NCAA Tournament notes: The West is wide open

Tournament notes » Zags look vulnerable, two high seeds out.

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With his performance down the stretch against Southern, Gonzaga guard Kevin Pangos is making a reputation for himself as a clutch competitor who comes up big when the stakes are at its highest.

During Friday’s news conferences, the sophomore found himself mentioned with some of the great Bulldogs guards past, like Matt Santangelo, Jeremy Pargo and Blake Stepp.

"It’s an honor," Pangos said. "A lot of those guys are still around the program. I came to Gonzaga because they’ve had so many great guards in the past. I want to continue some of the things they’ve started."

Friends in high places

Harvard’s players got plenty of phone calls, text messages and tweets after winning the first NCAA Tournament game in school history.

The school’s famous alumni and supporters came out in droves to offer support. Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin spoke with some of his old teammates and coach Tommy Amaker said he got a call from another important Crimson figure.

"I did get a call from the president," Amaker said and paused, "… the president of Harvard."

"I should have left it like that and let you run with it," Amaker joked with reporters Friday.

Remember Alcindor? Shockers do

The last time Wichita State played the No. 1 team in the nation? Try Dec. 8, 1967 in Los Angeles, Calif., against the UCLA Bruins and Lew Alcindor (who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

UCLA defeated Wichita State 120-86 that night, and the Bruins went on to defeat North Carolina to win the NCAA title that season.

The Shockers get their first chance in 45 years Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena, when they take on the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs.

"It’s a wonderful opportunity," said Marshall. "Not only are they the No. 1 seed in our region and it’s the third round of the NCAA Tournament, but they’re the No. 1 team in the country."

Getting better?

Gonzaga’s Elias Harris struggled against Southern, scoring just five points and not shooting well from the field. He knows that can’t happen on Saturday against Wichita State if the Bulldogs are going to have a good chance to beat the Shockers.

"I just have to keep fighting," Harris said. "Yesterday wasn’t the game I wanted to have, but I’m mature enough to know I have to keep attacking and rebounding."

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