Huckleberries Online

Zags 77, Zips 64

Posted by DFO

March 19, 2009 6:07 p.m. • 37 comments

Akron’s Nikola Cvetinovic (13), of Serbia, and Gonzaga’s Steven Gray battle for a loose ball in the first half during a first-round men’s NCAA college basketball tournament game underway in Portland, Ore. ESPN boxscore here. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) Sportslink report here.

Zips? There’s a basketball team named after our favorite hamburger stand? Zags? Do they even exist independent of Zigs? The Zips are playing the Zags? Is this March Madness or Dr. Seuss? This is it. This is the end. The NCAA tournament has reached its 71st birthday, a ripe old age. And after all the shining moments and the iconic figures– from the Tall Firs to the Wizard of Westwood to Magic versus Bird to Jimmy V – this is finally the last word in March matchups. Or at least the last letter. We have reached – wait for it – the zenith/John Blanchette, SR. More here.

DFO: The Zags will now play the winner of Illinois/Western Kentucky on Saturday. What do you think there chances of getting to the Sweet 16?

37 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JeanieSpokane on March 19 at 3:13 p.m.
Several attorneys in my office are scrambling around trying to find a television; the IT guys are busy setting up a deal that won’t hog the internet for the rest of us who aren’t wanting to watch the game (uh, why is there **nobody** at their desks??); every now and then a nerf ball sails through the air; excitement reigns.
JohnA on March 19 at 3:18 p.m.
JeannieS, have ‘em go to the following site. It’s HD on your computer. Even has a ‘boss button’ in case the attorneys are concerned about such things.

http://mmod.ncaa.com/video/
hhuseland on March 19 at 3:21 p.m.
Interesting that the NCAA tourney is 71 years old, the age I will attain Monday. Back when I was a kid though, the NIT was the big dance. Over the years they changed places in the hierarchy.
JohnA on March 19 at 3:31 p.m.
Happy birthday (early), Herb. It’s hard to believe you’re as old as the game of basketball. :)
hmoffsuite on March 19 at 3:59 p.m.
Huskies just beat Miss. St. in Portland. 71-58. Good for them.
Aliasjax on March 19 at 4:06 p.m.
My prediction: Zags 87-51

Tomorrow’s SR headline: Zags Zap Zips.
DFO on March 19 at 4:13 p.m.
For the first time since I’ve been in the SR office on NW boulevard, I have my own personal TV. Which has been tuned to March Madness all day — a nice big set that I snagged when from the second floor conference room when I was moved to my “man cave” in the other wing of the office. I now have the nicest office spot that I’ve had since joining the SR 25 years ago. I have all my toys and memorabilia set up, as well as my full0-sized Ichiro cardboard cutout, a banner from the 1994 LaRocco-Chenoweth debate (that took place downstairs), and even a copy of the Nov. 3, 1993, issue of the SR that has this banner headline: “Hassell ousts Mayor Stone.” Mebbe I should have an occasion brown bag lunch with some of you in the Man Cave. Until then, go Zags …
JohnA on March 19 at 4:23 p.m.
I think I just heard Akron’s coach say “Win one for the Zipper” but I’m not sure.
hmoffsuite on March 19 at 4:26 p.m.
JohnA. That was funny. A real lol.
DFO on March 19 at 4:42 p.m.
Zags score first with Bouldin lay-up … cool.
Cis on March 19 at 5:09 p.m.
22-20 Zags
Cis on March 19 at 5:27 p.m.
33-28 Zips
hmoffsuite on March 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Question for DFO: Have you ever thought about putting up a chat room for the blog, for special events like games, blogfest, govt hearings, etc?
DFO on March 19 at 5:49 p.m.
We should know relatively quickly if the Zags are going to play defense in the second half and crack down on the Zips 3-point shots and easy lay-ups. Or if we’re in for a game that’ll go down to the wire — and possibly end in frustration.
JBelle on March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Heytvelt played like a Zag. I am so happy for him. And me. ;)
Stickman on March 19 at 8:44 p.m.
The Zips against the Zags. Someone will win, and move on. Then, the tests become much more of a stress. Of course we feel for the Zags and their journey, they just move on, and play as hard as they can. We will see.
Escapee on March 19 at 8:45 p.m.
Zooming Zags Zap Zips?
Me on March 19 at 9:24 p.m.
YAY.
JohnA on March 20 at 1:56 p.m.
Is Aliasjax now writing the headlines for the CDA Press? He had it exactly right.

As far as the game, I can’t quite figure out why it took Coach Few nearly 30 minutes of game time to switch from the zone defense to man-to-man. Down six to up 19, just like that.

Next up is a 12-seed. Not bad, beat a 13- and 12-seed and you make the Sweet 16, there to likely meet North Carolina. First things first, though - beating that 12-seed. Go Zags.

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.