Zags open WCC title defense against Portland
With Gonzaga and Portland hooking up for a WCC opener Saturday, I put together a WCC/Portland game advance that will run in Saturday's S-R. It's posted below.
A quick update: There's been a subtle change in Robert Sacre's status. According to the Gonzaga release for the Portland game, surgery is not being contemplated at present as recent x-rays indicate the latest fracture is healing. It is still unknown how long Sacre will be sidelined.
GU's release for the Tennessee game said Sacre's foot was still being evaluated.
By
Staff writer
Same old West Coast Conference.
Wait, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
The conference sent a record three teams to the NCAA tournament last year and those three – Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s and
Eight-time defending champion Gonzaga remains the favorite. Saint Mary’s has a veteran cast and legitimate title hopes.
Upstart
“I don’t know if it’s the best it’s ever been, but it’s close,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “There’s a lot of good players and lot of teams with a lot of veterans back.”
Added Few: “Experience in college basketball gives you a real chance.”
That’s precisely what Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s,
“It was a thing where we had confidence issues, myself probably more than the other guys,” senior guard Jeremy Pargo said. “A win like
Saint Mary’s wants to end Gonzaga’s run of conference supremacy. The Gaels split with the Bulldogs last year, but Saint Mary’s lost at
“It starts with (guard) Patty Mills, he’s obviously a guy that is going to have an opportunity to play at the next level,” Few said. “(Diamon) Simpson is as good a power forward that’s come through the league in a long time. You start with those two and put in a great low-post scorer in (Omar) Samhan and throw some other good shooters out there, that’s a pretty good mix.”
The Gaels return 80 percent of their scoring and 89 percent of their rebounding from last season. Gonzaga checks in at 77.2 and 72 percent, respectively.
Starting sophomore center Kramer Knutson (concussion) has missed four straight games, but he’s listed as probable tonight.
“They’re a very experienced team that has shown they can beat anybody,” Few said.
Loyola Marymount is down to seven scholarship players after injuries to four key players. Head coach Bill Bayno has been on a leave of absence for medical reasons since Nov. 23. Max Good is the acting head coach. Pepperdine has just three wins with a young squad. In a recent loss to