Gonzaga, Texas A&M coaches keep their teams laughing | Seattle notebook

Gonzaga and Texas A&M match up well in more than player talent.

There's also coaches' witticisms.

Zags coach Kelly Graves is known for his humble nature and humorous style when dealing with his team and media. Aggies coach Gary Blair is no different, adding a dash of southern charm for effect.

But when Aggies players were asked during Sunday's news conference to share some lighter moments with Blair, he whispered, "Not if you want playing time."

"No comment," forward Damitria Buchanan said.

"He's a funny guy. A lot of times he'll stop practice and tell us a story or something and we're all standing there like, 'OK, can we move on?' It's cool playing for a guy like him. We work hard and get to have fun."

Blair spent the news conference talking up the opponent, saying Gonzaga, the six-time West Coast Conference champion, would finish in the top four of any BCS conference.

Graves, a longtime admirer of Blair's, was flattered but called the coach "the master of hyperbole."

"I'd like to think that we're the type of team that could go on and play in some of these big conferences. We're working hard to take that mid-major label away," Graves said. "It's a very nice thing for him to say. Will you tell him all the nice things I'm saying?"

No ordinary Smith

Some future WNBA standouts were introduced to Seattle through the NCAA tournament. And Texas A&M senior wing Tanisha Smith hopes to join those ranks, which include Sophia Young (Baylor), Seimone Augustus (Louisiana State) and Shavonte Zellous (Pittsburgh).

Smith is a silky shooter who has become one of the team's best passers and rebounders.

"On the wing you get to see a lot of things, you get to see the court better," said Smith, who finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in her team's opening-round win over Portland State. "From my perspective it's easy, because I've been playing with the girls for a long time. We know what each other is going to do and know each other's strengths."

Big 12 redux?

Texas A&M hopes to work a little Big 12 magic in its seventh overall NCAA appearance.

The second-seeded Aggies are staying in the same downtown Seattle hotel that conference partner Baylor did when the Bears won the 2005 title.