Zags, Huskies Prepare For Round Two

PORTLAND – Now that the spectre of last year’s ‘One and done’ in post-season play is behind them, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are preparing for their next challenge on Saturday.

Gonzaga will play the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in their second-round NCAA tournament game Saturday at the Rose Garden in Portland. Gonzaga advanced by zapping the Akron Zips Thursday evening. The Zags trailed by three at halftime but put on a second-half run to eliminate the Zips.

Western Kentucky, this year’s Sun Belt tournament champs, defeated Illinois Friday night in Portland. The winner of the match-up Saturday advances to the South Regional Semifinals on Friday in Memphis.

Meanwhile, the Washington Huskies are preparing to face the Boilermakers of Purdue on Saturday.

Washington basketball coach Lorenzo Romar says the Purdue team the Huskies will face in Saturday’s second-round NCAA tournament game is a fundamentally sound team that won’t make mistakes.

The Boilermakers won the Big Ten tournament and defeated Northern Iowa Friday in Portland to advance. The Huskies defeated Mississippi State in their first-round game. Jon Brockman had 10 points and 15 rebounds for the 59th double-double of his career.

Saturday’s winner goes to the West Regional Semifinals on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.