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Some things never change
Gonzaga clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 26th consecutive year thanks to winning the WCC tourney for the 20th time under Mark Few. Plus: three more teams clinched bids, Big 12 and ACC tourneys began, and we highlight the impending entrants to the transfer portal.
Sean Paul
March 12, 2025
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Let's get to Tuesday’s news.
1. It was ‘harder than ever’ but Zags will dance again
It wasn’t pretty, but Gonzaga did Tuesday night what it seemingly always does: Win the WCC Tournament and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Zags’ 58-51 win over top-seed Saint Mary’s clinched their spot for the 28th consecutive season, something that wasn’t certain given they were 16-7 on Feb. 1. Tuesday also marked their first win over the Gaels in two years.
“This year has been harder than ever,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “To make it 26 straight years is unbelievable.
“We've had an inordinate amount of one-possession games … I think we were 350th in luck in Kenpom. We've had more banked 3s on us than I could ever, ever remember in my entire career.”
The Bulldogs (25-8) got off to a 20-7 start, and looked like they might blow out Saint Mary’s (28-5) but things settled into a game where offense was at a premium — the two combined to go just 1-of-31 from beyond the arc — but that was OK with Few. He started Braden Huff (18 points) down low, who played Paulius Murauskas off the floor, which forced the Gaels to play Harry Wessels next to Mitchell Saxen. Playing two total non-shooters in Wessels and Saxen contributed to the Gaels' major shooting woes.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." Few said on the Field of 68 After Dark. "We got off to two really bad starts, and I'm just like, we're gonna go with B Huff; that gives us a good matchup against who they start."
Not that it was all bricks. This Khalif Battle dunk essentially wrapped things up for the Zags.
Khalif Battle’s emphatic alley-oop seals the WCC Tournament crown for Gonzaga, as they pull away from Saint Mary’s late 58-51 in Las Vegas.
— Made For March (@madeformarch)
3:01 AM • Mar 12, 2025
We'll see what the selection committee has in store for the Bulldogs on Sunday. The metrics say Gonzaga should be a top-five seed. Perhaps this gets them off the 8-9 line.
2. Three more tickets punched — and one was a shocker
It wouldn’t be March without a a surprise amid some favorites winning. Tuesday was no exception.
