Gonzaga’s tournament path a very difficult one

  • By Nicholas K. Geranios Associated Press
  • Wednesday, March 17, 2010 11:19pm
  • SportsSports

SPOKANE — Gonzaga’s 12th straight trip to the NCAA tournament is shaping up as one of its toughest.

The Zags (26-6) got a No. 8 seed and were shipped to Buffalo, N.Y., to play ninth-seeded Florida State (22-9). If they win, their likely opponent is top-seeded Syracuse, which opens against 16th seed Vermont.

While some might argue Gonzaga’s seed was lower than it should have been, leading scorer Matt Bouldin has no problem with it. This season was a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs.

“That’s why this team has been the most fun I’ve had in these four years at Gonzaga,” said Bouldin, the lone returning starter from the Sweet 16 team the year before. “Our mindset going into these games is, no fear. We have kind of a tougher, grittier mindset than in years past.”

Gonzaga coach Mark Few is proud that his team, which began the season with 10 players who had never played Division I basketball, qualified for the tournament. He doesn’t care who or where they play.

“That pride is the overwhelming feeling,” said Few, the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 9 Coach of the Year. “We’ve had some good seeds and some bad seeds. I don’t think it’s worth getting into and wasting brain matter on, really.”

Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference regular season title, but lost to Saint Mary’s in the tournament final. That cost the Bulldogs a chance to open the tournament in the Spokane subregional. Still, Gonzaga is making its 12th consecutive trip to the NCAAs, and the 13th in program history. The 12 straight trips are tied with Texas and Wisconsin for the third-longest current streak, after Kansas (21), Duke (15) and Michigan State (13).

Friday’s game with Florida State will be the first time the Zags have played the Seminoles, who received an at-large bid and are making their 12th tournament appearance after losing in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.

Florida State features one of the nation’s best defenses, holding opponents to 37 percent shooting, and likes to keep games in the 50s. Gonzaga scored fewer than 60 points only once, a 76-41 loss to Duke.

“They do an amazing job of contesting every shot,” Few said.

Few, in his 11th year, needs one victory to move past Hank Anderson for most wins at Gonzaga. Both have 290 wins. Few’s .801 winning percentage is the highest of any active coach with at least five seasons.

The Zags last played in Buffalo in the 1993-94 season, when they lost to Canisius and Niagara on consecutive nights at the Canisius Classic. Few was a young assistant to coach Dan Fitzgerald on that team.

“I have a great recollection of that trip,” Few said. “It was not a stellar (trip) for the Zags.” That team went on to finish 22-8 and won the first West Coast Conference regular-season title in school history.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 11

Tulalip Heritage finishes second in district tournament.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (left) and head coach Mike Macdonald (right) spoke to the media at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
New Seahawks OC excited to coach Geno Smith

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has “a lot of respect” for Seahawks QB.

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs with after a catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Tyler Lockett’s future with Seahawks remains unclear

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald noncommittal 1 month before a possible decision point.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
O’Neil: The Seahawks will keep Geno Smith

The reasons for the Seahawks quarterback sticking around are simple and obvious.

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.