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Bulldogs Aim for Final WCC Crown Before Pac-12 Move
9 Mar
Summary
- Gonzaga seeks 22nd WCC tournament title in 28 years.
- Both Gonzaga and Oregon State are leaving the WCC for the Pac-12.
- Gonzaga's Graham Ike leads conference in points and rebounds.
Top-seeded Gonzaga, ranked 12th nationally, is pursuing its final West Coast Conference tournament championship before transitioning to the rebuilt Pac-12. The Bulldogs will compete in the semifinals on Monday night in Las Vegas against Oregon State. This marks Gonzaga's pursuit of their 22nd conference tournament title in the last 28 campaigns.
Oregon State, seeded fourth, reached the semifinals by narrowly defeating San Francisco. The Beavers, who also spent the past two seasons in the WCC after the Pac-12's realignment, are set to return to the Pac-12. Their coach of 12 years, Wayne Tinkle, was dismissed on February 26 but will continue to lead the team through the end of the season.
The Bulldogs, with a 28-3 record, have dominated the WCC tournament, securing 11 of the last 13 titles. Their regular season saw a 16-2 conference record, with notable losses to Portland and Saint Mary's. Graham Ike, Gonzaga's leading scorer and rebounder, was named WCC Player of the Year and has a history of strong performances against Oregon State.
Gonzaga faces roster challenges with Braden Huff out due to a knee injury, though Jalen Warley is expected to return. Oregon State has found motivation following Tinkle's dismissal, despite a slow start in their recent semifinal win, with Dez White and Josiah Lake II both scoring 18 points.
