Legacy of success: Gonzaga's NCAA tournament appearances through the years
Gonzaga University has made 18 consecutive appearances in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Here's a look back at how the Zags have performed through the years on college basketball's grandest stage.
Section:Picture story
1995: Gonzaga earns the first NCAA tournament berth in school history
Maryland’s Joe Smith slams on GU’s Scott Snider (34) in the first half of their NCAA West Region game Thursday, March 16, 1995, in Salt Lake City. Maryland won 87-63.
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Maryland in first round, 87-63
1999: Gonzaga advances to the West Regional final in its first of 18 consecutive appearances
The Gonzaga bench can smell the Sweet 16 in the final minute of a second-round 82-74 win, as Stanford goes on a foul-a-thon at Key Arena in Seattle in 1999.
Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Defeated Stanford in second round, 82-74
Gonzaga top scorer Richie Frahm is held aloft by teammate Axel Dench (30) as other Bulldogs celebrate their 73-72 upset of Florida in the NCAA West Regionals in Phoenix, Thursday, March 18, 1999. The win sent the Zags into the Elite Eight.
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Defeated Florida in regional semifinal, 73-72
Mike Nilson contemplates the game as he and teammate Quentin Hall walk off the court after losing to Connecticut 67-62 on Saturday, March 20, 1999, in the NCAA West Regional championship game in Phoenix.
Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Connecticut in regional final, 67-62
2000: The Zags make a three-round appearance
Gonzaga’s Axel Dench lays down the law against Louisville in an NCAA first-round, 77-66 win in Tucson, Ariz., Thursday, March 16, 2000.
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Defeated Louisville in first round, 77-66
Gonzaga coach Mark Few gets a hug from Matt Santangelo after the Zags defeated St. John’s in the NCAA West second-round game in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, March 18, 2000. Santangelo scored 26 points in Gonzaga’s 82-76 upset.
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Defeated St. John's in second round, 82-76
Matt Santangelo reflects in the empty hallway leading to the team locker room after losing to Purdue 75-66, Thursday, March 23, 2000, in the NCAA West Regional semifinals in Albuquerque, N.M.
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Lost to Purdue in regional semifinal, 75-66
2001: Gonzaga reaches the regional semifinals
Gonzaga guard Dan Dickau celebrates a last-second, 86-85 victory over Virginia the NCAA South Regional in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, March 16, 2001. Dickau scored 29 point for the Zags.
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Defeated Virginia in first round, 86-85
Gonzaga coaches Billy Grier, Mark Few and Scott Snider encourage the Zags in a 77-62 loss to Michigan State in Atlanta on March 23, 2001, in the NCAA West Regional semifinals.
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Michigan State in regional semifinal, 77-62
2002: Gonzaga suffers its first, first-round NCAA tournament loss in the Mark Few era
Corey Violette puts a towel to his head after fouling out in the final seconds of Gonzaga’s loss to Wyoming, 73-66, in the first round of the NCAA West Regionals in Albuquerque, N.M., Thursday, March 14, 2002.
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2003: Gonzaga reaches the second round
The Zags’ Winston Brooks reacts to a growing Gonzaga lead over Cincinnati in the first half of the first round of the NCAA West Regional, Thursday, March 20, 2003, in Salt Lake City. Gonzaga won 74-69.
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Defeated Cincinnati in first round, 74-69
The Zags’ Tony Skinner and Cory Violette try to rebound the final shot by Blake Stepp in the final second of a double-overtime, 96-95 loss to Arizona in the NCAA West Regional second-round game Saturday, March 22, 2003, in Salt Lake City.
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Lost to Arizona in second round, 96-95
2004: Zags earn a No. 2 seed, best in school history
Ronny Turiaf and Sean Mallon exchange high fives above Adam Morrison in the first half of their 76-49 first-round win over Valparaiso in Seattle, Thursday, March 18, 2004.
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Defeated Valparaiso in first round 76–49
Gonzaga’s Erroll Knight and Sean Mallon walk off the court after their 91-72 upset loss to Nevada in the second round in Seattle, Saturday, March 20, 2004.
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Lost to Nevada in second round, 91–72
2005: The Zags make a two-round appearance
Gonzaga guard Erroll Knight and Winthrop guard Torrell Martin chase a second-half loose ball in their NCAA first-round game in Tucson, Thursday, March 17, 2005. The Zags won 74-64.
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Defeated Winthrop in first round, 74-64
GU senior Ronny Turiaf and the Zags acknowledge Gonzaga fans and say goodbye after losing to Texas Tech in the second round, 71-69, in Tucson, Ariz, March 19, 2005.
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Lost to Texas Tech in second round, 71-69
2006: The Zags make it back to the third round
Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison triumphantly leaves the Huntsman Center after scoring 35 points in a 79-75 win over Xavier in their NCAA opener in Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday, March 16, 2006.
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Defeated Xavier in first round, 79-75
Gonzaga guard Derek Raivio crashes into Indiana guard Roderick Wilmont in the second half of their second-round game in Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday, March 18, 2006. Ravio finished with 13 points and made several clutch free throws to ice a 90-80 win over the Hoosiers.
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Defeated Indiana in second round, 90-80
Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison collapses to the court after UCLA defeated the Zags 73-71 on Thursday, March 23, 2006, in the regional semifinals in Oakland, Calif.
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Lost to UCLA in regional semifinal, 73-71
2007: Gonzaga falls in the first round as Indiana avenges its 2006 defeat
The ball and the game get away from Gonzaga’s Derek Raivio on Thursday night, March 15, 2007, during the first round of the NCAA tournament against Indiana in Sacramento, Calif. The Hoosiers ousted the Zags, 70-57.
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Lost to Indiana in first round, 70-57
2008: Zags taste a first-round defeat
Gonzaga coaches Tommy Lloyd, Leon Rice and Mark Few work the sidelines against Davidson, March 21, 2008 in Raleigh, N.C., in the first-round Midwest Regional game. The Bulldogs were eliminated, 82-76. View photo gallery from GU vs. Davidson
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Lost to Davidson in first round, 82-76
2009: Gonzaga advances to the regional semifinals
Gonzaga players swarm Demetri Goodson after he buried the winning shot for an 83-81 win over Western Kentucky in the second round in Portland’s Rose Garden on March 21, 2009. View photo gallery from GU vs. Western Kentucky
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Defeated Western Kentucky in second round, 83-81
After their 98-77 Sweet 16 loss to North Carolina in the South Regional, Gonzaga players turn to their fans and salute them on Friday, March 27, 2009, in Memphis, Tenn. View photo gallery from GU vs. North Carolina
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Lost to North Carolina in regional semifinal, 98-77
2010: Zags make a two-round visit
Robert Sacre of Gonzaga turns to salute the fans after the Zags beat Florida State 67-60 to advance to the second round of the tournament in Buffalo, New York Friday, March 19, 2010. View photo gallery from GU vs. Florida State
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Defeated Florida State in first round, 67-60
It wasn’t the best of days for Gonzaga Coach Mark Few as he watches the Zags fall 30 points behind Syracuse in Buffalo in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 21, 2010. Syracuse prevailed 87-65. View photo gallery from GU vs. Syracuse
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Lost to Syracuse in second round, 87-65
2011: BYU's Jimmer Fredette shoots down the Zags
Gonzaga’s Robert Sacre muscles up on Dwayne Polee (0) and Justin Brownlee of St. John’s during a Southeast regional first-round NCAA game, Thursday, March 17, 2011, in Denver. The Zags won 86-71. View photo gallery from GU vs. St. John’s
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Defeated St. John's in first round, 86-71
Gonzaga’s Steven Gray tries to stop BYU’s Jimmer Fredette in the first half of a Southeast Regional second-round game, Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Denver. Fredette scored 34 points in an 89-77 BYU win. View photo gallery from GU vs. BYU
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Lost to Brigham Young in second round, 89-67
2012: Gonzaga makes a two-round appearance
Kevin Pangos of Gonzaga drives to the hoop and is fouled by Kevin Jones of West Virginia during their first-round game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 15, 2012. Gonzaga won 77-54. View photo gallery from GU vs. West Virginia
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Defeated West Virginia in first round, 77-54
A quiet and dejected Gonzaga team sits in the locker room after its 73-66 loss to Ohio State in the second round in Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 17, 2012. View photo gallery from GU vs. Ohio State
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Lost to Ohio State in second round, 73-66
2013: Wichita State sends No. 1 seed Gonzaga home in the second round
Coach Mark Few of the top-seeded Zags walks arm-in-arm with players Elias Harris and Kelly Olynyk, with Mike Hart trailing, after losing to No. 9 seed Wichita State 76-70 at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 23, 2013. View photo gallery from GU vs. Wichita State
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Wichita State in second round, 76-70
2014: Gonzaga returns to second round
Gonzaga’s Drew Barham and Kevin Pangos celebrate after beating Oklahoma State 85-77, March 21, 2014, in a first-round game in San Diego. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Oklahoma game
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Defeated Oklahoma State in first round, 85-77
Gonzaga’s David Stockton can’t believe he was called for a foul as Arizona’s Gabe York celebrates a basket in the second half, March 23, 2014, in San Diego. Arizona won 84-61. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Arizona game
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Arizona in second round, 84-61
2015: Duke spoils Gonzaga's return to Elite Eight
Gonzaga forward Domantas Sabonis (11) and North Dakota State guard Paul Miller (2) compete for a rebound in the second half of a second-round game, Friday, March, 20, 2015, at KeyArena in Seattle. GU won 86-76. View photo gallery from the GU vs. North Dakota State game
Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review
Defeated North Dakota State in first round, 86-76
Gonzaga guard Kevin Pangos (4) hugs center Przemek Karnowski after coming off the court late in the second half of an 87-68 win over Iowa in Seattle on Sunday, March 22, 2015. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Iowa game
Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review
Defeated Iowa in second round, 87-68
Gonzaga forward Domantas Sabonis (11) blocks a shot by UCLA forward Kevon Looney during the second half of an NCAA Sweet Sixteen game at NRG Stadium, Friday, March 27, 2015, in Houston, Texas. The Zags reached the Elite Eight with a 74-62 win. View photo gallery from the GU vs. UCLA game
Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review
Defeated UCLA in regional semifinal, 74-62
Duke forward Justise Winslow (12) and center Jahlil Okafor (15) keep Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski from a rebound during the second half of an NCAA Elite Eight game at NRG Stadium, Sunday, March 29, 2015, in Houston, Texas. Duke won 66-52 to reach the Final Four. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Duke game
Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Duke in regional final, 66-52
2016: The 11th-seeded Zags (28-8) fell short of a second straight Elite Eight as Syracuse closed the game on a 9-1 run.
Gonzaga’s Kyle Wiltjer celebrates a call that went the Zags’ way in GU’s first round game against Seton Hall’s Michael Nzei, March 17, 2016, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Co. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Seton Hall game
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Defeated Seton Hall in the first round, 68-52
GU’s Kyle Dranginis celebrates the Zags win over Utah at the Pepsi Center, March 19, 2016, in the NCAA Second Round in Denver, Co. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Utah game
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Defeated Utah in the second round, 82-59
Gonzaga’s Eric McClellan and Josh Perkins console each other in the locker room after falling to Syracuse in the Sweet 16, March 25, 2016, at the United Center in Chicago. View photo gallery from the GU vs. Syracuse game
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Lost to Syracuse in regional semifinal, 63-60
2017: Gonzaga makes it to the NCAA championship game
Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski celebrates with Zach Collins and Silas Melson, right, the win over South Carolina Sat., April 1, 2017, in their NCAA Final Four game in Phoenix. View photo gallery from the GU vs. South Carolina game
Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review
Gonzaga defeats South Carolina in their first Final Four appearance
With less than thirty seconds left in the game, an emotional Gonzaga guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) is comforted by Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. The Zags lost the game to to North Carolina 71-62. View photo gallery from the GU vs. North Carolina game
Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review