Two of the foremost programs in this era clash for only the third time as Kansas and Gonzaga vie for a Sweet 16 spot in Midwest Region action on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
The Jayhawks, seeded fourth, and the Bulldogs, seeded fifth, are the exclusive squads to secure at least one victory in each of the preceding 15 NCAA Tournaments.
Gonzaga (26-7) aims to achieve its ninth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Coached by Mark Few, the Bulldogs have triumphed in 10 of their last 11 contests following a commanding 86-65 triumph over McNeese in the opening round on Thursday.
“I’ve watched them play just about every opportunity I can, if I can stay up past midnight our time,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “Of course, love Mark and the job he’s done. So much respect.”
After defeating the 12th-seeded McNeese, Few was in high spirits.
“Loved our confidence, loved our approach. Again, 15 straight first-round wins, doing it is amazing,” Few said. “One of the hardest things to do is win a game in the NCAA Tournament.”
Kansas (23-10) has faced elimination in the second round in two of the past three seasons, sandwiching a national championship win in 2022.
The Jayhawks struggled towards the end of the season, dropping four of their last five games before March Madness commenced. Moreover, Kansas is deprived of the services of All-American forward Kevin McCullar Jr. (knee) for the remainder of the campaign.
Kansas encountered stern resistance from the 13th-seeded Samford in the initial round, narrowly clinching a 93-89 victory. The Bulldogs employed a rapid tempo alongside intense defensive pressure, slashing a 22-point deficit to merely one before the Jayhawks narrowly emerged victorious.
“I think matchups in the tournament matter a lot more than where you’re seeded,” Self said. “That’s played out to be true throughout (Thursday). I think there’s been a lot of things happen in the tournament that has been a little funky.”
“This game obviously could have gone the other way, so we feel really, really fortunate.”
Notable contributions were made by standout center Hunter Dickinson, who valiantly fought through a shoulder injury to tally 19 points, secure 20 rebounds, and execute four blocked shots.
KJ Adams Jr. also shone brightly with 20 points on a 10-of-13 shooting display in a game where Kansas boasted an impressive 60.3% field goal accuracy but conceded a 30-point disparity from beyond the arc.
“To get outscored 30 points beyond the arc and still win a game is pretty remarkable,” Self said. “We certainly can’t let that happen moving forward, to have a chance.”
Gonzaga converted 10 of 21 attempts from beyond the arc in their triumph over McNeese. Nolan Hickman sank three triples, while three other players recorded two each.
Graham Ike completed a flawless 6-of-6 from the field, amassing 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Anton Watson showcased an exceptional all-around performance with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. Watson narrowly missed securing the second triple-double in the history of the program by one assist.
“My teammates wanted me to play and my coaches didn’t want me to get hurt,” Watson said after watching the final 4:49 of the contest. “It’s kind of 50-50. I definitely wanted to stay in a little bit, but the good thing is we have another game to play and I have another chance.”
The Zags slipped out of the national rankings for the first time in eight years during the season but have displayed synchronization down the stretch.
“If you’ve been watching Gonzaga basketball the last month or two, you’d understand that there is something special happening,” Bulldogs point guard Andrew Nembhard said. “We’re playing good basketball. We’ve got another tough one Saturday, so we’re going to lock in on the scout and figure these guys out.”
The teams split the previous encounters, with Kansas emerging victorious 80-66 at home during the 1998-99 season and Gonzaga securing a 102-90 win in The Fort Myers Tip-Off to commence the 2020-21 season.
