The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
35°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

It’s good to be a Zag after head coach Mark Few and his team earned the program’s first No. 1 seed. (Colin Mulvany)
It’s good to be a Zag after head coach Mark Few and his team earned the program’s first No. 1 seed. (Colin Mulvany)

Seed: No. 1

Coach: Mark Few

Record: 31-2

Strengths: Gonzaga typically takes an inside-out approach, relying on All-America candidate Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris for nearly 33 points per game. Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. often supply the “outside” portion, combining for 123 3-pointers. The Zags have experience with seniors Harris and Mike Hart. Olynyk and Sam Dower are fourth-year juniors. Bell and Pangos are in their second season as starters.

Season highlight: Gonzaga rolled to the Old Spice Classic title in November, posting double-digit wins over NCAA qualifiers Oklahoma and Davidson. The Zags handled five Big 12 teams, including Kansas State and Oklahoma State, and swept through the WCC with a 16-0 record.

Style of play: The Zags prefer a faster pace, but they’ve shown they can function in possession-by-possession, grind-it-out contests. Lately, GU’s defense has been solid, limiting five of its last six foes to 52 points or less.