Feb. 15
In the West Coast Conference, Gonzaga is the name that has stood out in recent years. What former Zags (and current Minnesota) coach Dan Monson did with the Gonzaga program was special, leading the Zags to the Elite Eight against eventual national champion Connecticut in 1999. Gonzaga came from nowhere and made big-time noise. That was a special moment.

	Paul Westphal has a good feeling about his Pepperdine team.

Current Gonzaga coach Mark Few has kept things going, and his club has sent out a strong message about the 2001-02 season. The schedule has been tougher and this team was prepared, reaching the finals of the Great Alaska Shootout before falling to a Marquette team that is top-10 material.

The Zags have reached the top 10 themselves this season (this week they're at No. 8). And they are one of only three teams to reach the past three Sweet 16s, along with Duke and Michigan State.

But wait a minute, people, there's a another team in the WCC to talk about! Pepperdine doesn't seem to get any recognition. The Waves are coached by former NBA star Paul Westphal, who has shown that schools should consider former pro players as coaches because they have a great way of communicating with young athletes.

Led by forward Jimmy Miggins (averaging 15 ppg) and guard Terrance Johnson (14 ppg), Pepperdine has been solid all season.

It isn't a fluke that Pepperdine is a perfect 11-0 in WCC play, including a victory over the highly ranked Zags. The Waves have Ws over UCLA, USC and BYU as well. Westphal has been willing to play a rugged schedule, and that has helped. Look at some of the other teams Pepperdine has faced: Oregon, Arizona, Georgia and Utah. That's far from a cupcake schedule.

Westphal has the Waves believing. After an 83-77 win over Portland on Thursday, Pepperdine has a 13-game winning streak. It must be beautiful to keep on winning -- just as it must be beautiful to walk out of your classroom and stare at the waves in Malibu, Calif., Pepperdine's home.

Pepperdine visits Gonzaga's home court, The Kennel, for a huge rematch Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2). It will be jammed to capacity -- the place will be rocking and rolling, baby!

Gonzaga guard Dan Dickau and company probably circled this showdown on their calendars after Pepperdine won the first meeting 88-79 on Jan. 18. Dickau has been Mr. Clutch -- he hit a key trifecta in last Saturday's one-point win at San Diego. It should be one heckuva matchup as Dickau and company host the Waves.