Gonzaga has locked up the WCC title, now what to look forward to come Selection Sunday
The nets will start to be cut and the celebration go on briefly before the focus shifts to Selection Sunday for the West Coast Conference tourney champs, the Gonzaga Bulldogs who beat St. Mary’s 84-66
A win has simplified so much for the Zags, from their route to the Final Four to knowing who will more than likely be in their region. Here’s what to look for when it comes to the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Selection Sunday at 3 p.m.
The path to the Final Four is officially clear
Spokane to Los Angeles to Atlanta.
For Gonzaga to reach their second Final Four in four seasons, that is the exact path that will be taken. Of all the top seed and potential top seed locks, Gonzaga arguably has the easiest path to to reach the second and third weekends of the tournament. Unlike the other top seeds such as Kansas, Baylor, Dayton, and Florida State a convenient path in the tournament this year is paramount. More fan support, easy travel access is huge for a team with high Final Four aspirations. Things do get a bit more complicated if the Bulldogs do indeed survive the first weekend however.
Potential “road game” in the west regional final
If Gonzaga can win their first three games of the NCAA Tournament, they’d be just 40 minutes of game regulation time from a spot in the Final Four. The only problem is, they’d have to do it against a team that’s playing 127 miles away from home in the friendly confines of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The San Diego State Aztecs had a chance to clinch one of the four number one seeds this past weekend but lost to Utah State in the Mountain West title game. That loss should slide SDSU to the west region and if the seeds hold true, a west regional title game will match up Ni. 1 seed Gonzaga vs. No. 2 seed San Diego State. The Aztecs potentially present the toughest test for the Bulldogs, if both teams can win their first three games.
Gonzaga won’t be the only WCC school making noise in the tournament
In the history of the West Coast Conference, the league has never had more than one team reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. In 2020, there is a very good chance that two of the three have a chance to reach the Sweet 16 and beyond. Gonzaga will more than likely be a top seed, down the seed line BYU and St. Mary’s are projected to be No. 5 and No. 8 seeds according to BracketMatrix.
Conference strength is always measured in some way at Tournament time, this may be the best chance for the WCC to make their biggest mark in league history and Gonzaga will be leading the way.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 8:20 PM.
