary's, and Gonzaga to wrap up January and begin February.  That series begins Saturday with a clash against the Toreros at 7:00 p.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  The game will be streamed on TheW.tv with Dave Friedman and Dave Miller on the call.  As always, fans can tune in to the official home of USF Dons basketball, 1550-AM The GAME, to hear Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli calling the game from courtside.
 

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Jan. 26, 2019 – 7:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: San Diego Toreros (14-7, 3-3 WCC)
Site: Jenny Craig Pavilion (San Diego, Calif.)
Streaming: TheW.tv
Talent: Dave Friedman (play-by-play) and Dave Miller (analyst)
Radio:  1550-AM The GAME
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
Game Notes: USF at USD
 
USF AT A GLANCE

• At 17-3, USF is off to their best start through 20 games since the 1976-77 team season when the Dons opened the year 20-0.  USF has started the season 17-3 or better nine, with the previous eight teams all advancing to the post season.
• On Thursday, head coach Kyle Smith won his 160th game as a head coach.  In nine seasons split between Columbia (2010-16) and USF he has gone 160-115 (.581%).
• According to the website Kenpom.com, the Dons are the 42nd ranked team in the nation, USF is one of three WCC schools in the top-50.  The same analytical website has the Dons as one of the nation's best defensive adjusted efficiency teams at 94.3 points per 100 possessions which ranks 35th in the nation.
• The Dons are 17th in the nation in scoring margin at +14.7. On Thursday, the Dons tallied their 11th win of the season by 15 or more when they defeated Portland by 22.
• In the latest NET rankings, the Dons rose nine spots from No. 48 to 39th.  The Dons are one of two teams in the WCC in the top-40 with Gonzaga at No. 4.  The Dons rank ahead of 11 of the 12 Pac-12 teams in the NET.
• After being absent for three weeks, the Dons are once again receiving votes in the AP Poll.  USF is currently receiving two votes. The Dons were receiving votes for three-straight weeks during December.  
• Junior Jordan Ratinho has moved into a tie at third place and is two back second all-time for 3-point field goals made with 158.  Teammate Frankie Ferrari moved into 10th all-time on Thursday with his 138th made 3-point field goal. Both players are on pace to eclipse 1,000 career points this season with Ferrari at 877 and Ratinho at 876.

 
THE SERIES
Saturday will be the 82^nd matchup between the Dons and Toreros.  The series dates back to Jan. 23, 1980 when the Dons defeated San Diego 90-76 on the Hilltop.  All-time the Dons are 42-39 against USD, with the Dons having won six of the last 10.  However, USD took both halves of last year's series including a 64-61 win over the Dons at home on Feb. 24, 2018. At Jenny Craig Pavilion, the Dons are 16-23 overall but have won seven of their last 10.
 
The series also holds a special place to Hall of Famer Jim Brovelli who coached for both programs.  Brovelli was a big advocate for the Toreros moving up to Division I and joining the old WCAC (now WCC). He served as head coach for USD from 1979 to 1984 before returning home to the Hilltop where he coached the Dons from 1985-95.  Brovelli was 9-19 as a head coach in this series going 0-for-6 at USD against the Dons and 9-for-13 against the Toreros while leading USF.   
 
ABOUT THE TOREROS
USD enters Saturday's game with a 14-7 overall record, in the WCC they are 3-3 after defeating LMU 71-58 at home on Thursday.  At Jenny Craig Pavilion the Toreros are 10-1 this year - their lone loss coming at the hands of Pepperdine on Jan. 12 in a tight 76-71 defeat in which USD was missing third leading scorer Isaiah Wright.  As a team, the Toreros are averaging 74.8 points per game and holding opponents to 67.6 points per contest.  As a team, USD is shooting 47.6 percent from the field.  Leading the team in scoring is redshirt senior wing Isaiah Pineiro who is averaging 19.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. Last season against the Dons, Pineiro averaged 18.5 ppg and 8.0 rebounds per game.
 
LAST GAME AGAINST SAN DIEGO
The free throw line failed the Dons the last time these two teams squared off.  San Diego spoiled USF's Senior Night, escaping War Memorial at the Sobrato Center with a 64-61 win.  The Dons shot well from the field, connecting on 51.1 percent of their attempts.  However, the Dons were a paltry 6-for-14 from the charity stripe.  Frankie Ferrari led the USF with 19 points. The Dons led 31-21 at the intermission.  Out of the break, USD relied on the trio of Olin Carter III, Juwan Gray and Pineiro who all finished in double figures.  With 13 seconds left in the contest Gray tipped in a shot to give the Toreros a one point lead, a free throw gave USD a 2-point advantage with USF having one last chance for the tie or win.  Unfortunately, the Dons turned it over and the Toreros ended the game at the free throw line.
 
UP NEXT
USF will remain on the road but stay local when they travel across the Bay Bridge to resume their rivalry with Saint Mary's.  The Dons and Gaels square off on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1:00 p.m.