Bulldogs-Gaels a really big deal
We can answer every question you have about Saturday’s Saint Mary’s-Gonzaga game except “Who’s going to win?”
Q: Why haven’t we seen any clever marketing slogans?
A: Because it’s hard to fit “Battle for the Bottom of the Top 25” on a T-shirt.
Q: C’mon. Don’t you think this is a big deal?
A: Absolutely. It’s the first meeting of two ranked teams in the history of the West Coast Conference. That’s just one fewer team in the Top 25 than the Best Conference in America has at the moment. Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen has demanded a recount.
Q: Has the WCC had two teams ranked at the same time?
A: San Francisco and UNLV, for two weeks in December 1973.
Q: UNLV was in the West Coast Conference?
A: Yes, but at the time the school was known simply as “Saint Tark’s.”
Q: Why did they leave?
A: There was too much temptation to cheat to keep up with USF.
Q: Speaking of USF, how is Eddie Sutton doing with the Dons?
A: Having managed to get his 800th career win, he’s desperate for the season to be over before he collects his 800th loss.
Q: Let’s get back on the subject – Gonzaga spent the first seven weeks of the season in the Top 25, but it’s the Gaels who’ve been there the last six weeks. What got them there?
A: Good players, great coaching and a well-crafted preseason schedule that gave them a chance to build a resume. Beating Drake, Oregon and Seton Hall – all top-75 teams in the RPI – at home was a tremendous momentum boost.
Q: Is having two Top 25 teams a sign that the WCC is finally getting some national respect?
A: Here’s a better one: that losing a game, in league or out, isn’t automatically grounds for voters to hit the eject button. Saint Mary’s stayed in even after losing to San Diego and, later, Kent State. Tom Hansen immediately demanded a recount.
Q: How about a scouting report on the Gaels?
A: Gonzaga coach Mark Few said they have all the elements – a heady point guard who can penetrate but also score outside, dependable 3-point shooters, a double-double forward in Diamon Simpson and a back-to-the-basket scorer, plus a strong bench.
Q: No weaknesses at all?
A: Only the candlepower in their gym.
Q: Is it that bad?
A: We’ve seen better lighting in a North Monroe tavern. Flipping channels the other night, we couldn’t be sure if we’d stumbled upon a Bracket Buster game or the network premiere of “Sweeney Todd.”
Q: Speaking of TV, we’ve heard KHQ is bringing in a new play-by-play announcer for this one. True?
A: It’s Matt Pinto, radio voice of the Seattle SuperSonics. It’ll be a challenge for him because not only will he be unfamiliar with the players, but both teams will be, you know, watchable.
Q: What happened to Greg Heister?
A: He’s gone north to Alaska to produce the Iditarod telecast for the Versus channel. If you tune in, expect to see footage of Craig Ehlo on a dogsled pulled by bulldogs.
Q: Are they beefing up security at McCarthey Athletic Center for this game?
A: Well, as you know, Gonzaga fans have a hate-hate relationship with Gaels center Omar Samhan, but no – no extra security. As usual, Kennel Clubbers will be frisked so they don’t bring in anything clever.
Q: Any other game- management adjustments?
A: As at the Academy Awards, there will be human seat-fillers for the fat cats who can’t down their cocktails in time to return for the start of the second half.
Q: Besides the poll, are there any national implications to this game?
A: It’s been suggested that viewers tune in to watch the matchup of Oregon State’s future coach (Randy Bennett) and Oregon’s future coach (Mark Few).
Q: That’s a joke, right?
A: Is anybody laughing?
Q: But isn’t Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny Few’s best friend?
A: No. Kilkenny’s best friend is the exterminator he has to bring in every week to kill all the mice living in McArthur Court.
Q: Is Bennett Oregon State’s No. 1 candidate.
A: It would have been Eddie Sutton, but USF beat the Beavers to it.
Q: What’s a Gael?
A: It’s a Celt.
Q: So why aren’t they the Celts?
A: Because they’re not from Boston.
Q: What’s a Zag?
A: A sometimes unhealthy obsession, or what Spokane does from November to April.
Q: Something called “Bracketology” on a popular Web site says the Zags will be a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament and the Gaels will be a No. 8. What exactly is “Bracketology?”
A: A flat-out guess.
Q: If San Diego can manage to win the WCC tournament, will the league get three teams in the NCAAs?
A: There’s a better chance that Myles Brand will hug Bobby Knight at center court of the Final Four. But if the WCC does get three in, Tom Hansen will demand a recount.