Go Zags: I will not apologize for a Championship

Gonzaga is king of the WCC yet again! Mark Few put on a masterful coaching display last night against Saint Mary’s in what has become the best rivalry on the West Coast. Even though their dominance should not go unmentioned, the Zags sealed another championship last night.

For those commenting on the style of the game and the combined 1-for-31 three-point shooting performances, I say defense wins championships. Though to true Zags fans, that is usually not the case, right? We've seen this program rise from Cinderella status to the cusp of blue blood through offense. Gonzaga is always known for being top 10 in most offensive categories.

But that’s what makes this one even sweeter...they got TOUGH. Gonzaga out-physicaled the team whose claim to fame is toughness.

Saint Mary’s is supposed to be the one that wins the 58-51 games. The one that is supposed to frustrate your offense into 20-plus turnovers. Not tonight! Gonzaga’s defense was everywhere. Yes, the Gaels couldn’t hit the side of a barn, but that was because of the nature of their shots—late shot clock, hand in face, off-balance. That was a product of defense.

Gonzaga took the regular season matchups personally and did not let them push us around last night. So, I’m not apologizing for the so-called "inept offenses." Instead, I’m here to praise timely scoring, forced turnovers, and grit. That’s what the Bulldogs brought to the table. And yes, the true Zags showed up as well, with Ben Gregg and Khalif Battle throwing down thunderous dunks.

But overall, the player of the game had to be Braden Huff, getting the start and never looking back as he refused to let the bigs of Saint Mary’s push him around. He put together 18 points to lead the Dawgs.

This win is huge as the Zags clinch the auto bid, but it also means that most experts now believe they won’t be stuck on the 8/9 seed line which, in this season, is critical given the apparent gap between the 1s and 2s. Of course, there’s still an uphill battle ahead next week to reach the second weekend.

They will need much more offense in the Big Dance, but if this defense shows up, it will go a long way in securing wins. March is where transfers and seniors step up for teams that make deep runs, so Gonzaga will need more from Gregg, Battle, Nolan Hickman, & Michael Ajayi to put together some wins in the tournament.

Bet Recap: Awesome hit on the parlay but the flush the rest

Bet(s) of the Day:

03-12

Notre Dame +10.5 -115

Texas - Vandy over 148.5 -112

Lamar - McNeese over 132.5 -115

Liberty -7.5 -110

Kansas State - Baylor over 137.5 -108

Frisky Parlay:

Navy - American over 131.5

Merrimack -3.5

Odds: +264