Both The Sporting News and USA Today named Gonzaga’s Mark Few their coach of the year for the job he did not only in leading the Zags to a nearly undefeated season, but also for mixing together a blend of international players, transfers and freshmen.
Gonzaga also proved itself before West Coast Conference play by running the table through a nonconference schedule that included Florida, Iowa State, Tennessee and Arizona (though UA was without guards Allonzo Trier and Parker Jackson-Cartwright for that Dec. 3 game).
The knock on the Zags, of course, is even tougher than the rep Arizona has taken for losing in four straight Elite Eight appearances: Gonzaga has reached 18 straight NCAA Tournaments but has never reached a Final Four.
And Salt Lake City, where Gonzaga will open play along with Arizona on Thursday, may be among the Zags’ worst memories: In 2013, they were seeded No. 1 but struggled in an opener against No. 16 Southern and then lost to Wichita State in the second round of the same arena they will play in Thursday.
But with a veteran group anchored on both ends by the inside dominance of Polish center Przemek Karnowski and the skilled playmaking of point guard Nigel Williams-Goss, this could be a different year.
It could be their year.
“They’re tough,” Ennis said. “A lot of people say their conference isn’t that great, but look what they did in the nonconference. They’re still beating great teams. You have to give them the respect. They’re gonna still be a tough team in the tournament.”
