Associated Press
SPOKANE, Wash. – The boos began as soon as it was announced Sunday that No. 6 Gonzaga would be a sixth seed in the NCAA tournament.
It was the highest seed in team history, but a letdown from the third or fourth seed the Bulldogs were expecting. And fans jamming a hotel ballroom made their feelings known.
Still, Gonzaga (29-3) will be the higher-ranked team in the first round for the first time in its history when the Bulldogs play 11th-seeded Wyoming (21-8) on Thursday in Albuquerque, N.M.
“I would think we would have went higher,” guard Blake Stepp said. “It’s a little disappointing.”
The sentiment was shared by television analysts as CBS announced the seedings. “Gonzaga is a lot lower than we anticipated,” analyst Billy Packer said.
Coach Mark Few acknowledged that he was disappointed in the seed. He had no theory on why a team ranked sixth in the nation would merit no better than a sixth seed from tournament selectors, other than a heavy reliance on the Ratings Percentage Index. Gonzaga ranks relatively low in the RPI because it plays in the low-profile West Coast Conference.
But Few reminded fans that it was an honor just to qualify for the NCAA tournament, and this is the fourth straight season the Bulldogs will be there.
“We have to do a reality check and remember what a special deal it is to make it into the NCAA tournament,” Few said.
Gonzaga, Duke and Michigan State are the only three teams in the country to advance to at least the round of 16 the past three seasons.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to keep this thing rolling,” Few said.
In their three previous NCAA appearances, the Bulldogs were seeded 12th, 10th and 10th.
All three teams Gonzaga lost to this year – Illinois, Marquette and Pepperdine – qualified for the NCAA tournament.
Few said he has watched Wyoming on television a few times.
“They’re a handful,” he said.
He noted the Bulldogs beat New Mexico in overtime in Albuquerque this season, so they have already experienced playing in the higher elevation.
“It’s nice that our guys have been in that building, made shots on those rims,” Few said.
The Bulldogs are also pleased to remain in the West Region. Last year they had to travel to Memphis, Tenn., to play Virginia in the first round.
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