We all know the Zags are in the midst of an excellent season. Perfect in the West Coast Conference; the best record in the nation overall; yet only a game ahead of Saint Mary’s for conference superiority. Doesn’t it seem like every year it’s the same story? I hear the uproar about how Saint Mary’s has everything to lose and the Zags are riding the wave without a fear in the world, I completely disagree.
The Zags have an
outside chance at their first #1 seed in the NCAA tournament or more likely a
#2 seed. For the Zags to get to the final four, we will need to get the best
bracket possible. This means that the higher seed we get, and the closer we get
to home come tourney time the better chance we have at stringing together four
straight wins to get to the final four and silence the critics. This is
EVERYTHING. The enormity of this season on the future of our program is insane.
This is the year that things should finally come together. This is the year
that we should burst onto the national scene and eclipse the age old “Cinderella”
moniker. Sure we are America’s sweetheart. David to the Bigger schools Goliath,
but we are at the point where we have to transcend the “Mid-Major” label and take
a step toward becoming a perennial top team and big time national recruiter. A
Final Four would help us take that step.
So on Valentine’s Day in Moraga, I wager that we NEED to
win. It is simply not ok to just be in the game, or to come in and give a good
effort. This is a must win game for our team. We need to come in and manhandle
Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Holt, Brad Waldow and company. We need to exert
our will and show we are the superior team both at home and on the road. We
need to take advantage of a game against a top 25 caliber team and continue to
show the nation we are ready to take our talents to the next level this year. I
don’t want to hear another Zag fan talk about how it’s ok if we lose. ITS NOT!
End of Story.
8 comments:
I understand that playing cupcakes makes winning easy. The tournament has changed quite a bit in recent years. Many of those teams that are supposed to be cupcakes are really some pretty tough gristle. Other than the first round games for the top seeds, I wouldn't take anything for granted.
In the tournament seeding isn't the end all -- not this year anyway. The only team that scares me is Duke and Duke . . . has been very beatable this year.
A win at St. Marys would be very nice. That other result matters very little at this point. Our guys should be playing loose and enjoying the experience.
For St. Marys, this may well be their biggest game of the entire season. They will be up, their fans will be crazy and they will be so down after that final buzzer sounds.
Zags 74 St.Marys 63
I think the pressure is on SMC. This is their only chance, outside of the WCC tourney, to get a marquee win. Something their resume lacks. Not saying their non-conf schedule was soft, but I could prolly have taken that slate of teams in to my daughters class for cupcakes on her b-day!
Hey Quid,
I disagree that the result doesnt matter to us or that the players should be playing loose...This is pretty serious and i think guys like Kelly and Elias know that this year is incredibly important to the future success of Gonzaga. I really do not think the fan base grasps the gravity of this season. It is probably the most important season we have had since 1998's Elite Eight appearance. This is the stepping stone to get us to the next level.
Josh,
Let the BIG DOG EAT!
I got a feeling the Zags have something very special in store for Delli tomorrow night!
mjc
St. Mary's still gets Creighton at home in Bracketbusters, but Creighton has been falling apart lately, so SMC will need to beat us or bust.
Unless they were to win the WCC Tourney I presume they feel if they win out and get to the WCC finals they would get a bid in the dance as well.
The pressure is definately on SMC and that place will be deafening! Undefeated at home, winners of 9 in a row, with their backs against the wall...I do not like how it sets up but if we are deserving of that #3/5 ranking we will pull out the win, right?
We've been in some very hostile environments playing some very good teams. I think it will pay dividends tonight.
I see Zags winning a close one: Zags 77 SMC 74
I called it. Zags scored 77!
Silly of the defense to mess me up on the other silly of my prediction, lol.
How sweet it is!!!
When Gonzaga beats USF on Saturday, and Elias gets to finally know what it feels like to beat USF on the road {can you believe that, we have lost three years in a row down there?!}, we get to finish off the WCC reg season with 3 of 4 at home.
Winning out is beginning to look very doable.
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