Gonzaga basketball returns to Chicago, and the United Center for the first time since January of 2010. The Zags beat a very up and down Illini team in an exciting overtime clash that Saturday. Friday night, Gonzaga will be competing in the Windy City’s first NCAA Regional Semi-Final since 2005.
Those games ended with one of the most exciting games in recent March Madness history, and quite possibly the high point of modern Illini basketball history.
Remember this?
Quite a challenge for Sunday’s game, trying to live up to that all time classic. The undercard in Chicago Friday night is a match-up of the much better teams (and we’ve previewed that here). However, this game, the headliner, is the pairing of the two bigger brand names, hence it gets the better time slot.
It’s very ironic when you see the two double digit seedings next to the names.
(Related: 16 things to know this Sweet 16)
SPREAD: Gonzaga basketball -4 1/2
TV:
6:10 PM
CBS Virginia vs. Iowa State
Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Lewis Johnson
After conc. I (8:40 approx)
CBS
Chicago II
Syracuse vs. Gonzaga
Harlan/Miller/Bonner//Johnson
(For our game preview and score prediction of Virginia-Iowa State go here)
(For our picks and predictions of every single game left in the NCAA Tournament go here)
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram