WCC Tournament
by SoundPound on Mar 3, 2010 1:49 PM PST
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PrintClick here for the WCC tournament bracket.
WCC Bracket
It is our tournament to lose. As the top seed, we theoretically have the easiest road to the final, but the seeding turns out to be very interesting. We have the Pepperdine/ LMU/ SF winner. So unless Pepperdine pulls off two consecutive "upsets", we will have to beat one of the two teams that beat us in conference to get to the SMC/ Portland winner. We looked forward to an exciting tournament last year, only to watch our boys shred two teams by 20+ and walk into the NCAA's. It could end up the same this time around, but we have four other teams (SMC, UP, USF, and LMU) who really believe they can win this tournament, and must win it to make it to the NCAA's. I know Lunardi has SMC in his bracket, but there is no possible way the committee could put them in over a lot of these bubble teams who have played against any legitimate opposition and still get to prove themselves in their conference tournaments. With the Zags fighting to keep a 4/5 seed and four other teams who believe they can earn the auto bid, this should be a perfect test for our team seeing as both the semis and finals will pin them against 12-16 seed quality teams like we will face early in the NCAA tournament.
This weekend will be a great time for us to get into the one-and-done tournament mentality again. The developmental phase with this team is over, and it's now on Bouldin, Gray, and Elias to carry us and set up Meech and Sacre with good looks. If we can play the "underdog" throughout March, it's going to be a fantastic month.
GO ZAGS!!!
This post does not reflect the views of the blog authors or SB Nation.
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SMC
has additional motivation for this year’s WCC tournament after what happened last year when they had a seemingly successful season fairly similar to this year’s. In fact, their chances last year at an at large bid were better than this year. So after being denied last year, and with the pool of more deserving bubble teams out there this season, I have to think they realize the only way of making the tournament is by winning the WCC tourney.
Now despite our two losses in conference, I don’t think any WCC should be able to get within single digits of us at the end of a game, but we are playing so streaky this year. Hopefully the Zags use the motivation of playing in Spokane to come out and dominate both games and get it done.
Cost of tickets?
I’m heading down for the tournament but didn’t get tickets. Any idea what single game tickets are going for outside the arena? Any clue what they went for last year?
Check out craigslist for Las Vegas, there are a lot of tickets there
One person [ut up a tip on where to buy tix outside the arena for cheap, you might contact him to find out what they paid last year. http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/tix/1628538118.html
LMU and San Fran
Whoever of these two we play, it will be the hardest game in this tourney….The reason is due to match ups. In both cases, these teams match up well against Gonzaga especially when it comes to athletic ability and in LMU’s case, defensive intensity. I do believe that Gonzaga has the talent and ability to pummel both these teams but they would need to cut down on the drives to the basket and the cheap baskets these opportunistic teams make.
In comparison, Gonzaga matches up very well with SMC and Portland. They are way more atheletic then both these teams, as well as, very skilled on both ends of the court. SMC and Portland are not going to beat you by taking it at the rim and those are the teams the Zag’s have struggled with.
I think that this year's tourney
will be the more difficult for Gonzaga than last year. The bottom four teams are getting better and hungrier. Neither USF, nor LMU will be push-overs in the semifinals. Then we will have to face St. Mary’s or Portland, both teams only hopes to get in are through Gonzaga. Hard road ahead.
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