They hate BYU because BYU beats them. They are a great program, certainly far the cream of the crop in the conference and year in year out one of the best in the nation. I think BYU has beaten them four times since joining the WCC. I doubt anybody else, even SMC has done that. So, they hate us for the same reason most of the WAC and MWC hated the BYU football team. We beat them. We have beaten them when they were highly ranked and they think no one should beat them. Yeah, they have beaten us far more than we have beaten them but we have knocked them off of their pedestal a couple of times.

I like the Zags. I like being in a conference with them. I think they are a class organization with a class coach and for the most part class fans. I will cheer for them in the NCAA's I have been to the WCC tournament and hope to go again this year. In the past they have treated me with respect as I cheer for my team. They do have a fan base that generally thinks their team can do no wrong. I'm pretty sure, based on the ones I have interacted with at the tournament that Gonzaga has never committed a foul. Isn't that true of most of us? I don't think BYU was dirty last night. Even the Haws deal was not near as bad as some of them are making it sound. I think the Zag player lived through it. The throwing stuff on the court was bush league from a few fans close to the court. There were almost 19,000 of us there simply cheering our team to victory. I would point out that BYU was whistled for 6 more fouls last night and Gonzaga had 10 more free throw attempts and yet BYU still won by 13.

Anyway, we may meet again in a few weeks. If I were picking that game I'd pick the Zags. I hope BYU can do it again, but as Coach Pope (by the way the Zag fans that are on him are just ridiculous) has pointed out, we are not there yet. Last night it looked like we were. But, if they do beat us in Vegas if both teams get to the championship game I suspect they won't hate us near as bad.

Here's to you Zag fans! I hope you go deep in the tournament, and I hope BYU can give the league some cred as well.