For several years, once there was no possibility of Oregon State or Oregon, my choice for favorite team in the NCAA March Madness tournament has been 'The Zags' ..... Gonzaga. There was a time when they were true underdogs and making runs in the tournament with primarily Northwest and west coast kids starting with the Dan Dickau, Richie Frahm, Casey Calvary. Matt Santangelo and then into the Adam Morrison, Blake Steppe, Rony Turiaf years. But with decent and consistent success came more highly rated recruits. Eventually they joined the ranks of the big profile schools that are expected to compete for the championship every year. Now, that in my eyes they've lost their underdog status, I see the team and fanbase mostly as annoying.
It's difficult to be in the big dance for more than a year or two while holding on to your loveable underdog status.
I also include, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and a few others in the snobbish and annoying group of teams.
I love watching a little known 14-seed knock down a big name 3-seed. And the possibilities of such are greater than ever with how the game has changed the last few years. Big name teams dominated by rosters full of teenagers, smaller teams more likely to have the four and five year juniors and seniors and one or two players getting hot from the 3-point line.
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