Week ahead
EWU Eagles
Thursday: Sacramento State, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday: Northern Arizona, 7:05 p.m.
Outlook: The Eagles didn’t fare well on the road in Montana, so “holding serve” at home is critical but won’t be easy. Eastern opened conference season with a 105-95 loss at NAU and an 88-69 loss at Sacramento. The Hornets have lost three straight by a total of 11 points to drop from first to fourth in the conference. DaShawn Freeman leads the Big Sky in steals (2.9), is second in assists (5.67) and is one of three Hornets averaging 14.2 points.
NAU has won nine straight, the best streak in Division I, to move into the Mid-Major poll at No. 25. Ruben Boykin has six double-doubles and leads the conference in rebounding at 7.5 to go with a team-high 13.2 points.
Gonzaga Bulldogs
Saturday: Santa Clara, 8 p.m. (KHQ-TV)
Monday: Saint Mary’s, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Outlook: The fifth-ranked Bulldogs open the second half of their West Coast Conference schedule at home against a pair of Bay Area invaders who have struggled of late.
First up is Santa Clara, a team GU beat 81-68 on the road back in early January. The Broncos have lost six straight, but feature a physical front line and the WCC’s fourth-leading scorer in 6-foot-7 senior forward Travis Niesen (18.8 ppg).
Saint Mary’s had lost five of six prior to Monday’s 88-70 rout of San Francisco and was beaten at home by the Zags (68-60) earlier this winter. The Gaels also boast an outstanding front-line scorer in 6-10 senior forward Daniel Kickert (16.9 ppg).
Idaho Vandals
Tonight: at Hawaii, 9 p.m.
Monday: vs. Fresno State, 7 p.m.
Outlook: More like look out. The Vandals (3-15, 0-7 WAC) take on the Rainbow Warriors (10-8, 4-4), who are unbeaten at home in four conference games. Hawaii has a solid front court with Julian Sensley, who recently cracked the 1,000-career point mark; Ahmet Gueye (11.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, WAC-leading 2.33 blocks); and former North Idaho College standout Matt Gipson (6.4 rebounds). Fresno State (11-8, 4-4) tattooed Idaho on Monday night, burying 14 3-pointers to equal a Save Mart Center record the Bulldogs set four days before against New Mexico State. Idaho coach Leonard Perry called Fresno State as skilled as any team the Vandals have played since Washington.
WSU Cougars
Saturday: Washington, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Both of these teams were swept by Stanford and California last week, and are equally desperate for a win to start the second half. Brandon Roy is the Pac-10’s second-best scorer and were it not for his foul trouble against the Cougars last time, the result may have been different.