Conference Tournament Previews 3/03/06-(WCC)

We are continuing to post the conference tournament previews from our other website here.

Visit Bubbleteams.com to view each conference tournament bracket and check out the other conference tournament previews.

West Coast:

At McCarthey Athletic Center
Spokane, Wash.

FIRST ROUND

Friday, March 3
Game 1: No. 5 San Diego vs. No. 8 Pepperdine, 9 p.m.
Game 2: No. 6 Portland vs. No. 7 Santa Clara, 11:30 p.m.

QUARTERFINALS

Saturday, March 4
Game 3: No. 4 San Francisco vs. Game 1 winner, 9 p.m.
Game 4: No. 3 Saint Mary's vs. Game 2 winner, 11:30 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Sunday, March 5
Game 5: No. 1 Gonzaga vs. Game 3 winner, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 6: No. 2 Loyola Marymount vs. Game 4 winner, 10 p.m. (ESPN2)

CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday, March 6
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Recap: Gonzaga stormed through the West Coast Conference, finishing undefeated in league play for the second time in three years. The Bulldogs did not finish unblemished without having to face several close calls and near misses. Gonzaga eked out close wins against San Francisco (77-74 at Gonzaga), St. Mary's (62-61at Gonzaga) and San Diego (64-63 at San Diego. In the end, the Bulldogs showed why they are the most talented team in the WCC and why they are very deserving of another invitation to the NCAA Tournament.

Favorite: Gonzaga could not be a heavier favorite. The Bulldogs are riding a 16 game winning streak and they are hosts for the conference tournament this year. In addition, as a 1 seed, Gonzaga gets a free pass to the league semifinals. Gonzaga was one of only three WCC teams to finish the regular season with a winning record. San Diego and St. Mary's finished with identical 15-11 records.

Darkhorse: Except for Gonzaga, no other WCC team won more than 8 league games. If not for the close calls the Bulldogs overcame during the regular season, Gonzaga would be considered an almost improbable favorite to repeat as WCC champion. Two teams that might give the Bulldogs trouble are two of the teams that gave Gonzaga their closest calls at home this season, St. Mary's and San Francisco. The San Francisco Dons need to get past their quarterfinal math against the Pepperdine-San Diego winner. Despite coming into the conference tournament 7-7 in league play and 11-16 overall, San Francisco was able to stay within ten points of the Bulldogs in two losses this season. St. Mary's has the benefit of having to avoid Gonzaga until the conference finals. The Gaels, winners of eight of their last 9 games (their only loss was a 1 point defeat after Sean Mallon hit a free throw for Gonzaga with under a second left in the game), have to face the winner of Portland-Santa Clara and then face a slumping Loyola Marymount team (losers of four in a row entering the tournament) in the semifinal game.