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Let's get caught up on all the Gonzaga news for the week!
- Another update on the NBA Draft Watch as ESPN Insider Chad Ford now projects Domantas Sabonis to be selected at No. 26 to the Toronto Raptors. Here's what Ford had to say:
"The Raptors could use a power forward, and few players can match Sabonis' numbers.
His lack of athleticism or a 3-point shot are hurting his stock a bit, but he's one of the best rebounders in the draft and has an incredible basketball IQ. I think this is a steal at No. 26."
- Incoming recruit and Utah native, Jesse Wade, is currently in Europe on Year 1 of his LDS mission, but that didn't stop the Wade clan from representing for the Zags at the BYU game on Saturday night. Make sure to read the caption in the paragraph, cool of Wiltj to help make Jesse's visit to Spokane last season extra special.
- ESPN's Bubble Watch assesses Gonzaga's tournament hopes, and pretty much confirms what we've all been saying around these parts for the last few weeks:
Gonzaga [23-7 (15-3), RPI: 66, SOS: 131] Whether Gonzaga has a top-50 win depends largely on which way the RPI wind is blowing on any given day and whether that wind has knocked Connecticut below or above that semi-arbitrary line of demarcation. That tidbit should tell you much of what you need to know about the Bulldogs' overall resume strength heading into Saturday's WCC tournament opener against Portland. (Conference tournaments are already here? How is that even possible?!) Yet that resume, weak as it may appear, is at least still in the running for an eventual tournament bid, a fact ensured by Gonzaga's narrow escape from Provo, and a desperate BYU team, on Saturday night. At this point it feels like anything less than a trip to the WCC title game is just asking to get left behind on Selection Sunday. Even then, Gonzaga shouldn't feel safe.
- Even the NY Daily News is commenting on how we need to win the conference tournament. Guess the Bulldogs are really a national program now...
- But not so fast, as Joe Lunardi upgraded the Zags back to "Last Four In," in his latest iteration of the tournament field. Lunardi currently has the Zags slotted for one of the play-in games against Oregon State.
Florida OUT. Gonzaga IN. Vandy to "solid" status. No changes tonight on the top two lines. How unusual... https://t.co/7CTQzKGF0I
— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 2, 2016
- In case you missed it, the WCC awards were announced, with Wiltj and Domas earning spots on the All-WCC First Team. Eric McClellan won the Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award for his work as a wing stopper, and Josh Perkins was named to the WCC All-Freshman Team.
- Mark Few was very complimentary of the Marriott Center atmosphere after Saturday's win over BYU, and also glossed over the halftime adjustments made to protect the ball in the second half.
- Mark Few wasn't the only one who discussed the Marriott Center atmoshpere, as a lot of the guys talked with the Spokesman-Review about the game and their thoughts heading into the WCC tournament.
- The Lady Zags enter the WCC Women's Tournament as a #5 seed and will face Santa Clara on Thursday at 8pm (PT). You can catch the game on theW.tv or BYUtv. Should the Lady Zags win, they would play the winner of #1 BYU v. Pacific/Pepperdine on Monday (that's a long layoff...) at noon PT.