Once NCAA tournament tips off, with conference play out of the way, it’s always somewhat surprising to see a second or third best team from a league do better than the best team.

But don’t be surprised when Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga’s top foe, goes as far if not further than the Bulldogs.

Saint Mary’s meets Gonzaga tonight in the West Coast Conference final to award the conference’s automatic bid. The Gaels very well might lose for a third time to the ‘Zags, who nearly had a perfect regular season, but unlike last year they’ll still get their dancing shoes regardless. Saint Mary’s was one of last year’s biggest snubs and despite beating Gonzaga twice in the regular season, lost when it mattered for the auto bid and ultimately didn’t get the coveted at-large.

The Gaels (28-3) flirted with the bubble this year, but were never really going to stay there unless they lost to a dreadful WCC team. That didn’t happen, and following Monday night’s 31-point pummeling of BYU — the team that stunned Gonzaga, mind you — the only thing that can happen to Saint Mary’s résumé is another loss to one of the best teams in the country. Should they beat Gonzaga, it’s momentous and a résumé lift. Should they lose, it won’t matter. Power conference tournaments might shake things up, but as of now Randy Bennett’s group is locked in as a No. 7 seed. And a dangerous No. 7 they’ll be.

This team returned virtually all starters from last season’s 29-win team, and welcomed in its best player, big man Jock Landale (17.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg). Statistically, the Gaels rank in the top-6 nationally in scoring defense, rebounding margin, assist-to-turnover ratio and field goal percentage. That’s on paper. On the court, Bennett’s squad plays with a chemistry that can bode extremely well in March matchups.

BUBBLE TRACKER: Possible bid thieves 

PREVIEW: Conference tourney week

► No. 1 seeds: Kansas, Villanova, North Carolina and Oregon

► Last four in: Xavier, Illinois, Syracuse, USC

► First four out: Iowa, Georgia, Illinois State, Rhode Island

Moving in: Nebraska-Omaha

Moving out: South Dakota

► Others considered for at-large bids (in no particular order): Clemson, Ohio State, Kansas State

► On life support: Indiana, Houston

► No longer considered for at-large: UConn, Texas, Charleston, New Mexico, Boise State, LaSalle, Davidson, Chattanooga, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Joseph’s, BYU, Oklahoma, Charleston, Nebraska, Temple, North Carolina State, Stanford, Nevada, Texas A&M, Memphis, Utah, Auburn, Texas Tech, Georgetown, Penn State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, TCU,  Alabama, Pittsburgh, California, Georgia Tech

► Multi-bid conferences: ACC (10), Big Ten (8), Big East (7), Big 12 (5), SEC (5), Pac-12 (4), A-10 (2), AAC (2), WCC (2).

MORE COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Conference Leaders

► Or highest RPI from projected one-bid conferences – (23 total): Vermont (America East), Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), North Dakota (Big Sky), Winthrop (Big South), UC Irvine (Big West), UNC-Wilmington (CAA), Middle Tennessee State (Conference USA), Valparaiso (Horizon), Princeton (Ivy League), Iona (MAAC), Akron (MAC), N.C. Central (MEAC), Wichita State (Missouri Valley), Nevada (Mountain West), Mount Saint Mary’s (Northeast), Jacksonville State(Ohio Valley), Bucknell (Patriot), East Tennessee State (Southern), New Orleans (Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC), Nebraska-Omaha (Summit), Texas-Arlington (Sun Belt), CSU Bakersfield (WAC).

• Banned from participating: Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State, Savannah State, Northern Colorado
• Transition Schools, ineligible for the tourney: Abilene Christian (Southland), Grand Canyon (WAC), Incarnate Word (Southland), Massachusetts-Lowell (American East)    

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Note: All RPI and statistical data is used from WarrenNolan.com.

About our bracketologist: Shelby Mast has been projecting the field since 2005 and has finished as one of the top 5 national bracketologists for his website, Bracket W.A.G. He’s predicted for The Indianapolis Star, collegeinsider.com and is an inaugural member of the Super 10 Selection Committee. Follow him on Twitter @BracketWag.

NCAA TOURNAMENT AUTO BIDS