The Slipper Still Fits - All PostsA Gonzaga Basketball Blog - The #1 Source for Bulldogs Discussion and Opinionhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52664/tssf_fav.png2024-03-18T20:28:35-07:00http://www.slipperstillfits.com/rss/current/2024-03-18T20:28:35-07:002024-03-18T20:28:35-07:00Gonzaga Drops to #18 in the AP Poll
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<p>The NCAA Tournament starts tomorrow. </p> <p id="w3YU0i">Gonzaga dropped one spot in the most recent AP Poll to #18 following the loss to Saint Mary’s in Las Vegas. The Zags had a total of 413 votes. After winning the West Coast Conference championship, Saint Mary’s moved up 6 spots to #15. The Gaels had a total of 568 votes. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The week 20 AP Poll heading into THE MADNESS! <a href="https://t.co/PxICn7LbsZ">pic.twitter.com/PxICn7LbsZ</a></p>— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBBonFOX/status/1769779259948626294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a>
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<p id="BQlRgU">In KenPom, Gonzaga is #15 overall with a 121.0 adjusted offensive efficiency (#9) and a 99.4 adjust defensive efficiency (#46). In the NET rankings, Gonzaga finished #17 overall and 3-6 in Quad 1 opportunities.</p>
<p id="0qVz1D">Gonzaga received a #5 seed in the Midwest region and will play #12 McNeese State out of the Southland Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday at 4:25 PM PT on TBS. </p>
<p id="fSztJS"><strong>Arden Cravalho</strong> is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/18/24105523/gonzaga-drops-to-18-in-the-ap-pollArden Cravalho2024-03-18T14:05:27-07:002024-03-18T14:05:27-07:00Zags Earn #5 Seed in Midwest Region
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<p>Gonzaga will face #12 McNeese State in Salt Lake City, Utah.</p> <p id="7swvFd">It sure is beautiful, isn’t it? I can’t stop looking at the NCAA March Madness bracket. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The bracket <a href="https://t.co/X5pG3A8PlI">pic.twitter.com/X5pG3A8PlI</a></p>— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1769496098664583361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="KtrjES">I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Gonzaga (25-7, 14-2) received a #5 seed and are going to be playing the first/second rounds somewhat close to the Pacific Northwest. I really thought they would end up as #7 seed but I’m not complaining. The Zags will face off in the first round against Will Wade and McNeese State (30-3, 17-1) in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday at 4:25 PM PT on TBS. </p>
<p id="dcZ21V">The Cowboys are a talented and high-flying team but they played an incredibly weak schedule. The Southland Conference champions went up against schools like College of Biblical Studies, Champion Christian, LaTourneau... Mississippi University of Women? I’m not even joking about that last one. </p>
<p id="yD9VzG">This is Gonzaga’s 26th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and they are looking for their 9th straight Sweet Sixteen appearance this postseason. I like the Zags’ part of the bracket a lot with fraudulent Purdue, A Tennessee squad that survives only on Dalton Knecht scoring 20+ points in order to win, and injury-depleted Kansas. Creighton is a bit worrisome to me. </p>
<p id="23iFEG">Saint Mary’s grabbed a #5 seed as well in the West region and guess where they are playing? Right in Gonzaga’s backyard at the Spokane Arena against #12 Grand Canyon which I heard a lot of the local kids in the area go to. That’s going to be quite the hostile environment for the Gaels. </p>
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<p id="CmRiWa"><strong>Arden Cravalho</strong> is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/18/24105222/the-zags-earn-5-seed-in-midwest-regionArden Cravalho2024-03-18T13:34:56-07:002024-03-18T13:34:56-07:00Zags WBB Earn the #4 Seed
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<p><em>highest ever in program history!</em></p> <p id="JbsIJa">After seeing their AP Poll rank drop at multiple points this season despite dominating WCC opponents, the Gonzaga Women finally got some respect yesterday as the Selection Committee earned handed the final #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament to the Bulldogs.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/R3wxVW37nS">pic.twitter.com/R3wxVW37nS</a></p>— Gonzaga Women's Basketball (@ZagWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZagWBB/status/1769528580483277232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a>
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<p id="FF8jVP"> Not only does this seed represent the highest ever in program history, it comes with the added benefit of the team playing the first weekend in the friendly confines of the McCarthey Center. If you’re in Spokane (lucky you), be sure to grab your tickets with this <a href="https://gozags.com/sports/2022/3/17/zag-basketball-access.aspx">link</a> before they sell out!</p>
<p id="41JhBz">There’s some familiar faces in this section of the bracket including #2 Stanford, who the Zags famously defeated earlier this year on the road, #5 Utah, the former school of both Brynna Maxwell and Naya Ojukwu (side note: where is she?), #8 Alabama, who the Zags took down in the Chancellor Classic, and #12 South Dakota State, who the Zags stomped in mid-December.</p>
<p id="6hUCyY">Here’s the Net Rankings of the teams in our section:</p>
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<li id="HVPqEs">#1 Texas (30-4): 3rd</li>
<li id="wSIl0J">#2 Stanford (28-5): 4th</li>
<li id="bwcHa9">#3 NC State (27-6): 13th</li>
<li id="iUu48y">#5 Utah (20-10): 11th</li>
<li id="jT1URi">#6 Tennessee (19-12): 30th</li>
<li id="EfGgDY">#7 Iowa State (20-11): 33rd</li>
<li id="V05dap">#8 Alabama (23-9): 32nd</li>
<li id="ftGU5W">#9 Florida State (23-10): 43rd</li>
<li id="hn8n8m">#10 Maryland (19-13): 31st</li>
<li id="WDNycY">#11 Green Bay (26-6): 50th</li>
<li id="b95n0K">#12 South Dakota State (25-5): 55th</li>
<li id="mNF1SI">#13 UC Irvine (23-8): 123rd</li>
<li id="XO7VNJ">#14 Chattanooga (26-4): 106th</li>
<li id="EGEJio">#15 Norfolk State (26-5): 122nd</li>
<li id="K1zHZH">#16 Drexel (18-14): 165th</li>
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<p id="do3E8B">I plan on doing a deep dive into UC Irvine in the next day or so, but until then, what do you think of this team’s chances in this bracket?</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/18/24105179/zags-wbb-earn-the-4-seedkyfho2024-03-16T07:03:51-07:002024-03-16T07:03:51-07:00March Madness: How to watch Selection Sunday for 2024 NCAA tournament
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<p>Here’s how you can find out who the Zags will be playing in their first round matchup. </p> <p id="iJdWNo">We have finally made it to Selection Sunday! All that hard work has paid off in order to hear Gonzaga’s name called and find out where they’ll be headed to as well as who their opponent will be in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.</p>
<p id="4ZNXY8">The Selection Sunday show starts at 3 p.m. PT on CBS. Analysts Clark Kellogg, Jay Wright, and Seth Davis will join host Adam Zucker in New York and will be joined by NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee Chair Charles McClelland after the bracket is announced. You can also head over to the NCAA March Madness Live website and app to watch the show. </p>
<p id="1XODlJ">The First Four goes from Tuesday to Wednesday. The first/second round starts on Thursday and goes through the weekend. The Final Four in Glendale, Arizona is set for April 6 and the national championship will be played on April 8.</p>
<p id="QJ0ZBt">When you need all your NCAA Tournament odds and want to bet, head over to <a href="https://dksb.sng.link/As9kz/5pdi?_dl=https%3A%2F%2Fsportsbook.draftkings.com%2Fgate[%E2%80%A6]Vox%26wpcrid%3DCBB&pcid=166791&pscn=CBB&pcrn=Inartcile&psn=Vox"><strong>DraftKings Sportsbook</strong></a>. At DraftKings, they believe life’s more alive with skin in the game. The crown is yours. </p>
<p id="TJcja4"><strong>Arden Cravalho</strong> is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho</p>
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https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/15/24102474/how-to-watch-selection-sunday-2024-ncaa-basketball-tournament-bracket-reveal-march-madnessArden Cravalho2024-03-15T17:00:10-07:002024-03-15T17:00:10-07:00Gonzaga and UConn to Play At MSG on December 14th
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<img alt="Continental Tire Seattle Tip-Off - Connecticut v Gonzaga" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Pa_rvxLs7QfYs_qOnea-6XrgtPQ=/0x0:4825x3217/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73210849/1861733590.0.jpg" />
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<p>The Zags are pretty sick of losing to these guys. </p> <p id="SuRjPQ">Two powerhouses in college basketball will meet up once again but this time on the biggest stage that the world has to offer. Gonzaga and UConn are set to play at Madison Square Garden on December 14th next season. </p>
<p id="k6xI0E">The two programs played each other this past December at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and the Zags fell to the Huskies, 76-63. Before that, UConn beat Gonzaga in the 2023 Elite Eight, 82-54. Might even be a chance that these two face off against each other in the NCAA Tournament this season. </p>
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<p id="8AJkBr">The Huskies are 5-2 in the all-time series with the Zags and have won three of the last four meetings. Tickets for next season’s game will be available in May, per a news release.</p>
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<p id="TJcja4"><strong>Arden Cravalho</strong> is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho</p>
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https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/15/24102481/gonzaga-and-uconn-to-play-at-msg-on-december-14thArden Cravalho2024-03-14T10:53:18-07:002024-03-14T10:53:18-07:00#14 Zags Can’t Avoid the Upset
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<p><em>for the second year in a row, Portland claims the WCC Tournament</em></p> <p id="VyQjC8">Well, that was a tough watch. Gonzaga came out against Portland not quite looking like themselves and, in a repeat of last year’s WCC Tournament championship, fell to the Pilots 66-67 on Tuesday afternoon.</p>
<p id="LaFXba">Gonzaga had their worst overall shooting performance of the season as they went 26-70 (37%) and their second worst, tied with their first matchup against Portland, three point shooting as they only made 5 of their 20 attempts. While some of this relates to a lid seemingly being on the basket, the team really couldn’t generate great looks on a sizeable number of their opportunities. This can be seen in particular when realizing that Gonzaga had 0 fastbreak points in this game. I haven’t consistently commented on or tracked fastbreak points this season, but I don’t recall seeing a goose egg in this column during my game reviews. Additionally, Portland’s 3-2 zone seemed to confuse the Zags. While they were able to find the soft spots, the team seemed hesitant to pull the trigger when in those spots. While this changed a bit after the half, the team never really seemed capable of consistently breaking down the defense.</p>
<p id="2i1E0g">Despite all of these misses, Gonzaga grabbed 25 offensive rebounds, more than Portland’s total rebounding for the game, but could only turn this into 22 second chance points. I’ve talked about this team’s struggle with effectively converting their second chance opportunities in games past, but to get only 0.88 points per offensive rebound is rough. Additionally, It’s crazy to see a rebounding differential of 42-24 and realize that the team winning that battle ended up losing.</p>
<p id="YPlVtR">While the Bulldogs secured the ball better compared to the game against Pacific with only 14 turnovers, they could only register 15 assists, their second lowest of the season. It’s clear that exceeding this number will be essential for victories in the NCAA Tournament as the team’s three losses have all featured 15 or lower assists.</p>
<p id="UtEtUE">Against my better judgement, I’m going to very plain about this: I don’t think Gonzaga knows how to break a full court press. They don’t inbound the ball well consistently against it, they don’t generate enough off the ball movement to create open passes, and, outside of the Truongs, no player seems willing to dribble or pass against it. While this showed itself clearly against the Pilots, I’ve seen this pattern against other teams employing such defense across this season with the Arizona game coming immediately to my mind. I’m going to be worried if the Zags come up against a team in the NCAA Tournament that likes to press.</p>
<p id="uLpJWH">Despite all these negatives, I want to be clear, Portland played out of their mind. Their 26-48 (54%) overall shooting represents their third highest of the season while their 7-14 (50%) three point shooting marks their highest of the 23-24’ season. This follows a trend for the Pilots during the WCC tournament as in their three games, they’ve shot 53% overall and 40% from deep, which is a sizeable jump from their regular season averages of 42% overall and 30% from three. To have such a poor performance from the Zags, Portland play at such aberrant levels, and only lose by a single point after a missed three pointer in the dying seconds of the match means that this Bulldogs team is clearly destined for more. </p>
<p id="PzVQXf">So, I want to close out this article by celebrating the good moments from Tuesday.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Splash <a href="https://t.co/GagOz0uoSc">pic.twitter.com/GagOz0uoSc</a></p>— Gonzaga Women's Basketball (@ZagWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZagWBB/status/1767650441004011910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a>
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<p id="xCC58p">Esther with the team’s only three pointer in the first quarter. I loved her confidence and form with this shot. If Callie’s going to be out for the NCAA Tournament, I really hope Little can do this a couple times each game.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZagWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZagWBB</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MyCreditUnion1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MyCreditUnion1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCChoops?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WCChoops</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNU</a> <a href="https://t.co/hOC4tFm7Xm">pic.twitter.com/hOC4tFm7Xm</a></p>— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/WCChoops/status/1767653627316084856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a>
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<p id="3d8zTQ">Nothing better than watching these two connect on the court and we’re going to need to see this much more during the Big Dance.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">ᴘᴏꜱᴛ ᴇᴍ ᴜᴘ ♀️<a href="https://twitter.com/ZagWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZagWBB</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MyCreditUnion1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MyCreditUnion1</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCChoops?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WCChoops</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNU</a> <a href="https://t.co/0dptRTbdW1">pic.twitter.com/0dptRTbdW1</a></p>— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/WCChoops/status/1767662196589506619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a>
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<p id="Rip2JH">Yvonne is a force. The country knows and we know. Let’s hope she bounces back from her 8-20 shooting performance for this team’s Tournament run.</p>
<p id="b4yixc">Despite this loss, the NCAA Net Rankings still have the Zags ranked 12th and ESPN’s bracketology still has the Zags listed as a 4 seed. If the team were awarded this seed, it would represent highest ever in program history and allow them to host the NCAA Tournament in Spokane. Let’s hope this sticks.</p>
<p id="x5uHz9">What did you think about the game? Am I being a little harsh?</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/14/24098885/14-zags-cant-avoid-the-upsetkyfho2024-03-13T18:14:13-07:002024-03-13T18:14:13-07:002024 WCC All-Tournament Team Announced
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<p>A pair of Zags were named. </p> <p id="JSHpTV">Congratulations to both Ryan Nembhard and Anton Watson of Gonzaga who were named to the West Coast Conference’s All-Tournament team. The three other players named to the squad come from Saint Mary’s (Aidan Mahaney, Mitchell Saxen, Augustas Marciulionas). No other players from any other schools in the conference were honored which I’m totally fine with.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/MyCreditUnion1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MyCreditUnion1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WCChoops?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WCChoops</a> All-Tournament Team <a href="https://t.co/ZwsQrk7rwF">pic.twitter.com/ZwsQrk7rwF</a></p>— WCC Basketball (@WCChoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/WCChoops/status/1767756891554529616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a>
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<p id="9bYeq9">What I’m not totally okay with is naming Marciluinas the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament over Mahaney. Marciluinas scored 13 points on 5-11 FG/1-3 3PT and 8 assists against Gonzaga in the WCC Championship. Mahaney scored 21 points on 9/15 FG/5-7 3PT and was the clear reason the Gaels actually won that game over the Zags.</p>
<p id="x1E6z8">The league really screwed up this season when it came to naming the individual awards and now the best player in the tournament. Changes need to be made on how this voting process occurs. </p>
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<p id="TJcja4"><strong>Arden Cravalho</strong> is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/13/24100225/2024-wcc-all-tournament-team-announcedArden Cravalho2024-03-13T18:00:55-07:002024-03-13T18:00:55-07:00Saint Mary’s Wins the 2024 WCC Championship Over Gonzaga, 69-60
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<p>The automatic NCAA Tournament bid belongs to the Gaels. </p> <p id="rmQXZi">It was the annual rubber match between the consistent top two teams in the West Coast Conference, nothing new for the shining lights of Las Vegas. Gonzaga versus Saint Mary’s was appointment television due to the level of physicality each team brought but, in the end, the team that was predicted to win the the conference at the beginning of the season came out as the top dawg. </p>
<p id="Ebw0M1">Aidan Mahaney (23 points on 9-15 FG and 5-7 3PT) has had his struggles with his shot selection throughout his sophomore season but not at the Orleans Arena this time around. He finally gave the Gaels that offensive spark in a big moment they were looking for. Once Graham Ike (10 points on 5-12 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 personal fouls) had to leave the game with foul trouble the first time, Mitchell Saxen (19 points on 6-15 and 7-12 FT, 15 rebounds, 2 steals) took advantage done low. That eventually opened up the floor and gave more room for Mahaney to operate. He wasn’t missing from deep, completely locked in out on the perimeter. After that, the Zags were just playing catch up the rest of the way. </p>
<p id="F8HVZP">You couldn’t have been blessed with more opportunities if you’re Gonzaga to get back in that game under two minutes. I mean, Saint Mary’s was handing them chance and chance for a while there. Right when I was ready to give my hope right back, another mistake by the Zags came across my eye. </p>
<p id="97Pvmi">Besides him getting too jump happy and not keeping his feet on the ground on shot fakes, Ike was also forcing some looks that I haven’t seen him take much this season. Why now in the biggest game of the season to date? The pull-up, fadeaway jumpers and missed bunnies were something that bothered me throughout this matchup. He struggled mightily in this WCC tournament compared to how he was playing in the past seven games or so. </p>
<p id="LXlMSb">Rebounding was a vital point of success for Saint Mary’s coming into the game and one of the biggest reasons they won this matchup. Everyone knows how great Gonzaga is on the glass and Randy Bennett told his squad that a full effort was needed on this facet of the game in order to come out on top. The Gaels beat the Zags by a large margin of 39-22 on the boards, 12 of those being offensive boards. In general, Saint Mary’s size on the interior and high-level guard play proved to be too much for Gonzaga and make this team a real threat in March. </p>
<p id="yfeFNR">In his last two games coming into this championship game, Ryan Nembhard had dished out 22 assists to only 1 turnover. I don’t want to say he struggled cause he didn’t as he finished with 13 points on 6-14 FG/1-3 3PT and 11 assists/4 turnovers in 40 minutes of play. It wasn’t his best that we’ve seen out him recently, especially not the best out of Nolan Hickman (6 points on 3-8 FG/-3 3PT and 1 assist/1 turnover). Gonzaga’s backcourt simply got outplayed by Saint Mary’s. In order to succeed in the postseason, you’re guard play needs to be top notch and has no room for error. Experience goes a long way in March and I think this was a good learning moment for those two. </p>
<p id="mjL4A7">It was a season-low point total for the Zags at 60. For this high-powered of an offensive engine that the Zags possess, it’s saying a whole lot on Saint Mary’s defensive authority they have shown throughout this season. In general, it was just a heck of a performance on both ends of the floor from the Gaels. </p>
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<p id="c1TXxd">The Gaels have now won 17 of its last 18 games since starting the season at a record of 8-6. This was Saint Mary’s first WCC Tournament title since 2019 and their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance which is the longest streak in school history.</p>
<p id="Y1KVB6">Saint Mary’s was the best team in the WCC and they proved it against Gonzaga in the highest stage this conference has to offer. It seems as if Saint Mary’s is starting to catch up to the competitiveness edge that Gonzaga has always had over the WCC (the Gaels are 4-4 against the Zags in the last 8 meetings and were 4-22 from 2012-2022). </p>
<p id="8fF5xr">Gonzaga (25-7, 14-2) now moves to 3-6 in Quad 1 opportunities on the season while Saint Mary’s (26-7, 15-1) is 5-3. Up next, Selection Sunday on CBS at 3 PM PT. I expect the Gaels to be anywhere from a #6 to an #8 seed while the Zags should be anywhere from a #7 to a #9 seed. </p>
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<p id="wB9R3E"><strong>Arden Cravalho</strong> is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho</p>
https://www.slipperstillfits.com/2024/3/13/24099000/saint-marys-wins-the-2024-wcc-championship-over-gonzaga-69-60Arden Cravalho