College Hoops Guide: WSU, UW, Gonzaga, EWU, Seattle U in conference tourneys

We are into the thick of March, and that means college basketball postseason play is here for the WSU Cougars, Gonzaga Bulldogs and a number of other teams from the state of Washington with NCAA Tournament hopes.

See where Zags, WSU are in last poll before Selection Sunday

Want to keep up all week ahead of Selection Sunday on March 17? We’ve got schedules and results below for the conference tournament of every team from the state, including three ranked teams and two more who were the top seeds in their leagues: the WSU men, Gonzaga men and women, and Eastern Washington men and women.

Keep in mind, each of these tournaments have a single-elimination format.

Here’s the breakdown.

No. 22 WSU COUGARS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Pac-12 Conference Tournament (Las Vegas)
No. 2 seed
Record: 24-8 overall, 14-6 Pac-12
Radio broadcast of all games on Seattle Sports

• Thursday, March 14 – beat No. 10 Stanford 79-62 (recap story)
• Friday, March 15 – lost in semifinals to No. 3 Colorado 58-52 (box score)

Outlook: Despite falling in the Pac-12 semis, WSU remains a lock for its first NCAA Tournament since 2008.

Resurgent season for WSU Cougars full of storylines

SEATTLE U REDHAWKS MEN’S BASKETBALL (eliminated)

Western Athletic Conference Tournament (Las Vegas)
No. 4 seed
Record: 19-14 overall, 11-9 WAC

• Thursday, March 14 – beat No. 8 California Baptist 81-57 (recap story)
• Friday, March 15 – lost in semifinals to No. 1 Grand Canyon 80-72 (recap story)

Outlook: Needed to win the conference tournament to make the NCAA bracket.

No. 17 GONZAGA BULLDOGS MEN’S BASKETBALL

West Coast Conference Tournament (Las Vegas)
No. 2 seed
Record: 25-7 overall, 14-2 WCC

• Monday, March 11 – beat No. 3 San Francisco 89-77 (recap story)
• Tuesday, March 12 – Championship: Lost to No. 1 Saint Mary’s 69-60 (recap story)

Outlook: Gonzaga rebounded from an uncharacteristic first few months of the season and is headed to its 25th straight NCAA Tournament even after losing the WCC Championship to Saint Mary’s, which is ranked No. 21 in the latest AP poll.

See where Gonzaga, WSU are in last AP top 25 before Selection Sunday

No. 14 GONZAGA BULLDOGS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

West Coast Conference Tournament (Las Vegas)
No. 1 seed
Record: 30-3 overall, 16-0 WCC

• Monday, March 11 – beat No. 5 Pacific 71-62 (recap story)
• Tuesday, March 12 – Championship: lost 67-66 to No. 3 Portland (recap story)

Outlook: Ranked No. 14 in the latest Associated Press rankings, the Zags are safe for a seventh straight berth in the NCAA Tournament despite being upset in the WCC Championship.

UW HUSKIES MEN’S BASKETBALL (eliminated)

Pac-12 Conference Tournament (Las Vegas)
No. 8 seed
Record: 17-15 overall, 9-11 Pac-12

• Wednesday, March 13 – lost 80-74 to No. 9 USC (recap story)

Outlook: Washington most likely will not receive any postseason tournament invitations, ending the Mike Hopkins era on Montlake.

UW Huskies to part ways with hoops head coach Mike Hopkins

EWU EAGLES MEN’S BASKETBALL (eliminated)

Big Sky Conference Tournament (Boise)
No. 1 seed
Record: 21-11 overall, 15-3 Big Sky

• Sunday, March 10 – lost 74-59 to No. 10 Sacramento State (box score)

Outlook: Despite being the best team in the Big Sky in the regular season, the Eagles likely missed a shot at making the NCAA Tournament with their upset loss to open the conference tourney. They could still be invited to the NIT or CBI.

EWU EAGLES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (advanced)

Big Sky Conference Tournament (Boise)
No. 1 seed
Record: 29-5 overall, 16-2 Big Sky

• Sunday, March 10 – beat No. 9 Weber State 71-59 (box score)
• Tuesday, March 12 – beat No. 4 Montana State 56-39 (box score)
• Wednesday, March 13 – Championship: beat No. 2 NAU 73-64 (recap story)

Outlook: By making it through the Big Sky Tournament as champs, the Eagles have punched their first ticket to the NCAA Tournament in 37 years (and just second all-time).

TEAMS PREVIOUSLY ELIMINATED

• WSU women’s basketball: Lost to Cal in first round of Pac-12 Tournament
• UW women’s basketball: Lost to Arizona in first round of Pac-12 Tournament
• Seattle U women’s basketball: Did not qualify for WAC Tournament

WSU among teams that can send history-rich Pac-12 hoops out with a bang