Gonzaga commentary

The fact that Adam Morrison’s tears created a flood of mockery seems one of the historic low moments for that faction of wrong-headed sports observers.

DENVER – There was a slow-burning fuse on this one. So slow detonation was somewhat in doubt.

DENVER – Nasty isn’t an NCAA-recognized statistic.

DENVER – Julian Strawther plays with such graceful efficiency across all levels of the court. He’s springy, with rise and bounce and hang time, and he continues to invent ways to loft a basketball into the net.

DENVER – Outsiders might think that losing games was the problem. But that was only a symptom.

Riding a surge of dopamine through a shower of confetti, Mark Few made a revealing comment about his 2023 Gonzaga men’s basketball team. Accepting the trophy for having won another West Coast Conference tournament championship last week, he spoke of this, his 24th GU team: “I’ve never been as proud of a group.”

LAS VEGAS – Drew Timme and college basketball. Made for each other.

LAS VEGAS – Anton Watson has built a career on doing all the little things well. Playing smart, playing hard, earning teammates’ respect and fans’ love.

Gonzaga hasn’t sneaked up on anybody in the 21st century, so portraying the Zags as a darkhorse underdog fueled by disrespect would strain credulity. Still, this year’s West Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament seems a bit more foreboding for GU. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.