Gonzaga Syndrome

[MilTown]

We were filling out our brackets at work, and the discussion shifted to the Gonzaga Syndrome. They seem to be the current poster child for the team that never lives up to the hype in the tourney. I thought a couple of years ago they were ready to shed the label, but the loss to UCLA derailed them. Prior to gonzaga, Arizona was that team. Finally they broke through and won the championship and the label was gone. My question is, if we lose this game, are we in danger of becoming the next gonzaga. Will there be a Marquette Syndrome. I have heard multiple comments here that "Marquette burned me the last two years" and similar comments. I know every year is different, but we can't run the risk of having the early exit label. We need this game big time!

[NavinRJohnson]

I don't think so - you have to have higher seeds to get that label. When you enter the tournament as a 6,7, or 8 seed and you lose, technically you are being upset, but is it really much of an an upset? Without looking, I would guess the seeds for Arizona and Gonzaga that you speak of were in the 3-4 range, even 2 in AZ's case if I remember correctly. That's the difference.

[MilTown]

Yeah, I see your point, but either way, an early exits year after year when you are a single digit seed does not create goodwill in the basketball court of opinion.