Reaching the big time; and prep madness

Gonzaga fans have long pushed for their beloved men’s basketball team to be taken seriously as a national power.

They’ve been trying for years to shed the image of their team being a cuddly little underdog — except, of course, for the times when they think it serves them for their team to be the cuddly little underdog.

Good news, Zag fans — your team is getting closer.

Big-time programs lose players to the NBA after their freshman seasons.

The Zags checked that box after the 2017 season with their first one-and-done, forward Zach Collins.

Big-time programs recruit highly rated players who sometimes hold those silly shell-game press conferences to announce what school they will take their talents to — likely for just one season.

The Zags got a taste of that on Saturday, when guard Brandon Williams announced he was committing — for a second time — to Arizona, choosing the Wildcats over Gonzaga and Oregon.

What else is left to accomplish, to ensure Zags are mentioned in the same breath with the heavyweights of college basketball, a list that includes North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, UConn, Louisville, Syracuse, etc.?

Being investigated for allegations of recruiting violations? An academic scandal? Point-shaving? Players being paid? Coaches behaving badly?

Sorry, hallucinogenic mushrooms don’t count.

AS NEAR as we can tell, the Zags’ operation is about as squeaky clean as they come, so these suggestions are mostly in jest.

Still, only the most naivé would be convinced that the entire college game was that way.

The Zags are probably good enough to at least be in the conversation of national title contenders next season, with or without Williams.

In fact, one reason the Zags have sustained their excellence for the past two decades is that they keep their players around for most, if not all, of their college eligibility.

Upping the talent level in recent years hasn’t hurt either, of course.

Adding a talented rental to an established team might give the team the best of both worlds, though the trend in recent years is that the teams with several years of college experience win the titles more often than the teams of one-and-dones.

Kentucky was the first to go all-in with the one-and-done philosophy, and it did result in a national title in 2012, but nothing sense.

Duke was the epitome of a four-year program, but has since morphed into a modified one-and-done outfit, with a national title in 2015 to show for it.

The last three NCAA champions have been senior- and junior-laden — North Carolina in 2017, and that other team in 2016 and this year.

The one-and-done teams appear sexier, but have less margin for error. When veteran teams lose, well, there’s always next year, and the chance to apply the lessons learned from this year. When one-and-done teams lose, well, there’s always the NBA next year, or the next batch of one-and-dones.

So there’s different ways to reach the big time.

I kinda like the Zags’ way, so far.

SPRING SPORTS seemingly just got into full steam, and we’re already into the postseason.

This week is about qualifying for state events next week.

Results in some of these leagues could leave you scratching your head trying to figure out how the regional/district tournaments will play out.

IN 5A Inland Empire League baseball, put whatever stock you want to into league standings.

Lake City has won two state titles (2007 and 2016), but did not win the league title either year.

Lake City won the league this year and is a slight favorite to win the Region 1 tournament, but ... see above.

“The IEL is a good league; it’s as strong as it’s ever been,” third-year Lake City coach Paul Manzardo said.

Coeur d’Alene coach Nick Mahin agreed.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the 1 or 4 or 3 (seed), if you take care of two games ... ” he said.

Mahin would know. His Vikings were the fourth seed in the four-team regional last year, ended up second at regionals, won a state play-in game and finished fourth at state — beating league and regional champion Lewiston.

Speaking of Lewiston, the Bengals are the fourth seed this year, which is a bit unusual. Thumbing back through the last two decades of standings, Lewiston has usually finished first or second in league — never last.

But two of Lewiston’s three wins in league have come over Lake City — so go figure.

IN THE 4A IEL, Sandpoint is the top seed to regionals in baseball for the first time since 2010 — naturally, Lakeland won the regional title that year and the region’s lone berth to state.

That’s what makes this three-team regional so brutal, in baseball and in softball — seldom does more than just the regional champ have a chance to go to state.

Lakeland is the No. 3 seed this year, but has won the last two regional titles.

Lakeland and Sandpoint split their four league games this season. Lakeland went 0-4 vs. Moscow, losing four games by a combined nine runs.

Sandpoint last went to state in 2007, one year after the Bulldogs won their first state title.

IN THE (3A) Intermountain League, there’s little mystery — Timberlake and Bonners Ferry figure to battle it out again for the District 1 title in baseball and softball.

Last year, Timberlake won the IML in softball, but Bonners won the district and state titles — beating Timberlake in the championship game in each. This year, Bonners won the league title.

Last year, Bonners won the IML title in baseball, but Timberlake won the district title. Bonners also went to state as the second seed and reached the title game. This year, Bonners won the league by one game over Timberlake — on a ninth-inning homer in the winner-take-all league finale.

In the (2A) three-team Central Idaho League, Grangeville is the district favorite in baseball, St. Maries in softball — though the baseball district runners-up can advance by winning a state play-in game.

IN SOFTBALL, Lake City, last year’s state runner-up, is favored in the 5A Region 1 tournament — though the Timberwolves stumbled twice late in the regular season without No. 1 pitcher Ashley Kaufman, who suffered an ankle injury.

In the 4A IEL, Lakeland and Sandpoint figure to battle it out for the regional title for the fourth straight year. Lakeland won the regional title in 2015, and Sandpoint won the last two years.

This year, the teams tied for the league title, and split their two league meetings. Lakeland earned the top seed based on run differential in the four league games with Sandpoint. That’s how close the two teams are.

Sandpoint won regionals on its home field the last two years; this year, Lakeland has home-field advantage.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.