No. 1 seed Gonzaga highlights annual Bee Final Four Challenge, chance to win $75

SANDPOINT — Zags’ fever has descended upon the Inland Northwest, and rightfully so, as the program earned its second No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and theoretically the easiest path possible to the Final Four.

The NCAA also gifted them what has been widely hailed as one of the easier routes to the Final Four, which would be a first for the program that’s captured the hearts of many hoops junkies, including us in Sandpoint.

But seeds and reputations, along with 50 cents, will buy you a stale pack of gum from the Bee vending machine when it comes to March Madness. Everything is earned in the tourney, and aside from a cupcake No. 16 seed warm-up game on Thursday, the Zags will be facing teams far better than what they see night in, night out in the WCC.

They’ll face teams from tough conferences accustomed to scrapping for two point wins on a nightly basis. Will those 35 point coasters in WCC play hold up in the crucible that is the NCAA Tournament?

We’re about to find out. One thing is certain: This Zags team is probably the best ever on paper. If they have some of the magic of past Zags teams, we could be in for a wild ride. Or they could suffer the fate of the last No. 1 seed and flame out in the second round.

What does Vegas think of the brackets? Well Kansas is the favorite to win it all at 7/1, followed by defending champ Villanova at 8/1, North Carolina at 9/1, Gonzaga at 11/1, Kentucky, Oregon and UCLA at 12/1, and Arizona, Duke and Louisville at 14/1. A great bet is to take the field against the aforementioned favorites, at 11/2.

Alas, that’s the beauty of March Madness, the higher seeds that nobody saw coming who make a run at the Final Four. The Zags used to be that team. Not anymore, not with a No. 1 seed target on their chest and one loss on their résumé.

So will this finally be the year a team coached by Mark Few, for my money the best coach in college basketball, navigates a bracket past the Elite Eight?

Will the blue bloods like Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas and Louisville play up to their seeds? Or will one of the handful of lesser-known but equally dangerous teams make a name for themselves when it counts most?

Think you know the answer? Want to win $75 in cash?

Then enter the free Bee Final Four Challenge. It’s simple, just make your picks for the Final Four, along with the final two and championship game score.

To show how easy it is, the Bee sports editor will make the first entry, using a tried and true method of heavy West Coast bias and tons of long shots. After all, who wants to root for the Dukes of the world?

Official entry: Final Four: SMU, St. Mary’s, Oregon, UCLA. Final two: St. Mary’s 81, UCLA 80.

For a free chance to win $75, send your picks to “eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com” by Thursday, at 10 a.m.

Whoever picks the most Final Four teams wins, with final two the next tie-breaker and final score the final tie-breaker.

Step up and embrace the Madness, and may the luckiest fan win.