Although Gonzaga men came up short, they are grateful for the success they have had this season
DETROIT, Michigan The Gonzaga men’s basketball team appears to lose every time it makes it to the NCAA Tournament. The team’s excellent skill and camaraderie as a unit this year contributed to their victory.
It is always bittersweet for a squad to end a season. Despite their desire to advance further in the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs remain appreciative of the experiences they have had this year.
Graham Ike says that he is grateful to have shared a court with these men and is looking forward to another year. “It’s been great; this is the deepest run I’ve ever been on in my college career. Just to be with these great dudes has made this season so fun and enjoyable. I look forward to another year.”
In the first few games of the regular season, this team wasn’t playing well, but they got better every week. This is a result of their growing bond and eventual formation of an extended family both on and off the court. They had skeptics during the season, but despite this setback, they remain one of the best teams in college basketball.
Ben Gregg, who has become a great addition to the starting line, mentions that this loss hurt more because of the brotherhood they have created among one another. He states that this loss “didn’t drive us apart; it made us closer together. You can see that in how we play on the court and how we interact off the court. That bond that we have with each other, that brotherhood—that’s why this one hurt so much. Just seeing everyone go out like this, especially Anton.”
Anton Watson, the Spokane native, played his final game in a Zag uniform. He had a very successful career as a Bulldog, playing 151 games for Gonzaga in what was a legendary run as he staked up 1,447 career points, 780 rebounds, 299 assists, 215 steals, which ranks second all-time in Gonzaga history behind only John Stockton, and 87 career blocks.
Although this was not the end that they pictured, they are holding their heads high as they think of all the accomplishments they have had this season. As we look into next season, we will have a very similar starting lineup as the Bulldogs, at this point, are only losing Watson.
This group of players has developed a tight bond and will continue their dominance into next season, hopefully with a longer stay in the NCAA Tournament.
