Pac 10 regular season champion Washington was picked as number four seed and will face off against Mississippi State in Portland. Mississippi State finished the season 23-12 and won the SEC tournament which earned them an automatic bid.
The Huskies will join five other Pac 10 teams in the tournament. UCLA (6), USC (10), California (7), Arizona State (6), and Arizona (12) were also picked. Arizona was a bit of a surprise after losing in the opening round of the Pac 10 tournament. Washington State is likely headed to the NIT.
Gonzaga is also a number four seed and will open in Portland against Akron on Thursday. Washington and Gonzaga will not meet in this tournament unless each team makes it to the final four. The Huskies are in the West bracket and the Bulldogs are in the South despite the fact start the tourney playing in Portland.
The Huskies are in the same bracket as those other Huskies from UConn. The two teams could conceivably meet in the Sweet Sixteen if the both advance that far. If Gonzaga makes it to the Sweet Sixteen their likely opponent will be North Carolina.
Portland State picked up a 13 seed and will open up with Xavier in Boise who is a number four seed.
Washington State, Portland, and Seattle U await word from the NIT, CBI, and College Insider Classic. Oregon State already has committed to host an opening round game in the CBI.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times has the Huskies reactions.
At 3:17 p.m. the cheering started as the Huskies were announced as a No. 4 seed in Portland. A few seconds later, the cheering muted just a bit as UW's opponent was unveiled --- SEC tourney champ Mississippi State. The Bulldogs beat Tennessee today to earn a bid and finished the season 23-12.
Here are the times for the four games in Portland on Thursday:
11:20 a.m. Northern Iowa vs. Purdue
25 min. following conclusion : Mississippi State vs. Washington
4:25 p.m. Akron vs. Gonzaga
30 min. following conclusion : Western Kentucky vs. Illinois