The postseason is in view
A GRIP ON SPORTS
It's that time of year. The time when college basketball teams begin to think about the postseason. Read on.
• As February winds down, you and I and everyone we know starting focusing on the best part of the college basketball season. March Madness is a sickness that infects the bloodstream. So which of our local teams will be stricken this season and which have already been inoculated? Let's look at them in alphabetical order.
• Eastern Washington: The Eagles are 10-13 overall and, more importantly, 5-7 in conference play, tied for ninth place. But Tyler Harvey (pictured) and the Eags are just two games out of second place in a bunched-up Big Sky. A hot streak in their last eight games – five of which are in Cheney – should propel Eastern into the seven-team conference tournament. The tourney starts in 29 days and, more than likely, will be hosted by Weber State, which is three games up on everyone else. The Big Sky is a one-bid league, so if the Eagles can get into the conference tournament, get hot and win three consecutive games (in three days), they are in. Otherwise, the Eagles will be watching the postseason like the rest of us.
• Gonzaga: The Zags (21-4, 11-1) are going to the NCAA tournament – unless a trap door opens and they lose a majority of their final six-to-nine games. But no one expects that to happen – even with their final four WCC regular-season games on the road. Win out and GU probably earns a six or seven seed. Lose a couple and the Bulldogs are in the 10-to-12 range, mainly due to a lackluster non-conference schedule and a weaker-than-usual top half of the WCC – balance is good for a conference but bad for building an NCAA resume.
• Idaho: Of all the local teams, the Vandals (10-14, 4-6) are the toughest to figure out. They have lost so many close WAC games, games that could have gone either way. Three of their conference losses have been by five or fewer points. They very easily could be 7-3 and in second place in a not-overpowering WAC. So it is not out of the question they arrive in Las Vegas in a month with a 50-50 chance to win the conference tournament and head to the NCAAs. Win three games and they are in. Weirder things have happened. But Stephen Madison (pictured) and the Vandals finish the regular season with five of their final seven on the road. That's not a recipe for building momentum into the tournament.
• Washington State: The Cougars (9-14, 2-9) would have to win the Pac-12 Tournament to earn an NCAA invite. There is no way they will be invited, even if they finish the Pac-12 regular season on a seven-game winning streak. OK, if they do that, starting tonight with a home win over California, then maybe, especially is the streak reaches, say, nine, in the tournament. But that's not going to happen. So don't expect the Cougs to be dancing anywhere, even in one of the lower-tier tournaments.
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• WSU: As we said, the Cougars host California (pictured) tonight. Jacob Thorpe has an advance in today's paper and a piece on Jordan Railey on the blog. He also has a morning blog post with links. ... Thomas Clouse's women's basketball notebook looks at the postseason for our area teams and the first team he examines is Washington State. .... Bud Withers took a look at the attendance around the conference. It's not pretty, especially in Pullman. Apathy seems to reign supreme around the league. ... Utah will try to rope in more fans next year with improvements to its facility. ... The league's leading scorer is in Corvallis. ... The best shot blocker is in Tempe. ... It's Wednesday, so there is a mailbag on ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog.
• Gonzaga: Speaking of the NCAAs, St. Mary's still feels it has a shot. ... BYU probably would have to win the WCC tournament to get in, but the Cougars have the weapons to do that.
• Chiefs: Chris Derrick covers the WHL each Wednesday with a notebook and today is no different. It also serves as an advance of tonight's home game. ... Portland is on a long winning streak but that doesn't keep the Winterhawks from signing players.
• Preps: The GSL boys race will come down to the winner of Thursday's Gonzaga Prep at Ferris game. That was assured after Tuesday night's results, summarized in this roundup. ... Greg Lee was at Mead last night as the Panther girls took a big step toward securing the second 4A berth with a 54-47 win over Lewis and Clark. That spot will go to the CV-Mead winner Thursday. ... Colin Mulvany was also at the Mead game and has these photographs. ... We also have roundups from girls and boys action around the area.
• Mariners: Pitchers and catchers officially begin spring training today – is it a coincidence there is a big thaw going on around here this morning? I think not. Ryan Divish is their for the Times this year and he has a summary of what general manager Jack Zduriencik had to say yesterday. Ryan and Bob Dutton of the News Tribune have some news the M's are about to sign a couple veteran starters in the runup to the regular season.
• Sounders: Soccer has been played professionally in Seattle for 40 years. The Sounders are going to mark that milestone this season.
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• That's it for now. We'll be back tomorrow. I promise. Until then ...
