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Early season victories and rankings are exactly what they are... nice victories and poll standings to have EARLY in the season. However they don't necessarily translate into how teams are going to fare in the second half of the season. And any team will tell you that it's where you end up in March.
I bring this up because many writers and publications are ready to hand St. Mary's the WCC title this year based on a couple of early season victories. St. Mary's is a good team this year, and to their credit have won the games they needed to despite the road loss to SIU. However, their BIG wins have come against 2 teams that seem to have had too much respect early in the season.
Tonight Seton Hall was thumped on their home court against UConn by 12 points... yes the same UConn team that GU beat in Boston. Also Oregon lost to an interesting Arizona State team (far from elite though) in their PAC-10 opener by 8 points. Both of these programs seem to be fading from their early season hype.
GU has played a competitive schedule as usual, and has not fared well thus far with the exception of the St. Joe's and UConn road trip. However, the teams that they have played (WSU, Tenn, and Oklahoma) are still ranked and barring injuries will remain ranked for the rest of the season. When it comes to the WCC schedule, I believe GU is far more prepared to compete for the WCC title than SMC (especially given GU's road experience compared to SMC).
I'm glad that there is another team in the WCC getting some publicity. I view it as an ABSOLUTE positive. I'm finally looking forward to watching GU battle in the WCC this year... especially against SMC. Maybe others who don't usually follow the WCC will watch the games too and the conference will rise from obscurity.
For the record... I don't see GU dropping either game against SMC. GU definitely has extra motivation to put SMC in their proper place, and I wouldn't want to have to face GU in late January and again in late February.
GO ZAGS!!!
I bring this up because many writers and publications are ready to hand St. Mary's the WCC title this year based on a couple of early season victories. St. Mary's is a good team this year, and to their credit have won the games they needed to despite the road loss to SIU. However, their BIG wins have come against 2 teams that seem to have had too much respect early in the season.
Tonight Seton Hall was thumped on their home court against UConn by 12 points... yes the same UConn team that GU beat in Boston. Also Oregon lost to an interesting Arizona State team (far from elite though) in their PAC-10 opener by 8 points. Both of these programs seem to be fading from their early season hype.
GU has played a competitive schedule as usual, and has not fared well thus far with the exception of the St. Joe's and UConn road trip. However, the teams that they have played (WSU, Tenn, and Oklahoma) are still ranked and barring injuries will remain ranked for the rest of the season. When it comes to the WCC schedule, I believe GU is far more prepared to compete for the WCC title than SMC (especially given GU's road experience compared to SMC).
I'm glad that there is another team in the WCC getting some publicity. I view it as an ABSOLUTE positive. I'm finally looking forward to watching GU battle in the WCC this year... especially against SMC. Maybe others who don't usually follow the WCC will watch the games too and the conference will rise from obscurity.
For the record... I don't see GU dropping either game against SMC. GU definitely has extra motivation to put SMC in their proper place, and I wouldn't want to have to face GU in late January and again in late February.
GO ZAGS!!!
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