Gonzaga Fans Throw Party To Prepare For Battle

Sean O’Connor doesn’t necessarily care if the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team wins a game in its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.

The 15-year-old Gonzaga Prep student explained that he just wants lots of exposure for the team and its players.

“I think they should play someone really high, like UCLA, so they can get some publicity, some recruiting,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor was one of about 300 who waited Sunday afternoon at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park to see what team Gonzaga will play Thursday in the first round.

The Gonzaga fans munched on popcorn, drank from the bar and crowded around two TV screens. They waded through commercials for CBS, tires and David Letterman before Gonzaga’s opponent was announced.

“Florida International would be our preference,” said Robin Barnhart, a point guard for the Gonzaga women’s basketball team before graduating in 1988. “I think we’d match up well with them.”

But top-ranked UCLA will play Florida International, and Gonzaga will play the University of Maryland at Salt Lake City. The crowd cheered when Gonzaga’s name popped up on the screen. Some raised their eyebrows at the announcement of Maryland.

“They’ve got their hands full, I’ll tell you that,” Phil Lenoue said. But “they’re a fighting, scrapping bunch.”

Maryland was seeded third in the region. Gonzaga was seeded 14th.

Many fans started planning trips for Salt Lake City when the game was announced.

“We’ve got season tickets,” Eileen Barbieri said. “My husband’s calling a travel agent right now. That’s what he ran to do.”

Barnhart and her husband planned to see Gonzaga play in the tournament, regardless if that meant going to Boise, Salt Lake City or even Tallahassee.

“We’re kind of basketball junkies to begin with,” Barnhart said. “We’ll probably stay regardless of how Gonzaga does. But we plan to stay and see them play at least two games.”

Team manager Drew Dannels jumped on the phone as soon as he heard the news. He called his parents, who live in Salt Lake City, and told them to prepare.

“I know a lot of people are going,” he said. “I’m real excited. It’ll be a great experience.”