WCC Gonzaga at Moraga One Last Time

The farewell tour to the WCC continues with another bittersweet final moment this Saturday night. As the Gonzaga Bulldogs travel to their rivals, Saint Mary’s, as WCC foes one last time in Moraga, California. A true end-of-an-era game, as the two have given us countless epic battles over the past couple decades atop the conference. Though there’s excitement in Spokane for the future with the Pac-12, still a piece of history is being left behind.

Who would have thought a tiny gym holding just about 3,500 people would be in the national spotlight countless times, hosting some of the greatest moments in college basketball for the game’s most underrated rivalry. Though not many fans may fit in this arena compared to others, you still can’t help but feel every one of them every time the Zags step on the court. The court just feels smaller as the fans seem on top of you. Saturday night will be no different, as the Bulldogs will surely be facing, yet again, the Gael's best game.

This one, though, without a doubt carries a little more weight, as the Gaels would love to send our Zags off to the Pac-12 with a loss, and maybe even stop us next week in Vegas as we hope to see each other for one last time in the WCC Championship. I am prepared for Saint Mary’s best game ever over the next couple weeks as they look to take over the throne being left empty by Gonzaga in the WCC.

In this day and age of college sports, I get the need to level up. I understand Gonzaga’s leap to the new Pac-12, as it’s beginning to have the makings of a strong West Coast basketball conference, with potentially a much higher revenue share. Which is crucial to succeed in the NCAA now. But with all that said, you can still miss, and be sad about what’s getting left behind a rivalry full of great memories & some bad spirnkled in.

This rivalry has seen upsets, blowouts, and for the most part, dominance(by the Zags of course). Still, the names will never be forgotten, the annoying shot-making of Mickey McConnell, the rat-like grit of Matthew Dellavedova, or even big man aggression of Omar Samhan. Just three of many guys I grew to despise over the years as a Zags man. On the flip side, I won't forget the big games from players like Matt Bouldin, Jeremy Pargo, and Kevin Pangos, all names that helped us get to who we are today as Gonzaga. They didn’t get to Final Fours like more recent Zags, but still are all part of this journey through the years to potential blue-blood status.

Starting tomorrow night, over the next week or so, it’s the end of an era. While the Zags have taken at least a share of the regular-season title, now it’s only fitting, after years of photo-finish clashes with the Gaels, that the last championship for Spokane is up for grabs by going through Saint Mary’s. WCC fans, cherish this as we say goodbye to the West Coast’s best rivalry... Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary’s... for one last time in Moraga.