Grip on Sports: There will be more memories built this week for Gonzaga, but what type will they be?

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There is no longer wait in sports than the two-week buildup to the Super Bowl. But this week, after the Elite Eight ends and the buildup to Final Four rolls on, seems about as interminable. Maybe it’s because we’ve never really experienced it from this angle before. Read on.

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• Experience has to matter, doesn’t it? The hype and attention of a Final Four has to be a bit overwhelming if you haven’t been there before. And the wait is different than anything you experience during the regular season.

This is new territory for Gonzaga. Lucky for the Bulldogs, it’s also uncharted water for their opponent, South Carolina, as well. Heck, the whole NCAA experience has been virtually untouched in the Gamecocks’ past.

On the other side of the bracket, Oregon has been to the tournament before, sure, but the Ducks haven’t gotten this far since some of the players’ great-grandfathers we’re around.

Which leaves us North Carolina. Blue bloods in more way than one. And experienced in all this madness. Heck, the Tar Heels were in the Final Four just last season.

And that brings up another aspect of experience. What if your memories are of failure? Of a last-second shot that ripped a national championship from your fingers? Is that a good thing – “let’s go win this one guys” – or a bad thing?

Many of these UNC players were on the floor when Kris Jenkins’ 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted Villanova past the Heels, 77-74. How many sleepless nights did that engender?

Maybe it won’t matter. Maybe the Tar Heels have washed the memory clean, especially when they eliminated Kentucky on a late shot. Maybe. Or maybe it won’t come back until late in Monday’s game, if they are in a tight one with Gonzaga or South Carolina.

Will they tighten up, fearing failure again? Or will it free them to make a new memory?

I guess we have to wait to find out.

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Gonzaga: One thing you don’t have to wait for: more GU news. We have a bunch to pass along, including a history lesson. We can start with Jim Meehan’s feature on South Carolina star Sindarius Thornwell, the 6-foot-5 guard with the 7-foot name. … The NCAA tournament can be about family, as Whitney Ogden’s story of the Mathews’ brothers relates, but it is also about money, something Jacob examines in this piece. … Speaking of money, save your pennies and order the S-R’s book about Gonzaga’s historic run now. … Nigel Williams-Goss earned more All-America honors. … GU’s basketball success has paid off in other ways for the university. Becky Kramer examines that in this story. … You want to know more about Mark Few’s experience? Today’s the day for that. We can offer you perspectives from Dave Boling, who covered the Zags for us 20 years ago, to Austin Meek, who touches bases with Few’s parents. But my favorite today is this piece from USA Today’s George Schroeder, the former Register-Guard columnist who examines Few’s relationship with Pat Kilkenny, and a long-ago meeting. … We also have one more “who-you-should-root-for” piece about Gonzaga, of course. … If Thornwell wasn’t playing for Gonzaga’s opponent, his story would be a big hit around here. … Yahoo takes a look at one of Gonzaga’s unsung reasons for success.

WSU: The Cougars are in a national semifinal tonight. That would be part of the WNIT Final Four and it’s in Atlanta. Coach June Daugherty’s team will face Georgia Tech, hoping to continue an improbable postseason run. Jim Allen has an advance of the game. … Spring football included pads yesterday and Jacob Thorpe watched the action. He has these observations to pass along. … The Oregon Ducks will be confronted with North Carolina’s size and ability Saturday. At least they’ll be rested. … It will be a homecoming of sorts for one Oregon player. … Over in Seattle, Matt Calkins thinks Washington fans should be rooting for a Gonzaga/Oregon championship game. … The Huskies have another player returning next season. … How is Arizona going to get past its recent NCAA flameouts? … On the football side of Pac-12 news, USC has a new assistant coach and whole bunch of new receivers.

EWU: A handful of Eagles showed off their abilities for professional football scouts yesterday in Cheney and Jim Allen was there. Read through his story on the pro day. You’ll see one number that really stands out. It’s Samson Ebukam’s 40 time: 4.45. Wow. Remember, he was a defensive end for the Eagles and is trying to make the transition to linebacker. … The Eagles’ Jacob Wiley was an honorable mention Associated Press All-American.

Preps: Greg Lee has a story on Shadle Park basketball coach Tim Gaebe (pictured) calling it a career a couple weeks ago. … Jim Sharkey will not be back as Ferris’ football coach next season. … The WIAA has made major changes to the basketball RPI system seeding the state tournaments.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez was just fine yesterday but after that the M’s pitching was putrid in a 15-6 loss to Arizona. … Kyle Seager has had some slow starts. He hopes to avoid another one. … The M’s are getting healthier. … In the next few days we will have some baseball news concerning the S-R website. To pique your interest, we offer this piece from Dave Nichols on the starting rotation.

Seahawks: John Schneider talked yesterday at the NFL meetings and he had a lot to say about the offensive line, incentive clauses and a whole bunch of other items. … The league instituted a rule aimed at some Seahawk moves. … I don’t agree with this at all.

Sounders: The U.S. picked up a road point in World Cup qualifying last night, with a 1-1 draw vs. Panama. The U.S. goal was scored by Clint Dempsey. … Atlanta comes to Seattle on Friday.

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• A couple of items here. First, I found this fun story on the Deseret News’ website. It’s about baseball movies. A perfect read on a rainy afternoon. And speaking of the afternoon, I’ll be making an appearance on radio today. Yep, I’m joining my friend Dennis Patchin on 700 ESPN from, well, I really don’t know. The M’s game precedes us, so whenever that’s over we’ll start. You can listen here if you want. We go until 6 p.m., that much I’m sure. Until then …