Four area teams make NCAA Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time in history, four Inland Northwest teams made the NCAA men's and women's college basketball tournaments. The Gonzaga men and women, the Eastern Washington men and Washington State women received their good fates during Selection Shows Sunday and Monday.

Sunday, March 14 was the men's Selection Show. As expected, the Gonzaga men were named the No. 1 seed in the tournament's West Region and the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament after blitzing through a perfect, 26-0 regular season. The Bulldogs play Saturday, March 20 at 6:20 p.m. on TBS against the winner of Norfolk State and Appalachian State, who play March 18 in a play-in game.

Gonzaga's top challengers in the West Region in their quest to the Final Four look to be teams the Bulldogs already defeated in nonconference play. Iowa, Kansas and Virginia are the 2-4 seeds in the West Region, and Gonzaga defeated each team in November and December.

The Eastern Washington men also landed in the West Region as the No. 14 seed. The Eagles are dancing for the third time in school history and first time since 2015 after dispatching Montana State in the Big Sky Championship March 13. EWU has a tough draw against No. 3 seed Kansas Saturday, March 20 at 10:15 a.m. on TBS. However, the Jayhawks may be down two of their top players due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Gonzaga women received a No. 5 seed after winning the WCC Championship at the buzzer last week. They'll play No. 12 seeded Belmont at 1 p.m. Monday, March 22 on ESPN2.

Finally, the Washington State women made the tournament for the first time in 30 years as an at-large. The Cougars are a No. 9 seed and will take on No. 8 seeded South Florida at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 21 on ESPN2.

Gonzaga and WSU are in the same region where North Carolina State is the No. 1 seed.