WCC Basketball Fans

(1) Gonzaga 77, (5) Loyola Marymount 62

For 28 minutes, the Gonzaga Bulldogs received virtually no resistance from the Loyola Marymount Lions. Then, for a few minutes, a relentless underdog showed signs of pulling off a significant upset with NCAA Tournament implications across the entire nation.

Fortunately for the many residents of the NCAA bubble, the West Coast Conference’s supreme power managed to restore order before its situation became even more scary.

The night at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas seemed routine and relaxing for Gonzaga. Coach Mark Few’s formidable squad led Loyola Marymount by a 58-45 margin at the 10:27 mark of the second half. Coach Max Good’s Lions had already beaten the Bulldogs once this year – on Feb. 18 – so the idea that LMU could spring a second surprise was hard to seriously entertain. With this game being in Vegas, the odds were certainly stacked against the unheralded fifth seed from Los Angeles.

Yet, in a span of four amazing minutes, the calculus of this contest briefly shifted, causing a stir inside the arena and throughout the college hoops community.

Gonzaga is playing for itself, of course, but the West Coast Conference is a noteworthy national event because the Zags’ fate is connected to the fate of bubble teams throughout the United States. If Gonzaga wins the WCC Tournament, a bid will not get stolen from a bubble team. However, a loss by the Bulldogs at this event would surely allow the WCC to get two teams into the NCAAs, knocking one bubble team off a proverbial cliff. Many men in America had a reason to follow this game to the finish, and when Loyola Marymount began to decisively outplay Gonzaga, Bubble Nation stood at attention.

Many teams – when faced with a 13-point deficit against Gonzaga midway through the second half – generally fold like a cheap tent. Loyola Marymount didn’t. The Lions got stronger instead of weaker as the second half progressed, and by winning 50-50 balls while also taking charge on the boards, they sliced that 58-45 deficit to just six points, at 61-55, with 6:27 to go. Gonzaga scored very easily in the game’s first half, so when LMU began to apply bona-fide game pressure – especially after halftime – the Zags found themselves grossly deficient in terms of raw energy. Without a spark or a turning point, the sons of Spokane, Wash., needed a pick-me-up in order to avoid a high-stress conclusion to this Sunday in Sin City.

That pick-me-up emerged with just under six minutes left in regulation.

After a questionable foul call disqualified Gonzaga big man Robert Sacre, Loyola Marymount missed two free throws with 5:57 left. Just 13 seconds later, Gonzaga’s Bol Kong – an occasionally-used reserve – banged in a three to widen the lead back to 66-55 with 5:44 remaining. LMU never made another credible threat, and Gonzaga had marched into yet another WCC title game.

What’s Next

Gonzaga will try to win another West Coast title on Monday night in Las Vegas as the Bulldogs take on either Portland or Saint Mary’s. Few went deep into his bench in this game against Loyola Marymount, so the Zags should expect to have reasonably fresh legs for their conference finale. One of the reasons GU played well for most of the night was the ability of point guard Demetri Goodson to rush the ball up court, but while remaining under control. Goodson had a deceptively small total of just eight points, but his forays to the hoop opened up opportunities for his teammates. Moreover, Gonzaga’s fast pace prevented LMU and Max Good from establishing defensive positioning in the half court; Gonzaga beat the Lions down the floor and attacked before LMU could fully match up and then execute its defensive plan.

If the Zags – and especially Goodson – can continue this semifinal pattern in Monday’s final, they’ll be awfully hard to beat.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer