In Search of Number One

It is that time of the season when people debate the issue of which team deserves to be rated number one in the state or the nation. Some personal choices are easier for us to make than others.

We all have that favorite local team, alma mater or the get on the bandwagon teams that some people love to grab a hold of as long as they are winning.

A lot of local fans have gotten on the Gonzaga bandwagon after they started their winning ways and of course are on television on a regular basis.

I am a fan but I liked them before they became popular since I had an older brother and sister that graduated from Gonzaga. I guess you could say I became a fan quite honestly.

Being a northwest school and a member of the WCC ranked highly in the NCAA basketball polls is difficult. Scheduling big time teams is not easy when it comes to the strength of schedule.

Over the years, Gonzaga had to play a lot of road games and neutral floor games to earn that respect. Win a few of those and people will take notice.

Nowadays a fair amount of teams around the nation want to improve their strength of schedule by making sure the Zags are on theirs.

There was also a time when no one wanted to play in a 6,000 seat venue but now teams like San Diego State, UW, UCLA, Arizona and a few years ago even Michigan State came to Spokane for a memorable game.

When it comes to the number one ranking, I’ve heard Coach Mark Few say that he doesn’t like to discuss it as if it is something his team needs in order to prove to the world they are a great team.

He’s flattered but he knows being ranked number one will not bring about a Final Four or National Championship. Those things need to be earned on the court during March Madness.

But the key to the whole thing is to win the games that are on the schedule and people will take notice.

I know there are some coaches that relish the thought of being rated number one. Part of it is ego but a lot of it is dealing with pressure.

They feel that the teams that end up playing a number one rated team will bring their ‘A’ game every time and dealing with the challenges will make a good team even better.

But I’ve also seen teams fold under that pressure. Better to find out before the big tournament starts than during it, right?

The debate goes on each week if the team that is number one deserves that ranking.

What I’ve heard lately is, “Gonzaga has earned the right to be number one because they have won every game on their schedule.”

And in the same breath they say, “But I don’t know if they are the best team in the country.”

That is a fair statement. I don’t know either.

But I do think the Zags are playing their best basketball of the season and that makes it difficult for the other teams in the WCC.

On Saturday, the Zags traveled to Moraga, California to take on the St. Mary’s Gaels. Maybe the only team in the WCC that matched up with them talent wise, with a few exceptions.

Chances are St. Mary’s and Gonzaga will play one more time but Saturday’s game was in front of a hostile crowd and it front of a national audience on ESPN.

I’m not into making predictions because I don’t want people to think that I’m really smart or really stupid. I just wanted to see a competitive game and it certainly was.

The Zags took every punch that the Gaels delivered and landed several more of their own for a 10 point victory. So they are number one for another week and presently are predicted to be a number one seed into the NCAA tournament as well.

I’ve maintained that the great thing about polls is that they don’t have to be right.

They can be very wrong and it is nothing but a poll that reflects people’s opinions. Nothing is guaranteed because the poll is an inexact science or better yet an opinion.

After the polling data is finished prior to the NCAA tournament no one will ever say, We don’t need to play the tournament because my favorite team is number one.

Nope, the tournament will be played but at least the poll may help achieve a high seeding which is always good.

As we search for that number one team in the nation I hope Zag fans will enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. This team is the real deal and if you haven’t seen them play you are missing out on something special.

Who knows maybe this is the year Gonzaga makes it to the Final Four. Now wouldn’t that be a fun ride?