A Grip on Sports: There are some things concerning Gonzaga basketball that should never be taken for granted
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Want to know what’s still a bit strange for me concerning Gonzaga basketball? It happened yesterday, when the Associated Press All-America teams were announced. There were three Bulldogs on the first two teams, including Corey Kispert among the nation’s five best. And everyone seemed to shrug. Such accolades seem to have become ho-hum.
•••••••
• In 1981 I was in my second full year as a sports writer. My main beat was UC Irvine basketball, which had finished the year 17-10, great considering the Anteaters were 1-13 in conference play the year before and had scored 26 points in their final regular season game.
And, no, the NCAA didn’t have a shot clock yet.
But that wasn’t the big news this time of year back in the early days of the Ronald Reagan presidency. The big news was UCI’s big man, Kevin Magee, was named to the Associated Press All-America first team.
It came out of the ether. A big surprise to everyone, including the youngster who covered the team for the Orange County Register. Oh, sure, Magee, who followed new coach Bill Mulligan from Saddleback JC to Irvine, had averaged 27.5 points and 12.5 rebounds a game. Those stats were good for third and fourth nationally but a first-team All-American? No way. Not at UC Irvine.
Guess what was the lead headline in the Register the next day? Yep. I still have the clipping in a place of honor, a cardboard box buried somewhere in the basement.
Which brings us to yesterday. The Zags’ Kispert, Jalen Suggs and Drew Timme all earned All-America honors. The Spokane world seems to shrug. What’s the big deal? Gonzaga has had first-team players before. Three in fact. Dan Dickau, Adam Morrison and Kelly Olynyk. Heck, GU has had a least one player earn some sort of AP honor the past seven years and eight of the past nine.
It’s become old hat. Something that should never be taken for granted seems to be just that.
I can’t stop thinking about how happy Magee was when we talked that March day in 1981. His smile was bigger than Crawford Hall, the bandbox UCI played its home games in. And why not? He had done something no one had ever done before at a school that never expected it to happen. He repeated as a first-team selection the next season and since then, despite a few NBA players passing through its doors, it’s never happened again for the school.
At Gonzaga it happens, seemingly, every year. A birthright almost.
Maybe. But GU fans should never let it get old. They should savor it. And remember how it felt the first time a Bulldog earned such an honor. It’s always worth a smile.
• If you wondered about the college basketball success the Inland Northwest enjoyed this season and if it was some sort of record, wonder no longer. At least as far as the NCAA Division I tournament is concerned, it is. For the first time ever, the region is sending four teams to the Big Dance, two on the men’s side (Gonzaga and EWU) and two on the women’s (Gonzaga and WSU).
Again, that’s not normal. And should be celebrated.
Theo Lawson broke it down today in this story, which includes a lot of comment about how special it is for the area. And how all the success is interrelated.
• Speaking of interconnections, Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle, who led the Beavers on a surprise run through the Pac-12 Tournament and into the NCAAs, has as many Spokane roots as anyone (including his daughter’s outstanding career at Gonzaga).
John Blanchette spoke with the Ferris High graduate this week for this column, in which Tinkle shares some heretofore-unheard stories about his Spokane high school days. Well, unheard except, probably, at Ferris reunions.
•••
Gonzaga: The All-America news comes to us courtesy of Jim Meehan. … There is news on the TV-watching front as well, including streaming services, and that comes courtesy of Kip Hill (a Kansas fan, I might add). … The West Region has a bunch of great players. Jim takes a look at them, many of whom GU has already faced this season. … Are their future first-team All-America players in Gonzaga’s future. Maybe. Jim takes a look at one of the highly sought-after recruits who looks to be headed to Spokane next season. … Larry Weir’s most recent Press Box podcast includes a conversation with Alyssa Charlston and it concerns the area schools in the NCAA Tournament. … Elsewhere in the West Coast Conference, Saint Mary’s is still playing, albeit in the NIT. … The NCAA Tournament schedule would have BYU’s region playing Sunday games next weekend. That will change if the Cougars are still involved.
WSU: It’s another time of the year as well. Transfer season. And it looks as if Jaz Kunc, the last holdover from the Ernie Kent days, will be playing somewhere besides Pullman next season. Theo has more in this story. … The GESA deal is not only a good deal now for Washington State but also for down the road. … Around the Pac-12 and college basketball, sometimes it is profitable to show faith in your school, as a couple of Oregon State fans did. … Utah has made a decision. Larry Krystkowiak was fired last night. The Utes are looking for a new basketball coach. … March Madness can be maddening. UCLA coach Mick Cronin understands that. … Seniors have an important role in the tourney. USC is a good example of that. … Another Arizona State player is leaving amid rumors coach Bobby Hurley is seeking other jobs. … It wasn’t easy covering college hoops this season. … In football news, spring football is starting soon for Washington. The Huskies will have a new defensive back. … Colorado is also ready for spring practice. … Utah has a new leader for its wide receivers. … John Canzano thinks it is time for Oregon State to cut ties with its president.
EWU: Eastern’s first-round opponent, Kansas, has been dealing with huge coronavirus issues. But, as Ryan Collingwood tells us, the Eagles are still preparing for the best version of the Jayhawk team to show up. … Kendrick Bourne is about to get paid. The New England Patriots have agreed with the EWU alum on a free agent contract. … Elsewhere in the Big Sky, the football polls are out and the Big Sky has three schools in the top 25. Weber State (third in the coaches’ poll), Eastern (12) and UC Davis (25).
Preps: Dave Nichols believes strongly the new high school football stadium would be better for our entire community if it were sited near the Arena. As do I. Dave shares more thoughts about it this morning as well as once again passing along where you can share your thoughts with the Spokane school board. … Besides his column on a new football stadium, Dave also has a roundup of Tuesday’s action.
Mariners: Reliever Roenis Elias will have Tommy John surgery. His year is over before it even began. … J.P. Crawford won a Gold Glove, which, for a shortstop, is a huge deal. Now he wants to win a Silver Slugger Award. … The M’s routed Kansas City.
Seahawks: NFL’s free agency has been pretty much a one-way street for Seattle thus far. Leaving yesterday were the Griffin brothers, with starting corner Shaquill headed for Jacksonville. It’s the end of that era. And all part of the Seattle way under John Schneider and Pete Carroll. … The Hawks did agree to a deal with another corner and with their hard-working defensive tackle, Poona Ford. … Former Hawk assistant coach Rusty Tillman has died at 75. … The Bears are signing Andy Dalton. Now maybe the Russell Wilson talk will slow down.
•••
• If you are wondering, the other four players on the 1981 AP first team with Magee were Ralph Sampson, Mark Aquirre, Danny Ainge and Isiah Thomas. Pretty incredible company. And if you are wondering what happened to Magee, when he died a few years back I shared his story (I can’t find the link, however). It is a sad one, though the last time I ever spoke with him he was as happy and upbeat as ever and I pictured a huge smile on his face. It’s the way I’ll always remember the best college basketball player I ever covered. By the way, aren’t you glad I never mentioned St. Patrick’s Day. It took some self control. Until later …