GONZAGA ROUTS SAINT MARY’S FOR ANOTHER WCC TITLE
Drew Timme scored 18 points and became Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer to lead the sharp-shooting No. 9 Bulldogs past No. 16 Saint Mary’s 77-51 on Tuesday night in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game.
The Zags (28-5) continued their domination of the WCC with their fourth consecutive tournament championship and 10th in 11 years, with Saint Mary’s in 2019 being the only exception. Gonzaga has won 21 tournament titles overall.
Saint Mary’s (26-7) actually was seeded first in the tournament and the teams split the regular-season series. The Gaels were the last team to beat Gonzaga, which takes a nine-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament that includes beating Saint Mary’s to end the regular season.
Both teams will find out their seedings and destinations Sunday.
Gonzaga made 58 percent of its shots, while holding Saint Mary’s to 33 percent shooting. The Gaels led by as many as 37 points and never trailed.
Timme was efficient in making 8 of 10 shots to lead four Bulldogs into double figures. Malachi Smith scored 14 points, Nolan Hickman 12 points and Julian Strawther 10. Anton Watson had 10 rebounds.
Timme’s short jumper with 10:18 left put him in first place alone as the leading scorer in Zags history.
Logan Johnson led the Gaels with 20 points, and Alex Ducas scored 10.
Bruins seek No. 1 seed
UCLA coach Mick Cronin has a unique relationship with Las Vegas.
He was offered the UNLV job in 2016, turning it down to remain at Cincinnati, and has said he considers Las Vegas his second home. Cronin’s Bruins have played five regular-season games in Las Vegas the past two years, and had a sixth scheduled against North Carolina in December 2021 that was canceled because of COVID-19 issues.
Then, of course, there is the annual Pac-12 Conference Tournament, which opens today, that brings Cronin and his team to Las Vegas.
But as much as he enjoys coming here, his on-court experiences haven’t always worked out the way he wanted. UCLA made the finals of the conference tournament last season before losing 84-76 to Arizona.
The Bruins were swept in December by Illinois and Baylor. Cronin’s voice could be heard through the wall as he dressed down his team at halftime of one of those games.
He said, however, he isn’t anxious about this week as No. 2 UCLA (27-4) plays for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He said he wants his players to enjoy the week. To that end, Cronin planned to take them to Topgolf on Tuesday night.
Still, this is a big week for the Bruins, who if they win the tournament almost certainly would be the No. 1 seed in the West Region. And if they win the first two games of the NCAA Tournament, they would be right back in Las Vegas for the regional.
Cronin said the players have been focused on trying to become the West’s top seed, and there are practical reasons to try to achieve that spot.
“I do know the travel is an issue,” Cronin said. “I made one Final Four (2021 in the Indiana bubble). It took one flight to get there.”
Cronin said guard Jaylen Clark, who was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, won’t play in the conference tournament because of a lower-leg injury.
Also, Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s was named The Associated Press Pac-12 player of the year and Cronin is the coach of the year. Washington forward Keion Brooks was named Pac-12 newcomer of the year by an eight-person panel of journalists who cover the conference.
Women
Portland 64, No. 16 Gonzaga 60: Maisie Burnham scored 19 points, Alex Fowler had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Portland (23-8) beat Gonzaga (28-4) to claim an NCAA Tournament berth.