Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few yells to players during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Just a few weeks ago, Gonzaga was in unfamiliar territory: on the bubble.
Now, the Zags are headed back to yet another Sweet 16 — their ninth in a row — after a strong showing in the first two rounds of this year’s NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” head coach Mark Few said after his squad pummeled Kansas 89-68 Saturday afternoon. “As I told them in the locker room, it’s incredible. Nine straight Sweet 16s. What these guys have been able to do, especially in lieu of where we were earlier in the year, but all the ones that came before them that set this thing up, it’s a testament to all the great players that came through this program.”
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) drives to the basket while Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (13) moves the ball while Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) posts up against him during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Members of the Gonzaga Bulldogs band celebrate a win during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) reacts to a play during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few yells to players during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self talks to a referee during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) is walked off the court after hitting his head during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) and forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) fight for the rebound against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (13) and forward Ben Gregg (33) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) shoots the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) defends against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (13) posts up against Kansas Jayhawks guard Johnny Furphy (10) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. shoots the ball over Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) drops the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) moves the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) jumps to shoot the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) moves the ball while Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Braden Huff (34) posts up against him during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs fans cheer during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) shoots the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few yells during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) shoots a free throw during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) picks up the ball after Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nolan Hickman (11) drops the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Ben Gregg (33) celebrates during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (13) shoots the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) shoots a 3-pointer during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate a 3-pointer during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) shoots the ball over Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) shoots the ball over Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) moves the ball down the court during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (13) shoots the ball over Kansas Jayhawks forward Parker Braun (23) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Braden Huff (34) handles the ball while Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) posts up against him during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Members of the Gonzaga Bulldogs cheer team celebrate a win during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kansas Jayhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Dusty Stromer (4) reaches for the rebound against Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Luka Krajnovic (3) shoots the ball during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) knocks the ball out of the hands of Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks guard Nicolas Timberlake (25) celebrates a three-pointer during the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kansas Jayhawks center Hunter Dickinson (1) handles the ball while Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Braden Huff (34) posts up against him during the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Few acknowledged that while the Bulldogs did dig themselves into an unfavorable hole at one point in the season, they didn’t lose faith in their vision and banded together to catch fire and earn an at-large bid into the Big Dance — the program’s 26th consecutive appearance.
“We knew we had to finish strong. We did that,” Few said. “We’ve just always impressed upon them, you know, we get in (the tournament), we know how to win in this thing. This is not a new thing for our program, for the staff and for the players that are in here. I think they really bought into that and believed that.”
He continued, “But, yeah, the Sweet 16 thing, we don’t take it for granted at all. I’ll say it again. I think it’s the greatest sporting event in the entire world. It’s so exciting and so, just, awesome to be a part of it. ... These guys, I give them credit. They remained coachable the entire year. They stuck with it, stuck with it. They believed in the program and the staff and what we’re trying to do. Lo and behold, we finally figured it out.”
Gonzaga will face No. 2-seeded Arizona next weekend in the Sweet 16 for a chance at an Elite Eight berth.
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