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Of the millions of words in ether and print that analyzed, lamented or derided the Zags’ competitive sag, we may pinpoint the four most incisive and relevant words, voiced by coach Mark Few.

We debuted our “Four Out” series last January, with Gonzaga facing somewhat of an identity crisis coming off an upset loss to Santa Clara, having just dropped out of the AP Top 25 and entering a crucial stretch of West Coast Conference games that would determine the team’s NCAA Tournament fate.

Is Gonzaga basketball back on the bubble? Following back-to-back West Coast Conference losses, the Zags dropped out of the Top 25 on Monday, and dropped to No. 19 in the NET rankings. CBS Sports' Jerry Palm's latest bracket projection has GU as a No. 9 seed.

Utah State on top, Saint Mary's rises after wave of losses hits the top teams.

A year ago after Gonzaga’s road loss at Santa Clara, the Zags dropped out of the AP college basketball top 25 for the first time in 143 polls, dating back to the start of the 2016-17 season. Following two West Coast Conference losses last week including Thursday’s overtime loss to Oregon State and Saturday’s 103-99 home setback to Santa Clara, the Zags fell out of the AP poll again.

Nearly a full page of Gonzaga’s media guide is devoted to games where the Bulldogs have reached one of college basketball’s elusive milestones.

The evening ended with a thud with Gonzaga falling to Santa Clara 103-99, but it started out with rousing standing ovations for Domantas Sabonis, one of the best players in school history. Sabonis was on hand with wife, Shashana, and their young children Tiger and Eleven “Elle” as his No. 11 jersey was displayed on the McCarthey Athletic Center wall, joining Frank Burgess, John Stockton, Adam Morrison, Kelly Olynyk, and Dan Dickau from the men’s program and Courtney Vandersloot from the women’s team.

Gonzaga came out of its first loss this week focused on improving at the defensive end and finding a way to execute in the late-game situations that have stumped Mark Few’s team at almost every turn this season.

Here are three observations from Gonzaga’s 103-99 loss to Santa Clara on Saturday.

The Zags will hang the jersey of Domantas Sabonis in the rafters ahead of their game against the Broncos at McCarthey Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on KHQ and ESPN+ outside the region.

For long stretches of Thursday’s game at Gill Coliseum, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike and Oregon State’s Parsa Fallah traded body blows and baskets before both players eventually fouled out in overtime.