Getting ready for the challenge
Gonzaga is obviously the center of attention in basketball this weekend with games in Las Vegas against No. 6 Baylor and No. 13 Texas A&M.
First, a quick correction. Despite earlier reporters, neither game - and both start at 8:45 p.m. - is on TV. However, if you want to see a high-quality women's game, the Tennessee-Stanford game is on FSN at 11:30 a.m. Then switch to SWX for Washington's State's game with Nevada at 1:30.
But there is a lot of information to digest before the games, which will be on the radio. Keep reading.
Charlie Creme of ESPN has the first Bracketology out with a disclaimer, which mentions Gonzaga. No surprise, though with Gonzaga headed to Seattle, with a surprising matchup against Texas A&M - maybe Sunday's game is more critical than we thought.
An impressive warmup for Baylor against Oral Roberts. (Warning, this link is not for Gonzaga fans prone to upset stomachs.)
Here are the school releases for the weekend games: Gonzaga, Baylor (and if you look at this Baylor, link it appears you can watch, though I didn't check to see if there was a cost), Texas A&M (a press conference but release may be up soon, and also an indication the game can be watched).
Meanwhile, Washington State, Eastern Washington releases for weekend games.
A quick look at Tennessee's whipping of Louisville, led by Angie Bjorklund, which increases the anticipation for the Stanford game. (And a sidebar on Tennessee putting players' names back on their jerseys.) I'm betting if you check the Knoxville paper Saturday morning you'll get some interesting reading.
I'm not sure how much information I'll be able to disperse for a while because of the holidays and vacation. I will be signed on at some point because my weekly AP poll is due Sunday evening and I'll try to take a few minutes to update the blog.