The University of San Francisco men's basketball team begins a crucial stretch, playing three of its next four games on the road. But first, the Dons (16-8/5-4 WCC) will host Pacific (17-8/5-4 WCC) on Thursday night at 8 p.m. Thursday's game will be part of a men's and women's doubleheader as the women will host Pepperdine at 5 p.m. The Dons and Tigers will be streamed live on The WCC Network with Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli calling the action from courtside. The duo will also have USF's radio broadcast on the home of Dons Basketball, KNBR 1050-AM.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 6, 2020 – 8 p.m.
Opponent: Pacific Tigers (17-8/5-4WCC)
Site: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center  
TV:  The WCC Network
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Radio:  KNBR 1050-AM
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
 
USF AT A GLANCE
• USF is 16-8 on the year and 5-4 in the WCC.  Since falling to Portland, the Dons have gone 5-2 – their two losses, at Saint Mary's and home vs. No. 2 Gonzaga.
• Last time out: The Dons put a scare into No. 2 Gonzaga. The Dons were edged late by the Bulldogs, 83-79. USF is one of three teams this season to fall to the Bulldogs by four or less.  USF had five players in double figures led by Jordan Ratinho. The Dons were just 7 for 28 from 3-point range in that contest.
• Win #1,400: With its win over Loyola Marymount, USF earned its 1,400th win as a program. The Dons are 1,402-1,019 (.579) all-time. They are the 94th team in NCAA history to win 1,400 or more.
• #31 to the Rafters: The USF Athletics department announced on Monday that it would be retiring Hall of Famer Joe Ellis' (1964-'66) number 31. The ceremony will take place on Feb. 22 against Pepperdine.
• 600: Jamaree Bouyea scored his 600th career point against the Bulldogs last Saturday. He is one of four Dons (Minlend, Ratinho, Lull and Shabazz) with 600 career points.
• Deep Backcourt: Over the last five games, the Dons' backcourt trio of Bouyea, Minlend and Shabazz has averaged 42.0 ppg.
• The NET: In the latest update to the NCAA Evaluation Tool, the Dons climbed up to 85 - their highest ranking of the season. They are one of five teams from the WCC in the top-100 - they are fourth, behind Gonzaga (3), BYU (28) and Saint Mary's (32).
• Other Metrics: KPI - 75, SOR - 85, BPI - 81, KenPom - 81, SAG - 85.
• Home-Sweet-Home: The Dons are 11-4 at home this season where they average 81.8 ppg and shooting 46.0% from the field. The Dons' three-game home winning streak was snapped Saturday by Gonzaga.
• The Dons are averaging 77.3 points per game, which ranks 44th in the nation. They are +7.4 in scoring margin which is 75th in the nation.
• From the Field:  USF is shooting .45.2% from the field which is 99th in the nation. It has seven games this season where they have shot .500 or better. USF is 15-4 when shooting .400 or better. The four losses came at Hawaii, Harvard, Portland and Gonzaga.
• Close Games: In games decided by five points or less the Dons are 4-3 this season. In games decided by 10 or less the Dons are 8-5.
• 1,000-Point Duo: Jordan Ratinho (1,181) and Charles Minlend (1,136) give the Dons their first 1,000-point duo since Manny Quezada and Dior Lowhorn did it in 2009. Ratinho ranks 22nd all-time passing John Duggan (1993-97) and Minlend is 25th all-time after John Hegwood (1979-82).
• Of the 61 first-year head coaches in the NCAA - Golden entered this week tied for sixth-best with a .667 winning percentage (16-8). He trails only Arkansas' Eric Musselman (16-6, .727), Mark Pope (BYU - 17-7, .708), Darrin Horn (Northern Kentucky - 16-7, .696), and Eric Henderson (South Dakota State - 17-8, .680).
• Jimbo Lull leads the Dons, averaging 6.8 rebounds per game - he grabbed his 600th career rebound against Gonzaga last Saturday. The 600 rebounds is 170th most among active players.
 
VS. PACIFIC
Series
Thursday is the 106th meeting between USF and Pacific. Though the Tigers have only been conference rivals for 20 years at various times, the Tigers are one of USF's most consistent opponents historically. All-time the Dons own a 75-30 record against UOP. In Stockton, the Dons are 29-21. At home, USF is 41-8 and at a neutral site the Dons own a 5-1 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1911-12 season. In the first-ever contest, the Tigers defeated the Dons, 19-15, in Stockton. However, USF has won seven straight over Pacific and 13 of the last 14 matchups. The Dons defeated Pacific in Stockton, 79-75, on Jan. 11.
 
About the Tigers
Since a 2-0 start in WCC play, the Tigers have cooled off having lost four of their last seven contests. However, thanks to a 2-0 week with wins over Loyola Marymount and San Diego at home, the Tigers are smack in the middle of a logjam for fourth place in the WCC with a 5-4 record. As a team, Pacific is averaging 70.0 points per game and shooting 45.1% from the field. Jhalil Trip is the only player in double figures. The all-conference player is averaging 15.1 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per contest. The Tigers are just 4-4 on the road this year, 2-2 in WCC play.
 
Last Time versus Pacific
On Jan. 11, the Dons entered Alex G. Spanos Arena with a 1-2 mark in the WCC. The 14-4 Tigers were 2-0 after defeating Saint Mary's in four overtimes in their previous contest.  The Dons dominated the glass from the beginning, which gave them a 48-34 halftime lead. Out of the break, the Dons built their 14-point lead to as high as 21 with 15:28 left, from there Pacific, led by Jhalil Tripp and Jahbril Price-Noel mounted the comeback. Fortunately for USF, the 21-point deficit was too much. Five players finished in double figures for the Dons led by Charles Minlend's 19.
 
UP NEXT
The Dons will play the first of three consecutive road games on Saturday when they travel to Provo, Utah, to take on BYU. Saturday's game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start time. The game will be televised on BYUtv. Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will have the call on KNBR 1050-AM.