Will Gonzaga finally win it this year? (Spokane, Auburn: 2015, gym)

[pnwguy2]

I am posting this in the WA forum because the State should be proud of the #1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs. I have watched a number of their games and they almost look like an NBA team. Just top-notch play, a great longtime coach in Mark Few.

However, they have been very good for a couple of decades now, and they have come up close before. They notched Elite 8 tournament performances in 1999, 2015, and 2019. They reached the final 4 in 2017, but lost to #1 North Carolina.

Could this be the year? Go Bulldogs!

[wolfdog]

I was sorry to see Zags lose to unc-cheat.
But Zags have suffered from playing weak OOC schedules. Same thing has hurt the PAC12, from time to time.
They tend to fold in the Dance.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

I am posting this in the WA forum because the State should be proud of the #1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs. I have watched a number of their games and they almost look like an NBA team. Just top-notch play, a great longtime coach in Mark Few.

However, they have been very good for a couple of decades now, and they have come up close before. They notched Elite 8 tournament performances in 1999, 2015, and 2019. They reached the final 4 in 2017, but lost to #1 North Carolina.

Could this be the year? Go Bulldogs!

I remember going to Spokane early on and going to the Bulldogs game in the old Boone street gym in Spokane WA to watch great basketball.
I watch every game that Gonzaga play on TV and of late I see something that bothers me.

Watching Gonzaga at this time of the year and comparing to play early in the season against opponents like Kansas and West Virginia and crushing them and now the poor play early in games against WCC opponents late in the season.

Gonzaga has to pick up their game if they want to play with the big boys. Being down by like 10 points to weak WCC opponents early in games won't bode well in the NCAA tournament and I wonder if they can hold off teams like Michigan or Baylor if Gonzaga falls behind early to them.

[the_crossen]

Gonzaga can't keep up with the big boys. Getting into a real conference would help them prep for the dance.

[ScottStielow]

Wishing Gonzaga good luck in the tournament. I hope they break through, and win it.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by the_crossen

Gonzaga can't keep up with the big boys. Getting into a real conference would help them prep for the dance.

A run down for you when Gonzaga played the big boys..all wins.

#16 Virginia 98-75
#6 Kansas 102-90
Auburn 90-67
#11 West Virginia 87-82
#3 Iowa 99-88

And let me remind you that those big boy wins were all on the road. The fact is that Gonzaga schedule had them playing their first 16 games on the road.

Hardly anyone want to play Gonzaga in Spokane.

[pnwguy2]

It is likely the Zags will play BYU in the West Coast conference championship in Vegas early next week. Whatever the result, they will remain a number one seed.

[wolfdog]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

It is likely the Zags will play BYU in the West Coast conference championship in Vegas early next week. Whatever the result, they will remain a number one seed.

According to Sagarin, which the Selection Committee uses, Zags SOS is still just 106. Houston is the only other Top 10 even close, at 94.
Yes, there are other criteria, but if they get blown out in Vegas, I can see them getting a 2 seed, especially if Florida State wins the ACC tourney. Look out for 'Nova, too.
On the plus side, Zags are 6-0 vs the top 25, and they are still the only west coast team with a major chance at running the table. Geography still matters to the Committee, for TV eyes.
Gonzaga is especially good this season, but the WCC is also especially bad, with BYU at #23, but next is StMary's, way down at #71.
https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/sagarin/

[wolfdog]

For my fellow gamblers out there, Zags are carrying 11/4 Natty odds, which tops the board. Baylor at 3/1, Michigan at 4/1.

[pnwguy2]

While I would love to see the Zags win it, my gambling pick would be Michigan, just for the better payoff! Gonzaga, as mentioned, seems to come up short in the big tournament games.