Other coaches give Zags slight nod for conference tournament
Too close to call?
That’s the way the coaches see the West Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament that starts today at McCarthey Athletic Center.
But all things being equal, they agreed, take the home team.
That would appear to be a good choice since Gonzaga has not lost a WCC home game since the facility opened before last season.
“I feel like the favorite is Gonzaga,” Saint Mary’s coach Michelle Jacoby said. “They’re an experienced team, they have go-to players, they’re on their home floor. I definitely think Gonzaga’s the favorite.”
But Bulldogs coach Kelly Graves isn’t so sure.
“Everybody plays better at home, that’s natural, that’s athletics, (but) I think a lot of different teams can win it,” he said. “We finished 11-3 and tied with Santa Clara on top, but our margin for error is not very great. I think we were last or second to the last in scoring. We defend pretty well, but at some point you have to put points on the board and we really struggled doing that this year.”
The second-seeded Bulldogs are in the nightcap of the four opening games, facing a San Francisco team they handily defeated on the road Saturday. Top seed Santa Clara plays the game before, at 6 p.m., against No. 8 Portland.
Loyola Marymount, which led the conference most of the year until slipping to third, opens the tournament at noon against San Diego, followed by what could be a close matchup, No. 4 Pepperdine and No. 5 Saint Mary’s.
“I really think it’s up for grabs,” first-year San Diego coach Cindy Fisher said. “I feel pretty confident there will be some upsets in the first round.
“(The difference) is experience. Looking at those top three or four teams, LMU and Gonzaga, especially, have some real quality seniors (and) some real quality juniors in their programs. They’re experienced. They know how to win. … This time of year, there’s something to be said about teams knowing how to win.”
Jim Sollars, the veteran Portland coach, agreed but insisted that Graves, his former assistant, and the Bulldogs should be favored.
“Because Gonzaga has been so good defensively from beginning to end and the home-court advantage, there is no question Gonzaga is the favorite,” he said. “Tournaments are interesting things. … You just never know. Certainly Santa Clara, Gonzaga and LMU are very strong teams, but, to be honest with you, Saint Mary’s gave us more trouble than anyone.”
The Bulldogs also have the motivation after cruising unbeaten through the WCC last year only to lose to host Santa Clara in the championship game.
Though Graves said that wasn’t a topic of discussion, the players haven’t forgotten the loss and the subsequent snub from the NCAA despite a 27-3 record prior to the Women’s NIT.
“Of course we (remember). It’s hard to get over that day and what happened after,” said GU senior Anne Bailey, who had mononucleosis and missed the first nine conference games, including three road losses. “It fuels the fire more.”