Gottfried is reportedly going to sign a 6 year contract with a base salary of $400,000 per year. Wow...CSUN is going all in... :yikes:

https://twitter.com/latsondheimer/status/973616443093786625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2Ftwitter.min.html%23973616443093786625

Those big arenas are always tough for distance shooters if they haven't had much experience playing in such a vast space. It's even worse when it is practically empty. Amad and Allman sure had it dialed in for Fullerton against Irvine though and they regularly play in a crackerbox.

The game time has been set for 6 pm Pacific time. I still can't find any information regarding any live tv or online coverage.

Bracket with all game times:

https://www.womensnit.com/uploads/2/0/0/5/20054671/2018_post_wnit_bracket-non_writable.pdf

Their height presents a real problem for us. I hope we are on fire from outside because points in the paint will be hard to come by and keeping them off the boards could be a nightmare. This is a tough match-up for the Aggies.

We need to get a good crowd out to the Pavilion for the game to support the Ags. I think the WNIT committee considers crowd size as a factor for getting a second home game also. I know that is something they consider in awarded the first round home sites.

Here is the ticket info:

Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday (March 13) at Noon online at UCDavisAggies.com, in person at the UC Davis athletics ticket office at Aggie Stadium on campus, and over the phone by calling (530) 752-AGS1. Courtside seats are available for $15, reserved seats are $13, with general admission tickets going for $11.

http://www.aggiesportstalk.com/discussion/621/wbb-2018-wnit-tournament#Item_1

The tournament has a 3 game guarantee which is really nice for all the teams. I wish they did that for the men too.

WNIT Format

The event features a three-game guarantee format. All games, including the semifinals and championship, are hosted by participating schools at their home facility.
The initial round of the event involves eight sites hosted by participating institutions. The winner’s bracket looks identical to past Preseason tournaments.

First Round Winners

The eight Round One winners will continue on in traditional bracket play, with half of them hosting the other half in separate host sites. The winning teams will continue on, with separate host sites throughout the semifinals and championship. The two teams in the championship game will play four games in the tournament.

Round 1 Losers

The eight teams that lose their first games will be re-grouped into “Consolation bracket quads,” which will be two four-team pools. The teams may be re-shuffled from their original sides of the bracket, so they could play any other first-round loser in the tournament. One team in each pool is selected to host the other three teams. Each team will play two games for a total of three in the tournament. These are called Consolation Rounds 1 and 2.

Round 2 Losers (from original bracket)

Of the four Round 2/quarterfinal losing teams, two teams will be selected to host one of the other quarterfinal round losers in a single game at separate sites. The teams may be re-shuffled from their original sides of the bracket, so they could play any other Round 2 loser in the tournament. This game provides the third game for each of these schools. This round is Consolation Round 3.

https://www.womensnit.com/event-info.html

I haven't found any information yet about tv coverage.

Like 05 noted, you'll be able to stream the game on ESPN3 on your computer via the internet here:

http://www.espn.com/watch/

Yes, the 3 point shots are going to be from deep range and that will be an adjustment.

I like the idea of widening the lane so that players can drive to the basket without it being so congested by big men with long arms. It may also cut down on the amount of contact in the lane and open up the scoring a bit. Right now, teams who have good size inside can collapse and create a log jam especially for smaller players driving into the lane. This would give smaller players a better chance to score in the paint and would increase offensive production. It would make for some interesting defensive choices on how to defend the lane too since it would take a little more time to collapse and then harder to get back out to defend if the ball gets kicked out to the perimeter.

The four 10 minute quarters with 2 FT's after 5 fouls per quarter will be interesting also. It would make defenses pay early for fouls which would also open up the scoring and eliminates the 1 and 1. The women already do this.

2018 NIT Bracket:

https://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/ncaa-tournament/brackets/viewable_nit

I wanted to see this team celebrate a trip to the NCAA but, truthfully, they'll have a better chance of winning some games in WNIT.

Actually. we're a 7 seed playing at #2 Utah (19-11).

Here's one that predicts the #6 Ags vs #3 Oregon:

http://www.nycbuckets.com/current-nit-bracketology/

I was hoping that Irvine would win it since I do not like how Fullerton disrespects their opponents. They're talented but they are also immature and Taylor doesn't seem to manage it.

Russell Turner is a great basketball coach and his teams are very much like the Aggies...defense oreiented, scholar ballers. His players seem to be humble and respect the game and their opponents. Jim Les recruited Tommy Rutherford and Eyassu Worku hard but they ended up with Irvine. Rutherford said his final choices were Harvard or Irvine.

Fullerton beats Irvine 71-55 for the championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. I like to root for the Big West teams in post-season but it's hard to like Fullerton because of how they disrespect their opponents. Kyle Allman and Kahlil Ahmad are talented players but they gloat and showboat when they're on a roll. On two occasions tonight when Irvine called a timeout they would bump the Irvine players as they were walking to the bench. They've been doing that kind of stuff all year and Dedrique Taylor doesn't do anything to reign it in.

Taylor took them out in the final minute and they proceeded to go practically into the stands to celebrate with their fans. Taylor had to go and get them to get them back to the bench. Even the TV commentators said, "You played a great game now show some respect."

They were chippy with the Ags last night. It's just part of their style and Taylor allows it.

Yes WNIT, auto-bid for winning the conference championship just like the men. They made it to the semi-finals last year. They deserve a home game this year that's for sure.

Heartbroken Aggies: Quotes from Jen Gross and Pele Gianotti:

Jen Gross:

“Its obviously tough to be sitting up here in the position we’re in. We’re pretty heart broken. We’ve been telling our team all year long its about the process and the journey and one game won’t define us. I couldn’t be more proud of my student-athletes and I’ve really just enjoyed this incredible season that we have had.”

(On maturity of her players) “I don’t know if I can hold it together if I start to talk about our team and especially our senior class. They’re amazing. They’re phenomenal human beings. They’re great teammates. Just to hear her say, ‘hey I’d rather go down with this team than to be on any other team winning a championship,’ it speaks to the chemistry they have developed and the relationships they have built. They love each other, they care about each other, they would do anything for each other and they know that our staff would do the same for them. I think you put everything you have into something and you play your heart out and it was an emotional locker room for sure. And I told them its going to take a long time because its going to burn for awhile and its going to hurt for awhile but eventually they are going to see the magnitude of what they achieved this year and what they accomplished. To win 25 games in the regular season... it’s unbelievable to do what they did day in and day out and of course that’s why its so hard to be here right now. I wanted it for this senior class so badly.”

Pele Gianotti:

(On managing expectations and the disappointment) “Its kind of what I told my team in the locker room. I would rather a part of Davis losing than any other team. It’s a family. I obviously was disappointed but we worked really hard. Every day in practice we worked really hard on and off the court to salvage relationships and im just really proud to be a part of UC Davis.”

More here: http://www.bigwest.org/userfiles//2018%20BWT%20WBB%20Final.pdf

The Aggies needed to limit Channon Fluker and Tessa Boagni and that didn't happen. Fluker scored 24 and had 17 rebounds and Boagni scored 23 and had 8 rebounds. Morgan Bertsch had 22 and 6 boards but no one else was in double figures. The Ags put up 27 3's but only canned 7.

It's really too bad that the Aggies wonderful group of seniors never made top the Big Dance despite all of their accomplishments over the last 4 years.

The Aggies will not go Dancing. CSUN wins 63-55 by winning 4 in row in the tournament. What a huge disappointment for the Aggies. Unfortunately, despite their sparkling regular season record, the Ags faded down the stretch and did not play their best basketball in late in the season.

You have to credit CSUN. They earned it and it's that win or go home time of the year.

The Ags will have to come from behind again if they are to win this game. CSUN leads 45-40 after 3 quarters.