WCC Basketball: Gonzaga heavy favorite, BYU a contender in tournament

WCC Basketball: Gonzaga heavy favorite, BYU a contender in 2019 tournament

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 06: A logo for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament is shown on the court before the championship game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs won 74-54. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 05: Jordan Ford #30 of the Saint Mary’s Gaels drives against Jahshire Hardnett #0 of the Brigham Young Cougars during a semifinal game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on March 5, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

WCC Bracketology

Plain and simple, the Bulldogs are the only WCC team that can enter this tournament with no worries of failing to reach the NCAA Tournament. Like so many years prior, Saint Mary’s again finds itself on the bubble, and with no massive, eye-catching wins, it seems as though the Gaels’ only real possibility of making the tournament is to win the conference tournament.

In Busting Brackets’ bracketology, like many, the Zags are poised to receive the 1 seed in the West. As for Saint Mary’s, they are the first team out in the same bracket. The Bracket Matrix has the Zags’ seed as a comfortable 1 on aggregate, while the Gaels are the first team in the “next four out” category.

Two victories in Las Vegas are the last things Gonzaga can do to solidify the 1 seed out West. A loss in either round would be means for the Zags to drop to a 2. As for Saint Mary’s, it’s a win and you’re in situation. As a likely 12 seed if they were to receive an at-large bid, a victory over likely Gonzaga in the title may be enough to push the Gaels to an 11.