Running 2016-17 College Rings Thread

'Cause everyone else in the top 10 lost.

 

I hate a vote two years back and basically had a ceiling of where I would put Gonzaga, knowing the difference between the West Coast Conference and the other power leagues. I think the highest I put them was No. 4. I know they're undefeated, but they just don't play the same schedule as everyone else. If I had a vote now, I'd probably keep them at No. 3 for the balance of the regular season as long as they keep winning.

 

I get that and don't necessarily disagree, but I might have voted them No. 1 this week just because I'm not sure any of the major conference teams have really distinguished themselves at this point either. With St. Mary's, and to a lesser degree San Francisco and BYU, it's not as bad a conference as the Missouri Valley Wichita State dominated a few years ago.

 

I know it's not always feasible with the way conference schedules are structured, but it would behoove Gonzaga to continue to try to find a good non-conference test in January/February, a la Virginia-Villanova. They had a series with Memphis like that a few years back. Zags still have BYU and St. Mary's on the road, so there are some chances for some show-me wins.

 

Yeah, and I think more coaches and AD's are realizing that good non-conference games at this time of year are good for the sport, so maybe that gets easier for them.

 

I hope that they are able to schedule that kind of game. Too many AD's run like hell the other way from that kind of team, especially if they can't schedule it on their home floor.

 

One problem with that on Gonzaga's end is the WCC added a couple teams (BYU, Pacific) in recent years. There used to be "travel partners" and the week you played your travel partner (in GU's case, Portland) there was an open date during the conference season.

But I agree ... those Memphis games helped break up the weeks and months of (mostly) week conference competition for the Zags.

 

Gonzaga is established enough it doesn't have much trouble scheduling. It's just tough to do it in late January or early February, when it would really help. Some programs just don't want to go outside the conference at that point. The SEC and Big 12 have their deal, so that's two leagues that are pretty much off the table.

How many people realize Gonzaga beat Arizona? If that game had been this weekend it would have made a splash. It also sucks for the Zags that Iowa State is a bit of a disappointment, Tennessee is rebuilding and Lorenzo Romar can't coach his lottery picks.

 

Zona is much better now with Allonzo Trier back than it was when the Zags beat them so it will only help GU's resume.

 

St. Mary's been in the teens in the poll all season, so it's hard to write off the WCC as a total wasteland as in past years.

 

Which has had the better staying power, Boise State football or Gonzaga rings?

 

Totes. San Diego State, Florida, Iowa State, Arizona, Washington, Tennessee, St. Mary's ... buncha snowflakes on that sked.