Selection Sunday Open Thread: Send your positive vibes here
by Zach Bell on Mar 14, 2010 11:11 AM PDT
70 comments
The best day of the year has arrived.
In just a short amount of time, the field of 65 will be released by the selection committee. We all know that Gonzaga has been sliding in the wrong direction for the past month or so but the Zags should easily land an at-large bid in this year's tournament. Most bracketologists have concluded they will be somewhere on the seven line playing at a place other than Spokane, Washington where many fans were hoping they'd wind up.
If the Zags do indeed land on that seven line, you can bet that there will be some dangerous teams waiting for them. Teams like Florida State, Missouri, Georgia Tech, Utah State, San Diego State, Clemson, UNLV, and Old Dominion could all be potential opponents for Gonzaga. What this means is that Mark Few's team will have their hands full from the get go. What makes things worse is that there will definitely be a lengthy plane flight involved to wherever the Bulldogs wind up. Probable locations include Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Oklahoma City. A few weeks ago we were talking about how cool it was going to be to play our first two rounds in Spokane probably against a twelve seed and then a four but that is now all distant history.
Don't get me wrong, there is still hope for at least a six seed which is why we're asking for some positive vibes in this thread. Feel free to stop in and share your thoughts in the comment section below. The Selection Show will air at 3 PM pacific time on CBS and you can also stream it live on CBSSports.com.
GO ZAGS!
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Didn't you hear we're on the bubble?
We’re screwed!
Lunardi
now has us playing Clemson in OK. City. That’s a dangerous game. Hopefully the tourney committee blacked out during the St. Marys game and we wind up with a 5 seed in Spokane playing Minnesota!!! Positive enough?
That's what I like to hear!
Although I don’t mind Clemson because they are just the worst team ever down the stretch. Such a frustrating program.
I just want Gonzaga to avoid playing in Buffalo. That’s my first goal.
The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!
I don't care where they play. Just show up an do your job!
If you can’t win the first one, maybe you shouldn’t be anywhere but home. I still think a 6th seed but wouldn’t be shocked by an 8.
Btw can I just say...
why the HELL is the Big Ten still playing basketball right now?
It's almost time!
Getting nervous
The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!
by Zach Bell on Mar 14, 2010 2:49 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Why not San Jose?
Haven’t seen anyone predict the Zags land in San Jose. Bummed about that.
I really have no clue with region
I’d kill to be in the West region. San Jose would be huge
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by Zach Bell on Mar 14, 2010 2:59 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
8 or 9 would be a slap in the face, I would hate to play a 1 seed in the first weekend.
I’ve always said that a 6 has an easier road than a 5 or a 4 so I would be ecstatic to get that. If Washington comes to Spokane I look forward to yelling at Romar. I’m sitting over one of the tunnels so I have a 50-50 chance.
Now we have to see SMC live when the bracket is announced
I can’t wait for Samhan to get shipped off to the Latvian C-League where I will never have to see his ugly mug again
by ZagsFanatic on Mar 14, 2010 3:07 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd for the Latvian C league.
They play the Richmond Spiders in the first round. Spiders were runner up for the A-10 conference. They’ve beaten Miss. State, Missouri, Old Dominion, split 1-1 with Temple and Xavier. Saint Mary’s will have to play their best.
If they show up
Half of the time they just tank it….the other times, they can beat Syracuse cleanly.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
Yes,
But a 7-loss Ohio St. team was in the discussion for a #1 seed. This year is different than years past. After the top 10 or so, it’s anybody’s game and no one is untarnished.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
FSU then 'Cuse just to get out of the first weekend.
Zags better recapture that Maui flavor.
ridiculous
only consolation is that IF they pull off the major upset I will see them in SLC
Wow
Can’t believe we slipped
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by Zach Bell on Mar 14, 2010 3:21 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Well,
The location sucks, but Florida St. is definitely beatable, and Syracuse is the best match up we could get against a 1 seed. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a home game for the Orange.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
Syracuse
If Syracuse’s big man is out or less than 100%, we have a definite shot to pull off the upset. Also, Syracuse is a very shallow team. Once you get past their starting five and two subs, they don’t have anything left. Considering that, I could see Few pounding the ball inside early and trying to cause foul trouble or test their supposedly injured center. Also, I’m not sold on Wesley Johnson. He will test our defenders, but I think they might be able to contain him.
Zagnificent - GU Class of 2011
I like the draw!
Playing back East makes no difference.
Wow
Well the tourney committee can go screw themselves like usual. Why do we always get shafted every year, not only are we an 8 seed but we have to play in Buffalo and we draw Syracuse in the 2nd round in Buffalo which will be a home game for them. The only positives I can draw from this is that we have a winnable 1st round game and if we somehow get past Syracuse our bracket is extremely weak in my opinion.
by coltinjespersen on Mar 14, 2010 3:41 PM PDT reply actions
Two things
1. We lost the tourney, and we lost to LMU and USF. We can’t really complain much about any seed we get.
2. Remember this day next year when we have discussions about how important it is to not only win your conference, but to win your tourney. If we don’t get a protected seed they send us to Eqypt, every time. And the more we go one or two and done in the tourney, the less respect we’ll get as an at-large bid.
In the Decade of Excellence DVD, Casey said they felt they had to win the conference tourney in order to make sure they didn’t put it in the hands of the committee.
Ten years later, that hasn’t changed.
by surfmonkey89 on Mar 14, 2010 3:49 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
We can complain when clearly worse teams get better seeds.
Clemson is 6-6 in their last 12. It’s a farce that they’re a 7 seed.
Not really
No matter what we say, they can come back with “You lost to LMU and USF, AND you lost your tourney.”
I’m not saying that we’re not seeded too low. I’m saying we have very, very weak arguments for being seeded higher.
by surfmonkey89 on Mar 14, 2010 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions
exactly
it looks like we peaked early and got slow late (just looks like, maybe not reality), and losing to LMU and SMU screws us. If we’d beat LMU and lost by 3 to SMU, its a whole different story.
Same time, weve got screwed when winning the tourney before and it seems to take the wind out of our sails. Maybe losing by 19 and getting pushed to Buffalo helps establish that chip (holy hell, Egypt seems closer. Buffalo?)
by Jerikantilles on Mar 14, 2010 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Florida St.
I didn’t even know they had a basketball team. :-)
What are your thoughts on FSU?
It seems like we’ll have a big advantage with our guards but they got 2 giants down low so we’re gonna need Sacre to play very well.
by coltinjespersen on Mar 14, 2010 4:09 PM PDT reply actions
And not get into foul trouble...
Foster might need to step up as well.
It's about us, not FSU
We need to get healthy and have three viable scoring options.
If Matty’s still unable to dribble or shot, and Harris can’t come back to December/January levels, we lose.
by surfmonkey89 on Mar 14, 2010 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
BIG
that is how i would describe FSU in one word. Their shortest starter is 6’4, they have 6’5 and 6’6 guards and two BIG boys down low. They play physical defense which scares me seeing how we responded to SMC’s tough D last week. Harris and Sacre need to stay out of foul trouble at all costs because FSU is not a great perimeter shooting team.
It's over
Normally I’m not a really doom and gloom guy when it comes to the Zags’ chances but this is a really bad draw. It’s a million miles away, it’s got a 1 seed in the first weekend playing a home game. And that’s if the Zags even get past the Seminoles. The only bright side is that the Zags can now be fully expected to fall on their face and maybe, just maybe, the team will use that as motivation. I’m not even all that confident of that since this team doesn’t appear to have much swagger. Hoping I can eat some crow!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!~
Messed over yet again!
Lots of teams lost in their conf tourneys and it didn’t seem to hurt their seedings. Somehow I think it shows that even if we beat St. Mary’s we were not going to get that 5 seed in Spokane.
Buffalo??? Did someone tip off the committee that we have that jet?…
If we can get past Florida State…Syracuse is gonna be a beotch. In their backyard. Welp, at least they lost their last two and have an injury problem.
Back to the drawing board…..no elite 8 this year……GO ZAG!!~~~~
Its gonna be gLoRiOUS!!~
Not sure we can justify a higher seed
As has been said, we lost two conference games and were BLOWN THE HELL OUT in the tourney championship.
Not only that but we got blown out by a #1 seed (Duke), and lost to a #5 (MSU), a #9(WF). The only teams we beat that made the field were a #4 (Wisc) and 2 #10s, (both of whom are named “St. Mary’s.”
A lot of our “good wins” didn’t even make the tourney… Cincy, Illinois, Oklahoma…
So I’m just going to be extremely thankful that we are even in this thing, rather than getting pissed at our seed.
by zeeehjee on Mar 14, 2010 4:18 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
good points
Good Points Zeehjee. Let’s see how they fare against the Noles. Truth is, Gonzaga has been on the road before. My expectations are modest, one win. Maybe I should be more optimistic, but that’s how I feel.
I don’t get all of this Villanova and K. State Love. West Virginia is getting a lot of hype as well.
Who will fare better, In your opinion, Gonzaga or Washington?
Josh Normand
Expectations
I really think we’ll beat FSU. They are the type of team we kill… a mediocre team from a major conference.
I think the Zags are more likely to win their first round game than UW, but if UW gets by Marquette, I like their chances to make a deeper run better.
hope you're right
zeehjee, I hope that you’re right. I think that if GU wins, they have a better chance to upset Syracuse than FSU does, because it doesn’t seem that FSU can score enough to bother the Orange.
Good for the conference that St. Mary’s won yesterday. Even if you don’t like St. Mary’s, the better they do, the better the WCC looks.
Josh Normand
Breathe...
Florida St. is good, at least defensively, but they aren’t over powering offensively. If we can get some semblance of offensive rhythm flowing again, then this should be a game we can win. If Sacre keeps playing good D while staying out of foul trouble and Matt runs the show like the Matt of old then we should be playing in round 2. After that, well, The Cuse is a whole different monster.
Will the REAL Gonzaga basketball team show up?
I was really hoping the Zags would be coming to Oklahoma City so that I could see the games live. But, we got to play Florida State now and I would just to like to see us play solidly this weekend. Playing the Seminoles will be good for us since it will be a neutral court and I always think the Zags can win on a neutral site. I’m really unconcerned about Syracuse….at least not yet. In any tournament, it’s one game at a time. We play the hand we’re dealt. Let’s hope the Zags play with the passion and desire they showed throughout most of this season.
Cuse plays Vermont first.
It will probably be a blow out, but I’m thinking the absence of Onauako will hurt. I know I’m watching that game.
The video from that game may help the Zags if they get past FSU. Digger Phelps and Dick Vitale said that Syracuse should be very nervous with the strong possibliblity of facing Gonzaga. They talked about Bouldin and Gray being a big threat to Syracuse on the perimeter.
FSU has that big center, Alabi who was voted the ACC defensive player of the year. Although they lost their first game of the tournament to NC State, they are a tough, defense minded team. It looks like we face two tough defensive teams from the start. It will be a challenge for the Zags to get out of the first weekend.
Vitale also said...
that FSU may not be able to put up enough points to get by the Zags. I hope their shooting is at least 50%. Zags will win if they don’t go cold.
Dickie V. (and Digger Phelps) gave the Zags a "good" chance of meeting...and beating 'Cuse.
Zag’s just have to believe that they can play with anyone…and have shown that most of the season. Warm up the jet…and let’s go play some ball on Friday!
defense beats offense in a close game
If you go cold on defense you can still get it done. If you go cold on offense you are dead in the water. Rather than depend on offense I hope the Zags go back to the defensive drawing board and get back to playing the same way they did against Cincinnati early in the year.
Jim R Harris MA
Which Zags team shows up?
The one that punched MSU, Cincinnatti, Illinois in the nose? Or the one that was down 16 points to USF?
If its the former team, I like how we match up with ‘Cuse better than any of the other 1 seeds, and if you’re going to go far, you have a fry some big fish to get there, might as well do it in the first weekend.
If its the latter team, season ends Friday.
by MedZag on Mar 14, 2010 6:21 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
yeah
jesus this is going to be a long week
by Jerikantilles on Mar 14, 2010 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Over The Last Few Hours...
I’ve been reading things on ESPN and Fox Sports about the tournament.
In all honesty, I’m pissed about the 8 seed, but I can’t really justify anything higher than a 7 or lower than a 10.
Yes, the draw sucked… but for once, we aren’t talking about a 3 seed or a 4 seed and high expectations. We’re looking at a team who has a HUGE chip on their shoulder now and has to be more pissed off than they were with a drubbing in NYC.
I made a bracket and used the bracket analyzer to see where we were. ESPN has us with a 0.2% chance to win the whole thing. Not much of a chance to even beat Syracuse… but we are not talked about anywhere. No one is talking about our game, our seed, or our team. More people are talking about St. Mary’s.
Let it be and let’s shock the world this weekend.
we will never get the benefit of the doubt
The old boys club does it again. For the zags the bar keeps getting higher. An 8, how? when we look at the 7’s. Hopefully the old boy’s put the chip back on our shoulder
let’s go zags.
Some Possible Good News:
“Arinze has not practiced. He has good mobility, but I don’t think that he’ll be practicing tomorrow or Tuesday,” SU coach Jim Boeheim said Sunday night. “I would say he is … unlikely to play this weekend. That could change at the end of the week, but that’s my thinking right now. He’s made some progress. He’s moving around a little bit, but at this point in time, I would be very skeptical of him playing this weekend, although I wouldn’t say it was impossible.”
http://www.nunesmagician.com/2010/3/14/1373181/syracuse-just-kidding-ao-totally
The Ralphie Report - Covering the Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/
Zags open as 1.5 point underdogs against FSU
http://bookmaker.com/sportsbook.aspx
The Ralphie Report - Covering the Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/
Like the Matchups
Gonzaga is a better basketball team than Florida St. Better talent and a better team.
Gonzaga needs to get pumped, Buffalo is similar to Spokane, even politically they are a more conservative community to their cross state counterpart NYC just like Seattle.
Gonzaga plays better against better teams, especially when they have no history against the team.
Bouldin & Co. know they have to prove themselves once again, they live to play these games.
Gonzaga got an excellent 2nd round v. Syracuse, you know Boeheim and the Orange are thinking, hey we are a number 1 seed, how is it we might be playing Gonzaga in the second round.
Important note Gonzaga plays the Seminoles at 7:10 Eastern, 4:10 Pacific so the time of day is excellent, we won’t be playing at 9-10 am our time like in the past.
also we play before the Cuse so they just might look past Vermont and be the 1st #1 seed to get upset, they been upset before as a high seed.
Should the Bulldogs reach the Sweet Sixteen, there is not a team in our bracket the Zags are not able to dominate for 40 minutes, not K St, not Pitt, not Vandie, not X, and most certainly not Buttheads nor Byu.
Gonzaga you reached your goal you won the WCC title for the 10th year in a row.
Elias you are the Beast, Gray you are scoring & defending machine, Sacre you backdown from no one, Meech you are the Flash and an excellent defender, Bouldin you are a fearless leader, Kong you can score from anywhere behind the arc w/ anyone in our face, Foster you can block anyone’s shot, as soon as you nget the ball dunk it, Olynyk you have got skills, Bench you know you can play. Zags,you know now it is your time!
Time to take Florida State to the hole!
by rnpljnsn on Mar 14, 2010 9:27 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Boeheim definitely knows...
They have the potential to match-up with GU in the 2nd round. Rec’d for that!
If we got a tough draw, so did Syracuse. I’m excited for this opportunity. 2-3 weeks ago I told a buddy that I hope we end up in the bracket with Syracuse because I think we match up with them best. First things first, bring the A game on Friday.
My 3 keys to beating FSU: Space the floor on offense, pass, block out on defensive end.
by GU.AmericasTeam on Mar 15, 2010 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
I love it when the Zags are the underdog
Thanks for the extra motivation John Grissom & Wayne Newton.
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