[crackpot]

(Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the review, but it makes them sound like Godzilla,)

Hah!  This is my nature, always looking at the opposition though their most favorable light.  An old habit that protects me from potential disappointment.  I do think that playing at home instead of in the dog pound makes an important difference in our favor.  Our team played as if it were intimidated last year--and this was compounded by foul trouble and ill health.  We have had enough things going well for our young team this year that I think we may be a harder team to defend than we were last year.  So I would give us better than 50/50 odds to win.  But Gonzaga is one of the better teams on our schedule.

And I'm always wary of the "Sunday afternoon on ESPN" jinx that has bitten us a few times.

[crackpot]

(Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the review, but it makes them sound like Godzilla,)

Hah!  This is my nature, always looking at the opposition though their most favorable light.  An old habit that protects me from potential disappointment.  I do think that playing at home instead of in the dog pound makes an important difference in our favor.  Our team played as if it were intimidated last year--and this was compounded by foul trouble and ill health.  We have had enough things going well for our young team this year that I think we may be a harder team to defend than we were last year.  So I would give us better than 50/50 odds to win.  But Gonzaga is one of the better teams on our schedule.

And I'm always wary of the "Sunday afternoon on ESPN" jinx that has bitten us a few times.