Gonzaga takes No. 2 seed in South, will open tourney in Seattle

Kyle Wiltjer and No. 2 seeded Gonzaga will open play in the NCAA Tournament vs. North Dakota State. (AP)

The Gonzaga Bulldogs aren’t traveling far for their opening contest in the NCAA Tournament.

The West Coast Conference regular season and tournament champion Zags are the No. 2 seed in the South Region and will start March Madness at Seattle’s KeyArena against No. 15 seed North Dakota State (23-9) on Friday.

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The 30-2 Zags are making their 17th straight appearance in the Big Dance, dating back to the program’s Elite Eight team in 1999. Led by Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer, four-year starting guard Kevin Pangos and a host of offensive-minded role players, Gonzaga has a chance to reach past the Sweet 16 for the first time since that 1999 squad.

The Bulldogs aren’t the only team from Washington state in the tournament. Their close neighbors from Cheney, the Eastern Washington Eagles, are the No. 13 seed in the South bracket and will open play Thursday in Portland against No. 4 seed Georgetown (21-10).

The 26-8 Eagles, who upset top-seeded Montana in the Big Sky Tournament final on Saturday to earn an automatic bid, could conceivably meet Gonzaga in the Elite Eight round if both teams win their first three games.