Yes 19 is just right not “few” short!
And in Mark as in Few’s case 19 will always be more than the number of consecutive times he has taken his Zags to the NCAA Championships
It instead will mark the noteworthy season when the country now ought to know how to pronounce the Spokane school, as in Gone Zag aaah. Yes the just once-beaten Bulldogs are in the chipper tonight in Arizona.
Winners of a school record 37 games – you know that Spokane school famous for Bing Crosby and John Stockton – the No 1 seed from Spokane turned all doubters to the sidelines in winning the great 8 matchup with West Virginia to make it to the last four of 68 tournament teams.The Zags then measured a tough South Carolina quintet to join perennial tournament performer North Carolina with the chips on the line.
First it was an easy non-conference schedule prognosticators criticized in giving Gonzaga a low seed – But Mark Few always said he would play anybody anywhere and over the last five years or so GU did just that.
But this year the Zags took no quarter beating tournament teams Arizona, Washington, Florida and Quinnipiac then beating Iowa State on a neutral and traveling to Nashville to decision Tennessee.
Yes they lost to BYU at the Kennel for the third consecutive ruining an undefeated season and No 1 ranking but I thought that was a blessing.
I am admittedly prejudice having worn the blue and white dynamite long before red somehow snuck in there and for that matter the Kennel was built.
In the semi Niegel Williams Goss, one of three transfers from D-1 programs, netted 23 and freshman Zach Collins dropped in 14 to go along with 13 caroms but it was his timing as a defensive presence – he had a career high 6 blocks against South Carolina, is incredible and wait till he’s bigger, faster and stronger.
But how about Killiam Tillie, the freshman and the epitome of this team, coming off the bench cold and cementing the win with a pair of free throws.
It might be a bloodbath but I can’t wait then who’s going to Spokane with me for the parade?
Oh baby!
Just sayin’
