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10. GONZAGA VS. SAINT MARY’S
A West Coast mid-major rivalry rounds out our list. The Zags and Gaels have been meeting since 1955 and have dominated the WCC in recent years, with one of the two winning all 10 of the last regular-season and tournament championships (most belong to Gonzaga). In addition to their two annual conference games, they’ve met in the WCC tournament in eight of the last 10 years. And while the Bulldogs have a firm grasp on the series, leading it 68–30 overall and 16–7 since 2010, Saint Mary’s, powered by its Australian pipeline, has always loomed as a threat—and a benefit.
The success of both schools has become an important part of their résumés, with their two (or three) yearly meetings serving as sometimes their only chance at notching league wins that will get noticed nationally. It has helped the WCC land multiple at-large NCAA tournament bids in six of the last nine years, where both teams have had success. Gonzaga has established itself as an annual contender nationally and made a run to the title game in 2017, and the Zags haven’t lost in the Round of 64 since 2008. The Gaels, for their part, have won at least one NCAA tournament game in three of their last four trips.
A West Coast mid-major rivalry rounds out our list. The Zags and Gaels have been meeting since 1955 and have dominated the WCC in recent years, with one of the two winning all 10 of the last regular-season and tournament championships (most belong to Gonzaga). In addition to their two annual conference games, they’ve met in the WCC tournament in eight of the last 10 years. And while the Bulldogs have a firm grasp on the series, leading it 68–30 overall and 16–7 since 2010, Saint Mary’s, powered by its Australian pipeline, has always loomed as a threat—and a benefit.
The success of both schools has become an important part of their résumés, with their two (or three) yearly meetings serving as sometimes their only chance at notching league wins that will get noticed nationally. It has helped the WCC land multiple at-large NCAA tournament bids in six of the last nine years, where both teams have had success. Gonzaga has established itself as an annual contender nationally and made a run to the title game in 2017, and the Zags haven’t lost in the Round of 64 since 2008. The Gaels, for their part, have won at least one NCAA tournament game in three of their last four trips.
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