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What Will Happen Before Sunday at 4?

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With the WCC tournament completed, Gonzaga fans have a long time to wait before Selection Sunday. The Zags certainly took care of business in Las Vegas, and may have moved up a seed or two with their performance. However, what happens in the next 5 days will certainly have a huge impact on the seed and the opponent that Gonzaga receives. With that in mind, I have a group of random predictions and thoughts that will have some sort of impact on Gonzaga and the NCAA Tournament.

Star-divide

1) Gonzaga will have wins over 3 NCAA Tournament teams:

At this point, we can assume that Tennessee and Oklahoma St. are NCAA tournament locks. Both teams played terrific schedules this year, and although the Vols under achieved tihs season, you can bet both will be dancing. The question that remains is whether either St. Mary's or Maryland can work their way into the dance. Because of their late season swoon, I don't think that we will see the Terps dancing. However, I do believe that the Gaels will sneak into the tournament as one of the last at large bids. It's hard to deny the work that St. Mary's did prior to the Mills injury, and I think that you can expect to see them as a 12 or 13 seed.

2) Who will the four #1 seeds be:

At this point, I think you can consider UNC and Pitt to be locks for #1 seeds. I believe that the other two teams will come from the following pool; UConn, Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan St., and Louisville. Although I don't believe these are the two best teams from the pool I listed, I think that Michigan St. and Louisville will earn the final two seeds. Although its a mystery to me, the Big 10 has been ranked one of the top RPI conferences all season, and the Spartans coasted to the regular season championship. If they take care of business in the Big 10 tournament, which I think they will, I expect to see the Spartans as the #1 seed in the Midwest. My final #1 seed came down to Louisville vs. UConn. Because the Cardinals won the regular season title in the Big East, the committee will give them the benefit over the Huskies. I expect both teams to be in the Big East semis, and that should be good enough to earn Louisville the #1 seed out West.

3) The Washington Huskies will not win the Pac 10 tourney:

There is no denying that the Huskies have had a terrific season, however, there is no chance they win the Pac 10 tourney. Of the Huskies 7 losses this season, 6 came in either a true road or neutral court game. Washington went only 5-3 on the road in conference play, and split on every road trip except for the Oregon schools, which they swept. In order to win the title, Washington must likely defeat Cal and either UCLA or Arizona St. on back to back nights. I don't see this happening with the games being played at the Staples Center. Look for either UCLA, Arizona St., or Washington St. to claim the championship.

4) Kansas will win the Big 12 tourney and earn a #2 seed:

For much of the season I have felt that Oklahoma has been overrated. With Willie Warren finally hitting the freshman wall, the Sooners are very one dimensional and have struggled of late. Missouri can also be considered one of the more inconsistent teams in the country. In their last three games, the Tigers dominated Oklahoma, but also were embarrassed by Kansas and Texas A&M. That's why the Jayhawks must be the clear pick to win the Big 12. This team is young, but Bill Self has done a tremendous job getting this talented team to play with cohesion. With that said, I would love to the Jayhawks as the #2 seed in the bracket that the Zags end up in.

5) St. Mary's will be playing the most important game of the season on Friday:

In a brilliant move by Randy Bennett, the Gaels scheduled a game against Eastern Washington for this Friday. Not only does this game give the Gaels a chance to regain some confidence, but it also gives the Gaels another chance to show the committee what they are capable of with a healthy Patty Mills. If Mills plays with composure and shoots the ball well, St. Mary's has an excellent chance to boost their resume before Selection Sunday.

6) VCU and Cleveland St. will be the most dangerous 12/13 seeds:

Both these teams have tremendous athletes, as well as a star player who can dominate a game. The team that I am particularly impressed by his VCU. The Rams have one of the top guards in the country in Eric Maynor. This is the same Eric Maynor that led VCU to the upset of Duke two years ago in the NCAA tournament. Maynor averaged 22.4 points and 6.2 assists this year, and has a terrific compliment in Larry Sanders. Sanders is incredibly athletic, and has tons of raw ability. If you are a Gonzaga fan, pray that you don't see either of these teams come Selection Sunday.

7) Gonzaga will be a 4 seed:

With the power conferences getting ready for the key rounds of their conference tournaments, this is the perfect time for the Zags to sit back and improve their seeding. Over the next 4 days, you can expect losses from teams like Purdue, Illinois, Washington, Clemson, Florida St., and Syracuse. All these teams could potentially play their way to a 4 seed by winning their conference tournament. However, any loss by these teams will surely keep them at whatever seed line they are currently on, or knock them back 1 or 2 seeds. With the parity that exists in college basketball, you can certainly expect to see some upsets before Sunday, which means that the Zags can improve their seeding while practicing and getting ready for the biggest month of the season.

What predictions do you all have for the coming days? Please share what upsets we will be seeing, or what you think the final bracket will look like. It should be a fun rest of the week for college basketball fans.

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Comments

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RPI boosters

I like WSU over Ucla i thought they played well tonight even though it was Oregon.. and Okie St. over Oklahoma..

long shot at the Cats taking down Arizona St…but that would be pretty great too.

just a few wishes for the Zags resume

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 12:31 AM PDT reply actions  

Your jayhawks may be in big trouble

down 11 early

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 9:47 AM PDT reply actions  

4 seed!

I’m really hoping selection sunday gives us a break… after giving us davidson last year (could have easily been a 7) we deserve a decent seed in Portland or Boise.

If we’re REALLY lucky, we’ll be as far from the Pitt panthers as possible

Shaq as an undercover cop:
Shaq: yo man, can I score some dope?
Dealer: Motherf****r, you shaq.

by kguner on Mar 12, 2009 9:49 AM PDT reply actions  

Agreed

I have no clue how we would deal with Sam Young.

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

Good game goin in the ACC too

VA Tech v. Miami

watch it here: http://www.justin.tv/frankcal20

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:02 AM PDT reply actions  

Winner

Whoever wins that game in my mind will be the last team into the tourney, andif we end up being a five I think we would smash on either one as a 12 seed

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions  

if we are a five i would be very upset

i think we’d win…but I don’t want an ACC team

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions  

Who cares...

about what number is next to our name. I’ve never understood why people get so into it.

It is much more important where we play and who we play.

I’d rather play a 3 seed in the second round and a 2 in a third than a 1 in the third. The 6 seed is underrated, in my view.

You want to win this tourney, you’ve gotta beat the best.

by zeeehjee on Mar 12, 2009 10:20 AM PDT reply actions  

It's all about where

Put us in Portland or Boise and I’m happy. Being a four seed or a five seed gives us the best chance to not be shipped out to Minnesota or Miami. That’s what really matters.

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

Where we play is everything, as I think we learned last year.

That seeding was Garbage.

by zeeehjee on Mar 12, 2009 10:26 AM PDT reply actions  

woops

that was supposed to be a reply to BuffZags comment at 10:23.

by zeeehjee on Mar 12, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions  

Haha, no problem

it was garbage. At least we won’t be seeing Davidson this year…St. Mary’s might though. In the NIT

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions  

i hope smc makes it though

i have them in right now (like it matters)

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

I have a hard time

disliking St. Mary’s when we aren’t playing them. I hate them when we do, but I really like what they’ve done. Especially convincing then entire country of Australia that St. Mary’s is the premier school in the nation’ premier conference.

by zeeehjee on Mar 12, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

Maybe once Samhan leaves I'll try

But he angers me everytime I see his face

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

haha

good point. they need to share the wealth, even though some of their aussies are quite bad

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions  

Gus Johnson

Is doing the Minnesota v Northwestern game on the Big10 network right now…hate the Big10…but could listen to GJ in a close game if it was the girls school of the blind playing

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 10:42 AM PDT reply actions  

tough break

Gus is just gettin some work to get into tourney shape

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 10:44 AM PDT reply actions  

he better be doing zag games

well i think providence’s bubble has officially burst

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

Why all the hate to the girls school of the blind?

They had a great year…I think they might take down Rebecca Lobo and the UConn Huskies in the first round of the tourney. Oh wait, does Rebecca still play? I am not current on my women’s basketball. All I know is the Nike Air Swoopes were the greatest shoes ever made…

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 10:48 AM PDT reply actions  

would rather watch rebecca anyday

over the big ten. sadly i don’t believe she is there. lisa leslie maybe

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

No hate here

And yes i believe Lobo is still the king of the paint in Uconn country…only because she is getting dimes from Ms. Sue Bird

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions  

Spark noted version of my travel woes

Sprinted to TI after the semi final game, picked up my bags, cabbed it to the airport. Made it by six minutes. Plane was delayed 2 hrs, left LV at 12:30. Got into P town at 2:30 with no bags (thanks Southwest!). Woke up at 7 and drove an hour to the client and got there by 8. Craziest night ever. Still tired.

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions  

Southwest really blew it

I’ve heard of a couple people that didnt end up with their bags from them

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions  

sounds familiar

i woke up to max punching me an hour before my flight left. i packed in three minutes, leaving probably four shirts and some shorts in our hotel room. got to the airport 20 minutes before my flight left. plane was delayed 30 minutes. miserable

The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!

by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions  

Dont worry

I grabbed your toothpaste and gel ha

There was a bag on the floor as i was quickly leaving that I thought had a glimpse of those Nike shorts that used to be mine..not sure though

by HuskerZag on Mar 12, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

You guys better rally though if the Zags are placed in P-town...

Already put my name on a list for a Widmer Keg to by delivered that Thursday…

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions  

I'm praying for it

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

Realistically I think our chances are 50-50...however if UW loses early in the PAc 10 which I think they will

our odds go up. It would be a huge Gonzaga crowd. There were easily 3,000 plus just at the UP game.

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 11:05 AM PDT reply actions  

Is it at the Rose Garden?

I’m hoping UW loses to stanford. that could be a good game

The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!

by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

Next time TSSF is on the radio will you please bring HuskerZag

I feel like he is the missing link to that segment being from in the mold of the Dan Patrick show…
BuffZag = Dan
EDZ = Paulie (the guy who cuts in from time to time and drops knowledge)
HuskerZag= Fritz

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 11:25 AM PDT reply actions  

haha he would be a great fritz

we just need to get our own show, that would be the ticket

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by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions  

damn...big ten on the deuce

and musberger…terrible combination

The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!

by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 11:32 AM PDT reply actions  

Seriously though I think there should be a March Madness Podcast from TSSF....bringing the blog to the next level

Blog…podcast…radio…tv…movie…keep your eye on the prize…and I dont mean Erin Andrews

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 11:33 AM PDT reply actions  

a movie is definitely in the works

hopefully we’ll be on the radio next week back in spokane to do a big march madness thing. should be fantastic

The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!

by Zach Bell on Mar 12, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions  

Sorry had to grab lunch...

I am a big fan of the Herd during football season…I feel like in the spring when basketball comes around he really doesn’t know what he is talking about…

by DKZagBlazer on Mar 12, 2009 12:12 PM PDT reply actions  

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