The University of San Diego men's basketball team is due to be 'sized up' for 3 different things after spoiling Gonzaga's bid at continuing it's decade of domination in the WCC (9 WCC championships in 10 years). What are these 3 things, you might ask? Rings, seeds and dancing shoes. Let's take a quick gander at each of these aspects of college basketball with which the Torero's are generally unaccustomed.
1. Rings - This is the first time in the 21st century that the Toreros have taken the Men's WCC Tourney. None of the Toerero players are accustomed to standing atop the talent-laden WCC, but the same can't be said of first-year head coach Bill Grier. Grier spent the last 16 years on the coaching staff at Gonzaga, including his last 8 as assistant to Zag's head coach Mark Few. However, Grier was very fast to point out that this game wasn't a battle royale between an accomplished apprentice and his former mentor. "It's not about me and him," Grier said. "It's about two programs and these kids."
2. Seeds - 2005 was the last time the WCC ever sent 2 teams to the NCAA Tournament, but with powerhouse teams Saint Mary's and Gonzaga making strong bids to join their first-time big brother USD in the Dance, the WCC is a near lock to send 3 teams to this years show. According to Bracketology, the Toreros are looking good as a 15 seed, slotted to face a tough 2-seeded Kentucky team. But we'll have to wait for Selection Sunday to see where San Diego really gets seeded.
3. Dancing shoes - Well, this one is pretty much the same as the seeding, except that I just wanted to point out yet again that the University of San Diego will be dancing in this year's March Madness. Also, I thought it was cool that they'd be getting sized up for dancing shoes.
