Washington State got a huge win at home this past weekend. I had said in the past that winning two out of three for Washington State (Out of Arizona State, Arizona, and Washington) would firmly put them back on the bubble, now, here they are. The Cougars are in both projections and if they keep winning, They will just keep rising.
Meanwhile, Washington's loss didn't hurt them too bad. They remained in basically the same position as before.
(Note - 2/2: I have updated the post with the new projection from Blogging the Bracket.)
ESPN: Joe Lunardi (Updated: 1/31/11)
- Washington Huskies: Fifth seed - Anaheim bracket - First and second-round games in Denver - Projected to play the winner of the twelfth seed play-in game between Gonzaga Bulldogs and Butler Bulldogs - Seed falling [Last week: fourth seed]
- Gonzaga Bulldogs: Twelfth seed - Play-in game in Dayton, Ohio - Projected to play Butler Bulldogs (Note: Winner would take on Washington in Denver regional of Anaheim bracket) - Seed steady
- Washington State Cougars: Twelfth seed - Play-in game in Dayton, Ohio - Projected to play Wichita State Shockers (Note: Winner would take on Wisconsin in the Tampa regional of the New Orleans bracket) - Seed steady
- Pac-10: Arizona (Seventh seed in New Orleans bracket), UCLA (Eleventh seed in Newark bracket)
If this bracket hold true: The matchup that the powers that be didn't want us to see would be one game away. If the Bulldogs can get past... Well... The Bulldogs, we will finally be able to see the matchup that was taken taken from us just a couple years ago. Gonzaga will surely have a bone to pick (get it? because they're Bulldogs) with The Huskies after they ended the long running series between the two. Meanwhile, we also get that coveted WSU vs. WSU matchup we've all been waiting for as The Cougs take on Wichita State.
CBS Sports: Jerry Palm (Updated: 2/1/11)
- Washington Huskies: Seventh seed - Anaheim bracket - First and second-round games in Tucson - Projected to play the Tenth-seeded St. Johns Red Storm - Seed Falling [Last week: Sixth Seed]
- Gonzaga Bulldogs: Not in bracket [Last week: Twelfth seed in play-in game]
- Washington State Cougars: Eleventh seed - Play-in game in Dayton, OH - Projected to play Virginia Tech Hokies (Note: Winner would take on Florida Gators in New Orleans Bracket) - Seed steady (Note: Listed as last team in the "Last four in" category)
- Pac-10: Arizona (Eighth seed in San Antonio bracket), UCLA (Tenth seed in Newark bracket)
If this bracket holds true: For the first time this year, Gonzaga is not projected to go dancing. The Bulldogs have been on a pretty horrible stretch, losing three of their lost four. They have a chance to make a statement as they face the projected tenth seed Memphis this Saturday. Meanwhile, while the Huskies have a higher seed, Jerry Palm projects Arizona to win the conference and get the autobid. The Huskies would face a very good St. Johns team that destroyed Duke this past week and the Cougars would take on Viriginia Tech in a play-in game.
SB Nation's Blogging The Bracket (Updated: 2/2/11)
- Washington Huskies: Fifth seed - Anaheim bracket - First and second-round games in Tampa - Projected to play the play-in game winner between Gonzaga and Penn State - Seed Falling [Last week: Fourth Seed]
- Gonzaga Bulldogs - Twelfth seed - Play-in game in Dayton, Ohio - Projected to play Penn State Nittany Lions (Note: Winner would take on Washington Huskies in Anaheim Bracket) - Seed steay
- Washington State Cougars: Twelfth seed - Play-in game in Dayton, Ohio - Projected to play Richmond Spiders (Note: Winner would take on Texas A&M Aggies in New Orleans Bracket) - Seed rising
- Pac-10: Arizona (Eighth seed in New Orleans bracket), UCLA (Twelfth seed in Newark bracket)
If this bracket holds true: A double play in game for our Washington schools... Not good. The good news is, for a second bracket this week, we can set up A Gonzaga vs. Washington matchup. That's a matchup I know I want to see, I think we all do.