Several once-highly ranked teams enter conference tournament week in need of wins to make NCAA field

This was a time early in the season when Kansas seemed to be an insurmountable juggernaut, full of high-profile transfers such as Zeke Mayo and AJ Storr, All-American candidates such as Hunter Dickinson and veterans accustomed to winning. Arizona dropped from the Top 25 this week after its loss at Allen Fieldhouse, but the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 tourney is still a good bet for a good seed on Selection Sunday.

Gonzaga beats San Francisco 85-76, advances to 28th straight West Coast Conference title game

Graham Ike totaled 27 points and 10 rebounds, Khalif Battle scored 21 and Gonzaga advanced to its 28th straight West Coast Conference Tournament championship game after an 85-76 victory over San Francisco on Monday night at Orleans Arena in a West Coast Conference semifinal. The second-seeded Bulldogs (24-8) will play top-seeded and 19th-ranked Saint Mary's for the tournament championship on Tuesday with an automatic NCAA Tournament berth up for grabs. Gonzaga upped its win streak against the third-seeded Dons (24-9) to 33.

No. 19 Saint Mary’s back in WCC Tournament final after defeating Pepperdine 74-59

Augustas Marciulionis and Paulius Murauskas each scored 15 points and No. 19 and top-seeded Saint Mary's defeated No. 9 seed Pepperdine 74-59 in the West Coast Conference Tournament semifinals Monday night. The Gaels (28-4) play second-seeded Gonzaga — which defeated No. 3 San Francisco 85-76 — in the championship game Tuesday night, with the winner receiving the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Defending tournament champion Saint Mary's, which has won seven consecutive games and 17 of 18, won't have to sweat out making the Big Dance for the fourth time in a row.