Gonzaga Basketball Stories: Spokesmanreview.com

Gonzaga holds on

SAN FRANCISCO � For significant stretches of the first half, Gonzaga couldn't stop turning the ball over. For long stretches of the second half, the Bulldogs had no defensive answer for San Francisco's 3-point shooters.

Zags tough it out

MORAGA, Calif. � There was nothing easy about it, even with injured Saint Mary's standout point guard Patty Mills on the bench in a suit and tie.

GU, Gaels enter rematch with doubts

MORAGA, Calif. � Two weeks ago, Saint Mary's was humming along with the best start in school history, a candidate for West Coast Conference player of the year, a national ranking and conference championship aspirations.

Memphis left Zags singing the blues

Long after ESPN had lost most of its audience on what turned out to be College GrimDay for Gonzaga, a camera captured the day's most revealing image.

One to the chin

Memphis coach John Calipari watched the final seconds tick away and shook hands with Gonzaga counterpart Mark Few in front of the scorer's table.

Zags take control

PORTLAND � The eight-time defending West Coast Conference champion Gonzaga Bulldogs took a big step toward a ninth straight title Thursday.

Familiar affair

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are used to hearing their coaches on the bench call out their plays. And now, they're used to hearing their ex-coaches on the opposing bench call out their plays.

Injury could blow ill for Gaels' future

Cards on the table: Gonzaga didn't beat the Saint Mary's JVs Thursday night.But even the hyper manic Kennel Club lost some of its juice when the Gaels' Patrick Mills came out of the locker room at halftime with an icebag balanced on his right wrist.

Zags rise to occasion

Patty Mills of Saint Mary's put on a show in the first half. Unfortunately for the Gaels, the sharp-shooting sophomore guard had to put on an ice bag for the second half.

Premier matchup arrives for GU, Gaels

The wait is finally over. Gonzaga and Saint Mary's collide tonight in one of the most highly anticipated West Coast Conference men's basketball games of the season. Both bring national rankings, winning streaks, similar stats, up-tempo offenses, marquee players and a bit of a chip on their shoulder to the showdown for first place in the WCC at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Heytvelt rides Waves for 25

MALIBU, Calif. � Senior forward Josh Heytvelt scored the game's first nine points, Gonzaga the first 17 and the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs went on to an 83-69 men's basketball victory over Pepperdine at Firestone Fieldhouse on Thursday.

Early WCC schedule favors Zags

The schedule-maker didn't take it easy on Gonzaga in the non-conference, but that's changed in West Coast Conference play.

Nothing but joy

It was a nice night for Gonzaga's bench on the court and an unforgettable night for senior Andrew Sorenson and his teammates in the locker room afterward.

Zags face high-up Lowhorn

Gonzaga, fresh from shutting down Santa Clara standout center John Bryant on Thursday, faces another sizable challenge against San Francisco's Dior Lowhorn tonight.

In defense of GU, its defense shines

The score crawled across the bottom of TV screens from Ocosta to Ocala, followed by the inevitable chorus.

GU deflates Pilots

Nothing came easy for the Gonzaga Bulldogs � the baskets, the rebounds, the long-distance 3-pointers.

Zags open defense of title (again)

Same old West Coast Conference.Wait, maybe that's not such a bad thing.The conference sent a record three teams to the NCAA tournament last year and those three � Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and San Diego � return nearly all their key players. In fact, a record eight of the 10 first-team All-WCC players from a year ago are back, though San Diego's Brandon Johnson is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

All is right again

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. � The Gonzaga Bulldogs came in with a three-game losing streak and fragile confidence. They fell behind by 15 points midway through the first half. They missed free throw after free throw.

Changes in fortune

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. � This isn't the opponent or the venue where college basketball teams go to end losing streaks.

Zags' meltdown came at inopportune time here

The mercury didn't drop this fast the week before Christmas.The snow � all 80 inches of it � hasn't fallen with such force.

Zags sag in clutch

PHOENIX � The Gonzaga Bulldogs had won with big first halves, won with big second halves, won on the road, won after spending most of a big lead and won comfortably against quality opposition.

Zags take on Wildcats

PHOENIX � The question was bound to come up, particularly leading up to the Gonzaga-Arizona men's basketball game.

Bulldogs run away in 2nd half

PULLMAN � It can happen that quickly.In a little more than a minute early in the second half, just 76 seconds in fact, Gonzaga showed Washington State what Eastern Washington's best team is this season � and then just kept emphasizing the point.

John Blanchette: Gonzaga beats WSU at own game

PULLMAN � This sort of thing was supposed to be history when football season ended.OK, Washington State didn't get beat by 60 on Wednesday night.

Rochestie calls out the shots

PULLMAN � Taylor Rochestie was nearly finished with a lengthy interview.But there was one more elephant in the room that had yet to be discussed, so Washington State's senior point guard didn't wait for it to run him over. He grabbed it by the tusks.

Past Zags pitch in on scout team

This wasn't your ordinary scout team.No, not with Casey Calvary impersonating Washington State center Aron Baynes. And Matt Santangelo imitating Cougars point guard Taylor Rochestie. And Alex Hernandez mimicking WSU guard Nikola Koprivica. And Brian Michaelson knocking down a 3-pointer. And Colin Floyd taking some repetitions, pretending to be Rochestie.

Crafty Zags school young Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS � Josh Heytvelt and Jeremy Pargo taught Indiana's youngsters a few lessons about what it takes to win.

Few thinks IU will be better in time

Gonzaga's Mark Few has no doubt that friend and coaching counterpart Tom Crean will turn around Indiana basketball.

Zags hold off Eastern behind Shives, Bowman

Kelly Graves didn't have much problem pinpointing his basketball team's problems.There were too many turnovers, too many offensive rebounds and too many second-half fouls.

Zags get their latest basketball jones in Indy

The fascination with paying for a seat in one area code to watch a basketball game being played in another still eludes many of us, but then so do the concepts of "reality" television and $150 sneakers.

Stats continue to move up for Downs

Gonzaga senior guard Micah Downs can't explain it, but his statistics seem to.Downs is more comfortable starting games than coming off the bench. He has regained a starting position that he held for the first part of last season before Steven Gray cracked the first unit.

Zags celebrate, but not too much

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. � Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few had a message for his players after their convincing 83-74 win over No. 12 Tennessee in the Old Spice Classic championship game Sunday.

Vols vanquished

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. � Gonzaga put it all together � dunks, 3-pointers, transition game, defense, toughness, composure � to take Tennessee apart Sunday night.

No Joshin', Heytvelt looking good

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. � Different game, different venue, same questions. It's becoming a postgame ritual that Josh Heytvelt doesn't mind at all.

Patience pays off

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. � Ira Brown started it and the rest of the Gonzaga Bulldogs finished it.

Old Spice Classic

At Lake Buena Vista, Fla.Thursday's results ( Read the full story )

Teams off to take on beasts in East

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. � Bigger tests figure to come down the road, but the Gonzaga men's basketball team should receive three rather large progress reports at the Old Spice Classic.

Gibbs suffers another setback

Grant Gibbs thought he was out of the woods. His right shoulder, which popped out of place at a Gonzaga men's basketball practice Nov. 10, was feeling better.

Zags smother Vandals

There are few things more satisfying for a coach than seeing his team take a game plan from the drawing board and execute it on the basketball court.

Bulldogs thunder 'Jackets

Gonzaga built two large leads against Montana State University-Billings � one it nearly frittered away and one that kept getting larger.

Pargo knows it's put-up time

Jeremy Pargo could have said eager, but instead characterized himself as being anxious � and so we'll take him at his word.

Coaches are familiar even if teams aren't

Gonzaga and Montana State University-Billings have never met on the basketball court, but their coaches have a long-standing friendship.

Gonzaga back in top form

Gonzaga had just finished a 51-point exhibition victory over Wayne State when Josh Heytvelt noticed a familiar face in the McCarthey Athletic Center crowd.

Zags clean up in debut

There was any number of things to pick off the stat sheet that would have been positives, but Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few zeroed in on the No. 2.

Goodson a quick study

Demetri Goodson is fast, and apparently a fast learner.The true freshman point guard has made a swift impression at Gonzaga through the first week and a half of practice.

Zags emphasize tough stuff

It wasn't just their scoring, rebounding, defense, experience or leadership. Or their hard-nosed presence on the basketball court.

For the Zags, let the madness begin

The Gonzaga Bulldogs hold their first official basketball practice today and already senior guard Jeremy Pargo senses something different.

Deep Zags set sail

USA Today, ESPN.com, Dickie V. and any number of online prognosticators and preseason magazines seem to agree: The Gonzaga Bulldogs are about to embark on a special men's basketball season.

Minnesota prep forward commits to Gonzaga

Sam Dower's AAU basketball coach remembers the first time Gonzaga's coaching staff watched the 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward play.

Classic goes on without Dickau

When the fourth annual Spokane All-Americans Charity Classic basketball game tips off Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center, Dan Dickau will be somewhere in Italy but Spokane will be on his mind.

Dickau ponders European options

Dan Dickau could face a dilemma. Take less money and play in the NBA or possibly earn more money and play in Europe.

John Blanchette: Daye of Our Lives

You're all familiar with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Looks like a stretch for Lakers to keep Turiaf

One way or another, restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf will get big money he was seeking after signing an offer sheet Thursday with the Golden State Warriors worth approximately $17 million over four years.

Pargo opts out of draft

Gonzaga junior point guard Jeremy Pargo has decided he wants to be a senior point guard.Pargo withdrew his name from NBA draft consideration Monday, the deadline day for underclassmen who haven't signed with an agent. The draft is June 26th.

Zags lose forward

Larry Gurganious, who saw limited playing time during two seasons with the Gonzaga men's basketball team, is transferring, likely to a school closer to his family in Oakland, Calif.

Pargo: It's first round or back to GU

LAKE BEUNA VISTA, Fla. � There's only one way Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo won't be back in Spokane for his senior season � if an NBA franchise promises to draft him in the first round.

Zags, WCC may trade Mondays for Thursdays

Gonzaga and the West Coast Conference appear to be ready to wave goodbye to ESPN's Big Monday and say hello to Thursday night telecasts.

Heytvelt recuperates from surgery

Gonzaga forward Josh Heytvelt, who missed the first 11 games of the 2007-08 season following surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot/ankle, had another operation on the same foot/ankle last week.

Junior commits to GU

Mangisto Arop, a 6-foot-5 guard from Canada, has orally committed to play for the Gonzaga University men's basketball team. He'll arrive in 2009.

Pargo declares NBA draft eligibility

Gonzaga University junior guard Jeremy Pargo will declare himself eligible for the NBA draft, but doesn't plan on hiring an agent, which keeps open the option of returning for his senior season.

UC Davis dumps Gonzaga

Hot off the momentum of a four-game win streak, the Gonzaga Bulldogs (15-9) were not able to make it to five Monday, dropping an 8-2 decision to the host UC Davis (13-7) Aggies at Dobbins Stadium in the first Division I baseball game between the two schools.

Slow start dooms the Zags

BOULDER, COLORADO _ Even with a terribly slow start and seemingly impossible defensive challenges, Gonzaga University women's basketball coach Kelly Graves was convinced that with typical shooting the Bulldogs would have played Colorado to the wire Monday.

Curry too hot for Zags

RALEIGH, N.C. � It had been 39 years since Davidson won an NCAA men's basketball tournament game. It had been six seasons since anybody scored 40 points against Gonzaga.

Nothing could stop Curry

RALEIGH, N.C. � Select teams for a schoolyard pick-up game � without watching each other warm up � and Stephen Curry might well be the last player chosen.

Gray puts on his own long-shot exhibition

RALEIGH, N.C. � Gonzaga's Steven Gray let it be known early that there would be more than one sharp-shooting guard on the RBC Center court Friday.

By the numbers

That magical feeling

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. � It wasn't like Jake Guild grew up with a scarcity of college basketball teams to follow. The University of North Carolina is here in his hometown. Duke University is eight miles away in Durham.

GU notebook: Giacoletti enjoys role

RALEIGH, N.C. � After taking two different teams to the NCAA men's basketball tournament as a head coach, Ray Giacoletti seems to be enjoying this year's return trip as an assistant.

Acclaim before game

RALEIGH, N.C. � If this game were to be decided by the ability of each team to praise the other, it'd probably end in a quadruple-overtime draw.

Zags state case in WNIT rout

Actions speak louder than words.Four days after being snubbed by the NCAA, Gonzaga routed UC Davis 81-60 in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament before 1,718 fans at McCarthey Athletic Center Thursday night.

Acquaintances renewed in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. � The text message arrived on Gonzaga guard Matt Bouldin's cell phone shortly after the NCAA pairings were announced Sunday.

Fatigue won't be a factor for GU

RALEIGH, N.C. � When No. 7-seeded Gonzaga steps on the floor against No. 10 Davidson on Friday, it will mark 10 days between games for both teams � the longest break of GU's season.

WNIT is A-OK with Gonzaga

Once the basketball is in play, initials won't matter.That's what the Gonzaga women's team is counting on for tonight's matchup with UC Davis in the first round of the Women's NIT at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Lot of GU in Davidson

They like to run the court. Typically use a nine-man rotation. Possess ample NCAA tournament experience. Dominate a conference that flies under the national radar. Schedule without fear of the name on the opponents' jersey. Guard driven, including the conference player of the year.

Cougs, Zags both ranked heading into tournament

North Carolina, the overall No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament, finished No. 1 Monday in the Associated Press' final men's poll of the season.

Snubbed by NCAA, GU at home in women's NIT

The spacious Gonzaga locker room was like a small cage and Bulldogs women's basketball coach Kelly Graves was the tiger, pacing endlessly late Monday afternoon.

Bulldogs to play Davidson in Wildcats' backyard

Plenty of newspaper ink will be spilled over the fact that Gonzaga, as a seventh seed, will play No. 10 Davidson in the Wildcats' backyard in an NCAA tournament opener Friday, and rightfully so.

John Blanchette: Committee should learn to read compass

So many teams, so much data, so many natural disasters, so little time.Here's a toast to the good men and woman on the NCAA tournament selection committee, the impossible job they have in selecting, seeding and siting the 65-team bracket and how well they do despite the odds.

NCAA tourney tickets scarce for WSU, GU

NCAA tournament tickets for Washington State and Gonzaga men's basketball fans will be scarce if their teams receive berths.

Stop worrying! Zags are a lock for NCAA tournament

SAN DIEGO � Among other afflictions, the Gonzaga basketball creature suffers from a charming � or maddening � latency. For example:

Zags women play waiting game

The garage is clean. The yard work that can be done has been done."I'm trying to do anything to take my mind off the next week," Gonzaga women's basketball coach Kelly Graves said. "The garage and outside the house � those are the only things my wife trusts me with. (Portland coach) Jim Sollars wants me to come down and go golfing, but that's only one day."

Toreros subdue Zags

SAN DIEGO � There is no statistical category in the box score for desire, hustle, effort, want-to, whatever you want to call it. But rebounding probably comes closest to defining those intangibles that often spell the difference between winning and losing.

Heytvelt spells GU

SAN DIEGO � Gonzaga didn't have its A game � maybe not even its C game � but the Bulldogs played a substantial amount of 'D' in the second half, they saw a glimpse of the old Josh Heytvelt and they made free throws in the last nine minutes.

Zags get semifinals date with Broncos

SAN DIEGO � Gonzaga will begin the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament where it left off in the regular season.

What ever happened to Josh Heytvelt, anyway?

SAN DIEGO � By finding overdrive on the on-ramp to the West Coast Conference tournament, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have shelved � temporarily at least � the most popular and angst-laden parlor game of 2008.

It's Dons or Broncos

SAN DIEGO � Gonzaga will meet No. 4-seeded Santa Clara or No. 5 San Francisco in the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament semifinals.

GU women advance

SAN DIEGO � This wasn't your typical No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 in a conference tournament opener. The top-seeded Gonzaga women's basketball team defeated Pepperdine twice during the regular season, but neither was easy.

GU soph Bowman is heart and soul of Zags

The focal point of the Bulldogs is truly the focal point of the Bulldogs. Heather Bowman may be the MVP and leading scorer in the West Coast Conference, but she is a target for more than passes from her Gonzaga teammates.

Bulldogs wrap up eighth straight WCC title

Gonzaga wasn't in the mood to share.The Bulldogs scored the first 12 points and cruised past Santa Clara 88-54 Monday night, wrapping up an outright West Coast Conference men's basketball championship and sending seniors David Pendergraft and Abdullahi Kuso out on a winning note in their final home game before an appreciative audience of 6,000 at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Bulldogs sweep awards

Gonzaga wasn't quite perfect during the West Coast Conference women's basketball season and the postseason doesn't start until Thursday when the top-seeded Bulldogs meet Pepperdine.

Zags try to tame Broncos

Sophomore guard Matt Bouldin rattled off three reasons why Gonzaga should be highly motivated for tonight's regular-season finale against Santa Clara.

Area women: Bulldogs romp past Gaels

Heather Bowman scored a game-high 20 points and Courtney Vandersloot finished with a double-double � 15 points, game-high 11 rebounds � to propel the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a 79-63 victory over the Saint Mary's Gaels in West Coast Conference play Saturday in Moraga, Calif.

Zags clinch another WCC title

NCAA tournament resumes, Bracketology and bubbles aren't big in Gonzaga coach Mark Few's vocabulary.

John Blanchette: Pargo, Zags defend their turf

Here's a head fake from Jeremy Pargo we didn't bite on earlier this week, during the angst-filled run-up to the Battle of the Bottom of the Top 25 between Gonzaga and Saint Mary's:

Zags, Gaels play for share of championship

Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few was visiting with Portland State counterpart Ken Bone outside the Bulldogs' locker room following GU's win over Portland at the Chiles Center on Monday.

Chatwood's blasts lead GU

Standing just 5-foot-7 and weighing, maybe, a biscuit more than 160 pounds, Jason Chatwood is hardly your prototypical power hitter.

Bowman scores 30 for Zags

Heather Bowman scored 30 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs to an 80-71 West Coast Conference women's basketball victory over the Santa Clara Broncos at Santa Clara, Calif.

Center Court: David Pendergraft as the ultimate Zag

The Gonzaga-San Diego game had been over for 30 minutes when Bulldogs senior forward David Pendergraft approached first-year Toreros coach and former GU assistant Bill Grier in a hallway inside the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Pilots give Zags a fit

PORTLAND � The final score was to Gonzaga's liking. The first 30 minutes, not so much. Gonzaga rallied past upset-minded Portland 73-51 before a crowd of 4,527 at the Chiles Center on Monday night, a result that didn't seem to correspond with how the West Coast Conference men's basketball game was unfolding deep into the second half.

Pilots' Nik similar to big brother Derek

PORTLAND � No matter the sport or activity � basketball, bikes, football or video games � if there was a score to be kept or a time to beat, the Raivio brothers would go at it full throttle. They might not have realized it at the time, but those 1-on-1 games on the backyard court made both Derek and Nik better players.

Bulldogs coach still has plenty of work left

Mark Few protested. He suggested alternatives, ranging from assistant coaches to players. He tried to deflect the attention elsewhere.

Bulldogs survive

SAN DIEGO � It was the kind of game where a couple of West Coast Conference player-of-the-year candidates couldn't buy a field goal and a 90-percent free-throw shooter clanked a pair after a technical foul. The kind of game where both offenses never were in sync and neither team could make enough baskets to sustain a game-turning run.

Bulldogs run past Dons

SAN FRANCISCO � It's an old line, that the turning point of the game was the opening tip. Gonzaga waited a bit longer than that. About 16 seconds, to be precise.

Climbing the wall

SAN FRANCISCO � One could never tell by glancing at his statistics, but Gonzaga's Austin Daye ran into the so-called wall that college freshmen supposedly encounter as they adjust from the shorter high school basketball season.

Zag fans blast uniform choice

We teeter on the outer edge of a perfect storm.Tonight at 5, the Gonzaga Bulldogs play at the University of San Francisco, which means there's a 50-50 chance that the Zags will dress out in their heat-seeking red road uniforms rather than the more soothing navy blue.

Color Zags winners

Pink became red at McCarthey Athletic Center Thursday night.On Think Pink night, an occasion to raise awareness of breast cancer, the Gonzaga women's basketball team embarrassed San Francisco 90-42.

Area Roundup: Pargo earns WCC honor

Gonzaga men's basketball player Jeremy Pargo was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week after leading the Bulldogs to home victories over Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.

Morrison on schedule

The game certainly wasn't much to look at, so Adam Morrison took the opportunity to pick somebody's brain.

Elliott provides steady hand for GU

As the consummate team player, Michelle Elliott wanted to build something.As a fierce competitor, she wanted to win.

Gonzaga completes homestand by routing Lions

For Gonzaga, the regular-season finish line is approaching fast, with just five games remaining. That means there isn't much time left to even out the wrinkles as the Bulldogs pursue an eighth straight West Coast Conference title and try to hit the postseason with momentum.

One-sided win

There really isn't much question that a sizable gulf exists between the top teams and the bottom teams in the West Coast Conference.

All the Zags have to be go-to guys

Perhaps as well as any basketball coach, Gonzaga's Mark Few knows the pluses and minuses of having an offense that relies on one or two primary scorers and one that relies on balance.

Freshman answers call for Bulldogs

Gonzaga freshman guard Steven Gray's cell phone isn't working and he's in no hurry to get it fixed, so he doesn't know how many calls or text messages he received after he made two free throws Saturday to force overtime against Santa Clara.

Gaels outlast Zags

MORAGA, Calif. – Forty minutes wasn't enough to decide this West Coast Conference men's basketball thriller.

Bulldogs halfway to conference perfection

Gonzaga sent a message Saturday afternoon, reaching the midpoint of the West Coast Conference women's basketball schedule with a perfect record.

Bulldogs prevail in 2OT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � The inbounds pass was in midair and the ball was headed toward the opposite free-throw line, some 65 feet away from Gonzaga's basket. The Bulldogs trailed by two points with just a few seconds left and junior point guard Jeremy Pargo couldn't help but think the worst.

Broncos don't figure

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � The numbers don't quite add up.Crunch Santa Clara's statistics and it would appear the Broncos are a top 75 team, perhaps top 50. In six key statistical categories, Santa Clara ranks in the top one-third of Division I schools and much higher in field-goal percentage (16th nationally), 3-point percentage (29th), scoring defense (43rd) and rebounding (53rd).

Slam dunk! Zags rout Pilots, take WCC lead

There was no post-Memphis haze, no second-half letdown and it was no contest on the boards.All the pre-tipoff worries Gonzaga had entering Monday's West Coast Conference basketball game dissolved quickly as the Bulldogs went up big in the first half and stayed on the throttle while dismantling the Portland Pilots 79-41 before a sellout crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Memphis blues again

MEMPHIS � Gonzaga has yet to put together 40 minutes of consistent basketball in a game, but often this season 30-35 minutes has been enough to claim a victory.

Zags try luck at No. 1 Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. � There is little question Gonzaga has improved the last three weeks, winning six straight games with a relatively healthy roster.

Depth defines Tigers

Memphis men's basketball coach John Calipari was on a 20-minute conference call Tuesday morning and only a couple of times did the conversation turn to Tulsa, the team the Tigers defeated Wednesday, or Gonzaga, which visits the FedEx Forum on Saturday.

Bulldogs forward slowly returns to form

Gonzaga junior forward Josh Heytvelt has played in eight games since recovering from foot surgery. He's averaging 11.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and was shooting better than 50 percent before making just 1 of 6 shots in Monday's win over San Francisco.

Gonzaga denies Dons

Eddie Sutton has won 799 games in his 37-year college coaching career, but he hasn't had much luck against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Frenzied Finish: Zags clutch after Toreros cut into lead

First Bill Grier came back and then so did his San Diego Toreros. Gonzaga scored the first 15 points of the game and cruised to a 21-point lead midway through the second half, but San Diego, with considerable help from the Bulldogs, made GU squirm in the final two minutes before falling 80-70 in front of a sellout crowd of 6,000 Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Grier reluctantly visits other family

Three minutes to tipoff and no Bill Grier.He had spent a week in fairly intense dread of this game and nine months before that knowing the dread was en route. He would later call the experience "like a root canal, honestly." He acknowledged that his hopes veered wildly from a program-establishing win to not having the Kennel Club chant "Up by thir-ty!" at him.

Bulldogs coast past Waves

MALIBU, Calif. � Layups, putbacks, dunks, easy transition baskets, 3-pointers and more layups � and that was just in the first 8 minutes.

Zags roll in WCC opener

LOS ANGELES � Loyola Marymount men's basketball coach Rodney Tention stressed earlier this week that his team needed to keep the score in the 60s to have a chance against Gonzaga.

Gaels next to challenge

Several programs have surfaced over the past decade to challenge Gonzaga's domination of men's basketball in the West Coast Conference. Pepperdine was a consistent threat from the late 1990s through 2002. San Diego has made runs.

John Blanchette: Be nice if GU wasn't in league of own

Has Gonzaga become hazardous to the health of the West Coast Conference?Hey, someone had to ask.

Zags open WCC against Lion cubs

LOS ANGELES � Rodney Tention has no desire to become a two-sport coach.He has plenty of work on his hands trying to rebuild Loyola Marymount men's basketball team, which entertains Gonzaga tonight at Gersten Pavilion in a West Coast Conference opener for both teams. The young Lions are 3-13 in Tention's third season as head coach and have fought a season-long battle with turnovers.

WCC capsules

Following, in predicted order of finish, are summaries of all the WCC men's basketball teams. (Current records in parentheses.)

WCC season to tip off

Gonzaga men's basketball has owned the West Coast Conference the past decade. This season Saint Mary's may have something to say about that.

Gonzaga wins despite rocky twist at end

For some of the longest stretches of the season, Gonzaga seemed more in sync at both ends of the court while posting a 75-67 victory over Georgia on Saturday.

Gonzaga's work in progress resumes

The calendar says Gonzaga is closing in on the midpoint of the season and its West Coast Conference opener is just a week away. The reality is the Bulldogs' roster in its current form is roughly three weeks old and the team is a work in progress.

Zags-Georgia on KAYU

Gonzaga University's men's basketball game on Saturday against the University of Georgia at the Arena will be televised by KAYU-TV Fox 28 in the Spokane area.

Rescuing the Bulldogs

Without Josh Heytvelt in the first half and Matt Bouldin in the second half, the Gonzaga Bulldogs probably would be without their 10th win of the season.

Content Giacoletti facing former Utah team tonight

It's not that Ray Giacoletti recommends being fired. Who would? It's humiliating, insulting, devastating.

John Blanchette: 'A' game abandons Bulldogs

SEATTLE � A quick poll: Who among you sized up Gonzaga's 2008 schedule and picked out the upcoming Utah and Georgia games as the pivotal, must-have resume-polishers?

Zags sunk in Seattle

SEATTLE � For Gonzaga, the second half of the Battle in Seattle was more of a battle to keep from getting blown out.

Bulldogs will battle for a big victory

SEATTLE � By this time last season, Gonzaga had wins over nationally ranked North Carolina, Texas and Washington.

Zags regain health

It didn't take long for Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few to add up the number of practices he's had all of his players available.

GU box score

For Friday, December 21, 2007.

Sooners wait until later to upset Zags

OKLAHOMA CITY � Gonzaga is getting healthier, but the second half of Thursday night's game against Oklahoma made Bulldogs coach Mark Few feel a bit queasy.

Ford return gives GU fond memories

Time has only reinforced Mark Few's opinion. When the Bulldogs knocked off Oklahoma State in 2004, Few called it as "impressive a regular-season effort as we've ever had."

Gonzaga notebook: Together at last

The return of Steven Gray on Monday gave Gonzaga its first chance to see its three highly-touted freshmen on the court together in a regular-season game.

Gray shines in debut

The timing of Steven Gray's broken wrist in an exhibition game in early November was unfortunate, but the timing of his return was just about ideal for the Gonzaga University men's basketball team.

Rest follows rout

Matt Bouldin wouldn't mind getting rid of the cold that's been hounding him since Gonzaga's trip to Anchorage. Jeremy Pargo has a couple of important finals early next week.

GU plays surging CS Northridge

The Gonzaga men's basketball team, minus Theo Davis, returns to action against Cal State Northridge (6-1), which is off to its best start in nearly two decades, tonight at 5 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Cougs heel Dogs: Defense gives WSU the edge

Washington State kept it simple in its men's basketball showdown with Gonzaga on Wednesday night: Patiently work for quality shots and challenge every offensive look.

Cougs-Zags: 'a huge deal'

Find your game. It sounded a little like an old advertisement for a brand of golf clubs, which is somewhat appropriate since Tony Bennett has a formidable golf swing.

John Blanchette: Time to resume something that's right for the area

Has there ever been a more unlikely hero in a basketball game than Duane Ranniger?

Bulldogs snarl at fatigue

BOSTON � Junior guard Jeremy Pargo was asked why Gonzaga wasn't feeling fatigued, given that the team had just endured a five-game, nine-day stretch of basketball.

gonzaga-uconn stats

For Sunday, December 02, 2007.

Road-weary Gonzaga, UConn battle in Boston

BOSTON � Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun generously offered to play tour guide for Gonzaga's well-traveled men's basketball team on its two-game East Coast swing.

Bulldogs never doubt

PHILADELPHIA � Gonzaga was down by six with 3 minutes and 37 seconds left when the Bulldogs huddled during a timeout. The 3,200 crammed inside Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, loud from the start, had never been louder, sensing a ranked opponent was on the ropes.

Zags expect another dilly in Philly

PHILADELPHIA � At last count, Saint Joseph's basketball coach Phil Martelli said 17 NBA scouts have requested credentials for tonight's game against No. 19 Gonzaga.

Bulldogs answer Few's challenges

ANCHORAGE � Gonzaga's Abdullahi Kuso got on the elevator at the team hotel Saturday and received a message from head coach Mark Few about taking shots on his own terms.

Offense fails Zags

ANCHORAGE, Alaska � For the second night, Gonzaga had the support of the majority of the 8,000-fans, but this time the Bulldogs didn't give the fans much reason to cheer.

Bulldogs eke it out

ANCHORAGE, Alaska � The adversity kept mounting for the Gonzaga men's basketball team. The foul trouble to key players. The errant free-throw and 3-point shooting.

Avalanche of talent at Shootout

It's business as usual for Eastern Washington. Business is about to pick up for Gonzaga. Both men's basketball programs are in Anchorage for the Great Alaska Shootout.

Gonzaga extends trends in third win

It's just three games, but some trends appear to be emerging for the Gonzaga men's basketball team.

Bulldogs awaken

As wake-up calls go, this one lasted a long time. Somewhere around 25 minutes, even longer if you count warm-ups.

Zags soar

Battered, but far from beaten.Gonzaga, which was hit recently with a wave of difficult news, learning that Josh Heytvelt and Steven Gray will have surgery within the next 48 hours and Theo Davis' father is gravely ill in Toronto, relied on its considerable depth and the steady hands of guards Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin to dismantle Montana 77-54 Sunday in front of a sellout crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gut aches aside, Bulldogs make do

Every Gonzaga basketball season seems to begin with mood disturbances that border on the bipolar. Sometimes there's another jolt in the middle, too.

Beat-up Zags host revved-up Grizzlies

Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few has read and seen enough to know his Bulldogs face a significant challenge today from the Montana Grizzlies.

Zags exhibit swagger

Several accomplished men's basketball programs across the nation have had troubles dealing with NCAA Division II opponents over the last week. In the first half Wednesday, Gonzaga experienced similar difficulties against D-II Emporia State.

New game in town

Ira Brown brings some unique qualities to the Gonzaga men's basketball team. A 97-mph fastball. A 365-pound bench press. A YouTube highlight from his junior-college days in which he jumps over an opposing player and dunks. And a birth certificate that was issued seven years before some of his teammates'.

Injured Morrison remains upbeat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. � An hour before the Charlotte Bobcats' season opener Friday night, Adam Morrison was at his locker dressed in a suit.

One Krazy night

Gonzaga true freshman guard Steven Gray had been waiting for this for two years. He hadn't been to a GU home game or felt the noise generated at the McCarthey Athletic Center during the recruiting process.

Heytvelt's return takes longer than expected

It appears the timetable for Gonzaga University basketball forward Josh Heytvelt's return to practice will be pushed back.

Gonzaga immersed in depth

At the outset of every season, Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few tends to have a fairly concrete idea of his starters, rotations and who might redshirt.

A real come-back

The issuing of practice gear is generally a routine procedure at college basketball programs across the country. Established veterans barely raise an eye during the process.

Dickau seeks long-term home with Clippers

PORTLAND � It's good to be wanted, Dan Dickau thinks one week into his new job, point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Zags' opening practice may be without Heytvelt, Pendergraft

The Gonzaga men's basketball team is scheduled to open practice Friday at 7 p.m., but a couple of players might be spectators or see limited duty.

Point guard Goodson commits to Gonzaga

Point guard Demetri Goodson, ranked in the top 150 for the class of 2008 by several basketball recruiting services, has orally committed to Gonzaga.

Summer school

Gonzaga University's Jeremy Pargo and Matt Bouldin are a little past the age at which they're required to write "What I did on summer break" papers when they returned to school.

Ex-Zag Frahm signs with Suns

The Phoenix Suns have added former Gonzaga guard Richie Frahm to their training camp roster.

Zags set tough schedule

Gonzaga is guaranteed of meeting at least three teams that played in last year's NCAA Tournament, the school announced while releasing its 2007-08 men's basketball schedule on Thursday.

Heytvelt works toward return

Suspended GU basketball standout Josh Heytvelt has completed nearly 300 hours of community service � 57 1/4 hours more than was required when he entered a diversion program.

Area Roundup: ESPN has 12 GU dates

The Gonzaga men's basketball team will make at least 12 appearances on the ESPN family of stations this upcoming season, while the Bulldogs women will appear for the third time in the past two seasons.

WCC tournaments could be Vegas-bound

The West Coast Conference is exploring the possibility of holding its men's and women's basketball tournaments at a neutral site in Las Vegas, possibly as early as 2009.

Fews announce success

Last weekend's Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Classic & BasketBALL Gala, hosted by Gonzaga University men's basketball coach Mark Few and his wife, Marcy, raised more than $750,000 in support of cancer research.

USD's new architect

A great university, a fabulous city and wonderful people. As the first-year head men's basketball coach at the University of San Diego, Bill Grier has plenty to sell to recruits. But his biggest hook?

Having a good time

Dan Dickau wasn't about to let a little thing like job insecurity interfere with having some fun Thursday at the Toyota All-American's Charity Classic he hosted along with Adam Morrison.

NBA's traveling man

The Dan Dickau trade count meter is up to eight, the most recent perhaps testing the former Gonzaga All-American's spirits more than the previous seven.

Area Roundup: U.S. to play for gold

Gonzaga University's Matt Bouldin scored two points in 10 minutes in the USA U-19 Men's 78-75 semifinal win over France at the 2007 FIBA U-19 World Championships Saturday.

Gibbs verbally commits to Gonzaga

Grant Gibbs, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound point guard and top-100 recruit from Marion, Iowa, has made an oral commitment to play basketball for Gonzaga University in 2008.

Bouldin makes key shot in USA win

Gonzaga's Matt Bouldin scored eight points, including a crucial late jumper, to help the USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team (3-0) defeat host Serbia 82-78.

Area roundup: Zags draw UConn

Connecticut will play Gonzaga and Providence will face Boston College in the second annual Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge in Boston's TD Banknorth Garden on Dec. 1. tournament officials announced Tuesday from Springfield, Mass.

Fast Break

Gonzaga's Matt Bouldin was named to the 12-man USA Basketball U-19 team, the organization announced Saturday from Dallas.

Fast Break

Gonzaga will take on Tennessee in the Battle in Seattle next basketball season, according to John Hines of Northwest Sports Entertainment.

GU, RMHC extend Classic, set big goal

Gonzaga University and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane made it official Thursday, signing an agreement to continue the Ronald McDonald Charities Classic.

Morrison offers hope

WASHINGTON � The Charlotte Bobcats' Adam Morrison said Monday that playing in the NBA with diabetes was slightly harder than during his college career at Gonzaga.

Back on home floor

The Brazilian Beast � or most of him, at least � has returned. J.P. Batista is back in town after playing professionally in Lithuania last winter.

Two Gonzaga players won't return

Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes and David Burgess will not return to the Gonzaga University men's basketball team next season.

mark few, final four

ATLANTA � Mark Few remembers the days when he could breeze through the hotel lobby during the National Association of Basketball Coaches' convention without having to break stride.

Life-long assistant Grier fulfilling lifelong ambition

Here's the thing: with each opening he didn't pursue, each opportunity he had presented to him, Bill Grier found it more difficult.

Grier, Toreros a match

The University of San Diego will hold a press conference this afternoon to introduce former Gonzaga University assistant Bill Grier as its new men's basketball head coach.

Familiar face set to join GU staff

Mark Few looked neither far nor long to find a qualified successor to Bill Grier as the top assistant on his Gonzaga University men's basketball coaching staff.

Toreros want Grier

Sources confirmed Saturday that Gonzaga University assistant Bill Grier has been offered the head men's basketball coaching job at the University of San Diego.

Bulldogs look back and forth

Gonzaga University coach Mark Few has never been one to hurriedly or off-handedly dispose of a basketball season or basketball team.

NBA : Wallace, Morrison spark Bobcats' OT win

Gerald Wallace had 27 points and 11 rebounds, Adam Morrison hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime and the Charlotte Bobcats beat Cleveland 108-100 Tuesday night in Charlotte.

Zags' up-and-down season ends with huge downer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. � The Gonzaga Bulldogs had been playing with a small margin for error, yet somehow surviving, for several weeks heading into this year's NCAA tournament.

GU notebook : Out of character

SACRAMENTO, Calif. � The Gonzaga Bulldogs weren't themselves Thursday night � at least at the offensive end of the floor.

John Blanchette: Zags reached peak but had nothing left when it arrived

SACRAMENTO, Calif. � There's been a lot of amateur discussion this week about how the NCAA tournament needs tweaking.

Heytvelt first drug suspect in program

Prosecutors say GU's Josh Heytvelt received no special treatment. But Heytvelt is the only felony drug suspect from Spokane County ever approved for the diversion program.

By the numbers

For Friday, March 16, 2007.

Box Score

Indiana 70, Gonzaga 57

Zags leery of Indiana's big fella, but hot-shooting guards also a big threat

SACRAMENTO, Calif. � It has been quite some time since the Gonzaga Bulldogs have faced a post player as skilled, productive and efficient as Indiana's D.J. White.

Making the most of tough spot

SACRAMENTO, Calif. � The rebounds became tougher to grab, the points a tad harder to come by and the blocked shots dropped significantly.

John Blanchette: Befuddled Few watches ax fall on colleagues

Mark Few told someone the other day that this Gonzaga basketball season felt like a dog year � seven years in one.

Bulldogs will need to collar White

In Mark Few's opinion, only the name of his Gonzaga Bulldogs' first-round NCAA tournament opponent is familiar.

Rise of Downs

The question was posed to Micah Downs on Sunday, shortly after he and his Gonzaga University teammates had learned the NCAA had awarded them a No. 10 seed in the West Region of its prestigious postseason men's college basketball tournament.

GU closer to home and with better seed than expected

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee surprised a lot of people, including several members of the Gonzaga University men's basketball team, on Sunday by awarding the West Coast Conference champion Bulldogs a No. 10 seed in the West Region of this year's postseason spectacle.

Heytvelt, Davis won't return for tournament

The indefinite suspensions handed down to Gonzaga University basketball players Josh Heytvelt and Theo Davis will definitely last the rest of the season.

No doubt about it

PORTLAND � In the opinion of Gonzaga's David Pendergraft, this year's team has belonged to Derek Raivio since the season started.

Bulldogs dispatch Toreros

PORTLAND, Ore. – Wanna be a hero? Take a number. That seems to be the approach the Gonzaga Bulldogs are taking to the latter stages of this unsettled college basketball season. And it was David Pendergraft who became the latest Zag to respond to having his number called on Sunday evening.

John Blanchette: No small feat for 'new' Zags to have rallied

PORTLAND � OK, so it's not quite the "Hoosiers" heroics of Ollie and his granny-style free throws. But the concept's the same.

Tourney time for GU

PORTLAND � Coach Mark Few and his Gonzaga Bulldogs pride themselves in having to take every opponent's best shot every time they step on the basketball court.

Toreros, Pilots win openers

PORTLAND � Ross DeRogatis had 22 points and San Diego beat Pepperdine 95-82 Friday night in the first round of West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament.

He enjoys being along for the ride

In his two seasons as a member of the Gonzaga University men's basketball team, Andrew Sorenson has logged a mere 17 minutes of playing time.

Raivio shares POY honors

Did this year's West Coast Conference men's basketball awards merit a recount? One of the winners wondered as much Tuesday.

WCC champs

SAN DIEGO, Calif. � Derek Raivio couldn't bear the thought of having another streak go down in flames on his watch.

GU still has a shot at WCC title

SAN DIEGO, Calif. � The chase, thanks to an unexpected assist from Loyola Marymount, is over for the University of Gonzaga men's basketball team.

Team effort lifts Bulldogs

SAN FRANCISCO � With the end of a long, taxing and often complex regular season on the immediate horizon, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have managed to boil the sometimes complicated game of college basketball down to the most basic of approaches:

Free throws mean free points

SAN FRANCISCO � Gonzaga's Derek Raivio might finish his career as the most accurate free-throw shooter in the history of NCAA Division I basketball.

Bulldogs focus like underdogs

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, apparently in full embrace of the underdog role they insist they have recently inherited, close out one of the strangest and most unpredictable regular seasons in recent memory with a difficult West Coast Conference men's basketball road trip to the Bay Area and San Diego.

Castellitto sets GU mark

Mark Castellitto hit a school-record three doubles Thursday as the Gonzaga University baseball team defeated Texas Arlington (3-6) 12-1 in the opening day of the Southwest Diamond Classic at Frisco, Texas.

Heytvelt denied mushrooms were his, police say

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor John Grasso officially charged Gonzaga University basketball player Josh Heytvelt on Tuesday with felony possession of a controlled substance.

Bulldogs floor Pilots

Mark Few had plenty of praise for his Gonzaga Bulldogs following Monday night's 87-67 men's basketball rout of West Coast Conference rival Portland.

Raivio, Mallon face home finale

Considering all that their fickle final season of college basketball has already thrown at them, it would have been foolish for Sean Mallon and Derek Raivio to assume their Senior Night celebration would play out as originally planned.

Memphis blues

Dazed by yet another kick-to-the-stomach reunion with the adversity that has revisited them far too many times this year, the Gonzaga Bulldogs responded admirably again Saturday night.

Even in loss, inspired Zags looked like Zags again

This is why Spokane fell in love with the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first place. Yes, all that winning and the March magic consummated the marriage, but the heart of the matter was something very much little-engine-that-could-ish � the irresistible rise of an underdog with belief and passion and will against the pedigreed programs of college basketball, and not without some basketball gifts of its own.

New-look Zags face new-look Tigers

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are still in the process of learning to cope with the absence of Josh Heytvelt, face, perhaps, their sternest test of a torturous and troubled season this afternoon when they entertain No. 8 Memphis in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Classic in the sold-out Spokane Arena.

Prosecutor: Decision near on GU arrests

Police reports documenting the arrests of two Gonzaga University basketball players last week in Cheney were delivered Friday to the Spokane County prosecutor's office.

It looked good on paper

When first scheduled, Saturday's Ronald McDonald House of Charities Classic between Memphis and Gonzaga at the Spokane Arena seemed like a perfect NCAA tournament tune-up for both teams.

Few talks to press but keeps players silent

Gonzaga's Mark Few, in the wake of the media frenzy surrounding the weekend drug-possession arrests and indefinite suspensions of Bulldogs players Josh Heytvelt and Theo Davis, put his team members off limits during Wednesday's weekly prepractice media day gathering in the McCarthey Athletic Center.

GU players' release investigated

The commander of the Spokane County Jail said he is investigating why his staff gave preferential treatment to two Gonzaga University basketball players Saturday by allowing them to be picked up from an area normally restricted to law enforcement.

Experience fuels Mackey's call for help

Another day, another town, another ballgame for Kevin Mackey.And another reminder.

GU streak: 50 & over

It became fairly apparent early on that Gonzaga University's nation's best home-court winning streak was history.

Drug busts a harsh toke for GU

All right, now. Everybody chill out!So a couple of Ganjaga University basketball players are allegedly linked to a pittance of pot and some magic mushrooms.

GU issue has blogs abuzz

It's just a symptom of our society, I guess.It's the Nancy-Grace-who's-at-fault-rush- to-judgment culture we live in now.

Santa Clara win was no fluke

Don't even think about an asterisk. It was a Big Monday that quickly morphed into Black Monday, an inferable if not welcome coda to Gonzaga's lost weekend.

Drug busts a shock, but use common

When two Gonzaga University basketball players were arrested on suspicion of drug possession over the weekend, administrators at the college said it came as a shock.

It's over

Gonzaga University's 50-game home basketball winning streak, the nation's longest, ended Monday night at the hands of Santa Clara University.

Zags confront rocky road

Could this be the night it all ends?Certainly, considering the caliber of the opponent and everything the Gonzaga University men's basketball team has been forced to deal with the past two days.

Ready or not, Bulldogs have more games to play

Not to distract anyone from the important work of getting on with the civic stupor over Zags, drugs and the pick-and-roll, but there is another game tonight.

GU arrests bring shock, acceptance

Fallout, in the form of reactions from current players, future Bulldogs and even a sporting goods sales clerk, continued to drift down on the Gonzaga University men's basketball program after Saturday's suspension of two players arrested on drug possession charges.

Misadventure strikes Gonzaga

The home-court winning streak survives. And the goody-two-Nikes reputation? We'll have to get back to you on that.

Stellar defense stifles Saint Mary's

Adversity can sometimes act as a magnificent bonding agent.It did exactly that for the Gonzaga University men's basketball team Saturday, helping the Bulldogs cap an otherwise lousy day with a crucial 60-49 West Coast Conference win over Saint Mary's.

Bulldogs suspend Heytvelt

Two Gonzaga University men's basketball players, including starting sophomore forward and rebounding leader Josh Heytvelt, have been suspended indefinitely after being arrested on drug possession charges late Friday in Cheney.

Zags looking to avenge loss

The Gonzaga Bulldogs get a chance to set things right with their loyal fans � and in their own minds, as well � when they host Saint Mary's College today.

Fast Break

A Washington record walleye was caught in the Columbia River Monday by Mike Hepper of Richland.

A lost weekend for Gonzaga sophomore

Gonzaga's recent three-game road trip to California proved to be a dramatically mixed bag for GU and Jeremy Pargo, the Bulldogs personable sophomore point guard.

A WCC stunner

LOS ANGELES � Loyola Marymount shook up the West Coast Conference title race in a big way Monday night, stunning league-leading Gonzaga 67-61 in front of a national television audience and a small, but vocal crowd of 3,815 at Gertsen Pavilion.

Streaking Zags head to Loyola Marymount

LOS ANGELES � Gonzaga coach Mark Few insists that complacency should not be an issue when his Bulldogs venture into Gersten Pavilion tonight to take on another West Coast Conference bottom feeder in Loyola Marymount.

Heytvelt leads way as Zags level Waves

MALIBU, Calif. � Vance Walberg didn't even bother with trying search out a superlative to describe the play of Gonzaga's Josh Heytvelt on Saturday.

Gonzaga takes on Waves

MALIBU, Calif. � First-year Pepperdine coach Vance Walberg knows his young and struggling men's basketball team has plenty of limitations.

John Blanchette: Zags need to be as tough as schedule

Here they go again. Five games in 10 days. Two more round-trip flights and another 3,400 air miles � on top of the 18,000 they've logged already. Another Top 25 opponent.

Bennett's deal draws attention

PULLMAN � Washington State University athletic director Jim Sterk indicated Tuesday that he would attempt to revise basketball coach Tony Bennett's contract.

Victim No. 49

The Gonzaga Bulldogs used veteran-like performances from several of its younger players Monday night to offset some early rebounding indifference and turn back the University of San Diego 91-82 in a grinder of a West Coast Conference men's basketball game.

Zags look to remain top dog

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, for the first time this season, will have first place in the West Coast Conference men's basketball standings all to themselves when they entertain the University of San Diego in the McCarthey Athletic Center tonight at 9.

Zags alone in first

Matt Bouldin welcomed back his missing perimeter jump shot Saturday night.

John Blanchette: Zags look a lot better with freshman Bouldin in sync

Oh-for-2007.Officially, that made Matt Bouldin the worst 3-point shooter in the West Coast Conference, which of course is a statistic and a damned lie.

Bulldogs home for dangerous Dons

Gonzaga will try to build on the nation's longest home-court winning streak this afternoon when they entertain San Francisco.

Fast Break

You rarely see an empty seat in the student section at Gonzaga men's basketball games.

Kuso likes family atmosphere at GU

Abdullahi Kuso, a 6-foot-9, 228-pound junior , has carved out a seemingly comfortable niche as a backup forward for Gonzaga.

Zags bounce back

PORTLAND � Sean Mallon was on a mission Monday night.Gonzaga's fifth-year senior wanted desperately to erase the memory of the dreadful one-point, one-rebound effort he turned in a week earlier in a disappointing West Coast Conference road loss to Saint Mary's.

Zags look to right ship when they face Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. � Not much was expected from the University of Portland men's basketball team this winter.

Bulldogs search for solid solutions

Gonzaga coach Mark Few had hoped the turning back a late-game challenge from Santa Clara in last Saturday's 77-69 road win would be something to build on.

Around the WCC

Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who picked up his 200th career win at Santa Clara on Saturday night, also earned milestone wins No. 50 and No. 150 against the Broncos.

Bulldogs beaten by Gael force

MORAGA, Calif. � Saint Mary's did something Monday night in McKeon Pavilion that no West Coast Conference team has been able to do in almost two years.

Heytvelt's 'return' energizes Gonzaga

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � Micah Downs made his long-awaited and much-anticipated debut for Gonzaga University Saturday night.

Zags have big task at Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � The teams with the best overall records in the West Coast Conference square off this evening in the Leavey Center.

Downs cleared to take the court

There is a chance that Kansas transfer Micah Downs could see his first action for Gonzaga this weekend when the Bulldogs travel to the Bay Area.

Around the WCC

Gonzaga's Mark Few, in just his eighth season as a head coach, will be going for career win No. 200 Saturday.

Zags get upper hand on Waves

It was a game in which the Gonzaga Bulldogs never seemed truly threatened. But Monday night's 69-52 West Coast Conference victory over Pepperdine before 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center didn't ever seem safe, either.

Zags too strong inside for Waves

Pepperdine brought its run-and-gun road show � minus the run part � into the McCarthey Athletic Center Monday night hoping to end the nation's longest home-court winning streak.

Fast and furious Waves roll into town

Any college basketball team that runs up close to one hundred points, like the Gonzaga Bulldogs did in Saturday's 97-62 West Coast Conference romp past Loyola Marymount, is comfortable playing fast.

GU women crush Waves

MALIBU, Calif. � Stephanie Hawk had a double-double, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the Gonzaga women's basketball team rolled to a 58-35 victory over Pepperdine Sunday at Firestone Fieldhouse in West Coast Conference action.

No place like home for GU

Gonzaga's long-anticipated return to the McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday seemed to have cured at least some of the problems that have dogged the Bulldogs in recent weeks.

Mallon delivered for Zags

Gonzaga's Jeremy Pargo was asked about the career performance the Bulldogs' Sean Mallon had just turned in.

Zags kick off WCC with Lions

The West Coast Conference wasted no time in giving its men's basketball fans the best it has to offer.

Clark on the mend

Harv Clark, the Gonzaga Bulldogs' longtime public address announcer, will not be courtside for this afternoon's West Coast Conference opener against Loyola Marymount.

Gonzaga drops fourth straight

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. � The West Coast Conference slate couldn't get here soon enough for Gonzaga.

John Blanchette: Dr. Phil-it-up offers up advice

Announcer: "Now it's time for Dr. Phil-it-up's advice to the Zaglorn."

Virginia wary of Gonzaga

Dave Leitao, the second-year University of Virginia coach ,knows it has been a long time since the Gonzaga Bulldogs, have lost four consecutive games.

Zags outbattled

SEATTLE � Gonzaga got the finish all wrong again Saturday. ( Read the full story )

John Blanchette: Don't jump off bandwagon yet

SEATTLE � Well, the schedule is everything it was anticipated to be. And the Gonzaga Bulldogs? Maybe not so much.

Fazekas will be a load for Zags

SEATTLE � When Gonzaga coach Mark Few was trying to put together this year's Battle in Seattle last spring, Nevada's Nick Fazekas was still weighing the option of declaring for the NBA draft.

Burgess may play in Seattle

Gonzaga's David Burgess has started practicing again after being sidelined since the start of fall camp with a partially torn MCL in his right knee.

Fast Break

For fans who don't have a rooting interest during the NBA's All-Star weekend, how about this marquee matchup?

Letters

For Sunday, December 24, 2006.

No Garden party

NEW YORK � Greg Paulus had a career-high 20 points to help No. 6 Duke beat No. 22 Gonzaga 61-54 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

John Blanchette: Devils always Duke it out

NEW YORK � The better you are, the better you get at giving compliments � and Mike Krzyzewski delivered a beauty Thursday night.

Stars didn't align

NEW YORK � Better late than � what?Never being able to stop the bleeding from your eardrums?

John Blanchette: NBA a grind: Just ask Morrison

NEW YORK � It took 33 seconds for Adam Morrison to get his first shot up Wednesday night and of course it went in.

John Blanchette: Bulldogs brace for wild, woolly time in Big Apple

NEW YORK � It looks like they picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. ( Read the full story )

Finals verdict

DULUTH, Ga. � It was a tradition neither coach Mark Few nor his Gonzaga Bulldogs were interested in seeing continue. ( Read the full story )

Georgia gorged on turnovers

DULUTH, Ga. � Twenty-one and sixteen. ( Read the full story )

Zags have Georgia on their minds

DULUTH, Ga. � If it seems like the Gonzaga Bulldogs have already dealt with a similar situation or two this season, it's because they have. ( Read the full story )

Steve Bergum: He definitely made cut with Zags

Matt Bouldin has burst upon the Gonzaga University basketball scene like few freshmen in school history. ( Read the full story )

Around the WCC

Gonzaga's Derek Raivio leads the WCC in scoring with an average of 20.4 points per game and is one of six seniors ranked among the conference's top seven scorers. ... Raivio also leads the WCC with a free-throw percentage of 94 (47 of 50). ... Santa Clara's Danny Pariseau, a former prep standout at Shadle Park and senior transfer from Eastern Washington, has played a major role in the Broncos' surprising 7-3 start by averaging 10.6 points and 3.89 assists per game and shooting 53 percent (35 of 66) from the field, including a WCC-best 52 percent (13 of 25) from 3-point range. He also leads the WCC with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.06. ... Pepperdine's current roster shows the Waves (2-8) with one center, two forwards and 13 guards. . . . Despite decent starts by GU (9-2), Santa Clara (7-3) and Loyola Marymount, the WCC is only 43-41 against non-conference foes. ( Read the full story )

Rookie slump hits Morrison

It's been a rough month for Charlotte Bobcats rookie Adam Morrison, the former Gonzaga star. ( Read the full story )

Zags make Bouldin move

Matt Bouldin's first start for the Gonzaga Bulldogs was impressive enough Saturday night. But just imagine if it's only the start. Electrified by an especially manic sellout crowd of 6,000, the freshman from suburban Denver returned the favor with a difference-making performance in the Zags' 97-77 rout of 13th-ranked Washington � not exactly the coda the Huskies might have imagined to what has been a terrific college basketball series between the schools.

Zags don't kid around

Much of the hype leading up to Saturday night's men's basketball showdown between the University of Washington and Gonzaga centered on the outstanding stable of freshmen on UW's roster.

First time out for UW pups

University of Washington men's basketball coach Lorenzo Romar confessed earlier this week to having no idea what to expect from his young, but still unbeaten, Huskies tonight when they leave behind the comforts of home for the first time this season to face Gonzaga in the Bulldogs' McCarthey Athletic Center.

WSU, going away

PULLMAN � Maybe it was the two losing seasons they endured before it. Maybe it was the home crowd, bigger than any they had seen in their lives.

Opportunity time for Cougars

PULLMAN � Gonzaga will play Washington State at 7 tonight attempting to win another basketball game in the midst of an impossibly difficult stretch of December games.

Roped and tied!

PHOENIX � The fun times continued for Derek Raivio and his Gonzaga University basketball teammates Saturday afternoon.

GU guards feed off each other

PHOENIX � John Stockton and Jeff Condill. Matt Santangelo and Quintin Hall, Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp. Gonzaga has had its share of exceptional backcourt combinations.

Letters

Too much Morrison? No way! I've noticed a couple of "sour grapes" letters to the sport's editor regarding Adam Morrison. Please, to those few of you naysayers, just skip over the brief blurbs on Morrison and let those of us who certainly outnumber you enjoy reading about this electrifying young man's rookie year in a tough professional sport.

Bulldogs kick off December gantlet

PHOENIX � The Gonzaga Bulldogs kick off perhaps the most difficult December in the history of their men's basketball program today at noon when they take on Texas.

Laid-back victory

Blame it on Texas. With the Longhorns the next big-name school on their demanding schedule, Gonzaga played like a team unwilling to give away any secrets.

Slump leads to Monson's departure

MINNEAPOLIS � Dan Monson resigned as the men's basketball coach at Minnesota on Thursday.

Vikings sail into hostile territory

Ken Bone was asked if he felt his Portland State men's basketball team was prepared for the hostile environment it will face tonight when it takes on 22nd-ranked Gonzaga.

Go online to check on Zags

No. 22 Gonzaga takes on Portland State tonight at McCarthey Athletic Center. Check in with online columnist Vince Grippi, who will have pregame and postgame reports and invite readers to give their take on the game.

Morrison, Bobcats cut down Nets

Rookie Adam Morrison scored 22 points and Sean May had a career-high 20 Tuesday night in East Rutherford, N. J., as the Charlotte Bobcats beat New Jersey 96-92.

Elite Eight team favored

There's still time to vote, but the 1998-1999 Gonzaga basketball team is the clear-cut favorite of fans in our online poll.

Zags bounce back

Derek Raivio decided not to save his best for last this time.

Heavily-favored Bulldogs entertain revamped Vandals

Idaho head coach George Pfeifer knows quite a bit about the Gonzaga University men's basketball program, probably more than most of the Bulldogs' opponents.

Heat outlast Bobcats

Injuries have allowed Dwyane Wade to show another facet of his game: He's a great passer.

Butler does it

NEW YORK � For coach Mark Few and his Gonzaga Bulldogs, it's almost always about approach.

A dog-meet-dog showdown

NEW YORK � Good, smart and tough. It's a combination that no college basketball coach wants to see in an opponent. But that's exactly how Gonzaga's Mark Few describes the unbeaten and underrated Butler team that will provide the opposition for his Bulldogs in today's 4 p.

Git-R-Done!

NEW YORK � Apparently, some of the younger players on Gonzaga University's remarkable men's basketball team didn't get the memo on how they were expected to act.

Morrison steps up

Adam Morrison was answering a reporter's question when someone turned on the television, showing that North Carolina had an early 10-point lead on Gonzaga.

Zags have Carolina on mind

NEW YORK � Four games into the college basketball season, Mark Few admits he still doesn't have an accurate read on his unbeaten Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Bulldogs rout UTSA in tuneup

Any fears coach Mark Few might have had about his Gonzaga Bulldogs looking past the University of Texas at San Antonio were alleviated early Sunday night.

Roadrunners next foe for unbeaten Gonzaga

The focus of Gonzaga University's unbeaten men's basketball team will be tested this afternoon when the University of Texas at San Antonio comes to Spokane.

Zags stuff Bears

There's nothing even remotely sexy about balance. But when it's the strength of your basketball team, you go with it.

John Blanchette: It's possible these Zags have surprising possibilities

If you remember the postcards the Gonzaga Bulldogs sent back from Maui a year ago, then you remember what possibility feels like.

Morrison steps up

Adam Morrison decided to relax a little bit after putting too much pressure on himself in the first few games of his career.

Heytvelt boils Rice

Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga University's rapidly emerging sophomore star, gave Bulldog fans a few more reasons to ponder "what if" Tuesday night at the Arena.

John Blanchette: Tuesday night lacked NIT-pickers

I'm not sure when a basketball crowd of 6,841 in Spokane became a disappointment, but it was Tuesday night.

Hornets top Bobcats

Peja Stojakovic scored a career-high 42 points as the New Orleans Hornets broke a three-game losing streak with a 94-85 victory Tuesday night over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Blogwatch: Here's your chance to catch Zags in person

There are precious few chances to see the Gonzaga Bulldogs in person if you are a Spokane fan without season tickets.

Zags brush off Eastern

Gonzaga coach Mark Few confessed to being a bit apprehensive heading into Friday night's men's basketball opener against Eastern Washington, and with good reason. His Bulldogs had not looked particularly sharp � especially in the early going � in either of their two lopsided exhibition wins earlier this month, and Few was concerned they might not be able to survive another sluggish start against the Eagles.

Eagles miss perhaps their last chance

Careening through the tunnels of McCarthey Athletic Center at full dribble, 9-year-old Brock Rice and 6-year-old A. J. Few � coaches' kids with the run of the place � slam smack into Mike Burns, who they know mostly from backyard barbecues and as a friend of their two dads, and not so much from who he is this night.

Approach with caution

Mark Few doesn't see a reason to not trust his colleagues and close friends on the Eastern Washington University men's basketball coaching staff.

Zags' big day includes big Daye

Gonzaga University announced its 2007 men's basketball recruiting class on Wednesday, and Bulldogs coach Mark Few promptly declared it "the best we've ever had here.

Heytvelt hopes to reach new heights as go-to guy

Continuity is not sameness, never mind how often that seems to be the implication.

EWU or GU? Take your pick

We are a city divided between blue and red. Gonzaga blue and Eastern red.

Versatile Stuckey a concern

Gonzaga University held its weekly men's basketball media day Monday, but not much of the conversation was centered on the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs bulldoze another

Gonzaga University closed out its exhibition season Saturday night with another rout of a dramatically undermanned opponent.

Life after Adam

As Gonzaga coach Mark Few looks ahead to the 2006-07 college basketball season, he can take some comfort in looking back � to the fall of 2004.

Bobcats earn their first win

The Cleveland Cavaliers were the last team the Charlotte Bobcats should have looked to for their first victory of the season.

WCC at a glance

The schedule

Nov. 1 GU 89, Augustana 53 #Nov. 4 GU 97, Warner Pacific 52 #Nov. 10 Eastern Washington, 5 p. m. Nov. 14 vs.

Ready for prime time

Keep an eye on these three once the season tips off:Derek Raivio, G: Bigger things were expected last season, but the senior guard's numbers slipped in the wake of some physical and personal problems.

Zags in fashion

Spike the bulldog sells. Over the past few years, online sales of merchandise bearing the likeness of the fierce-but-friendly Gonzaga University mascot have skyrocketed.

Cheers for Turiaf as Sonics fall

LOS ANGELES � A victory in the first days of November isn't supposed to mean much when Kobe Bryant has so many of them from the (NBA) finals days of June.

Morrison sizzles in loss

Mike Miller scored 27 points, including 21 in the fourth quarter, to lead Memphis to its first win of the season, 96-83, over Charlotte in Memphis.

GU, EWU will play exhibitions

The Gonzaga Bulldogs conclude their preseason men's basketball schedule at 7 tonight with a matchup against Warner Pacific.

GU's balancing act

Gonzaga coach Mark Few admitted he wasn't sure what to expect from his young, inexperienced men's basketball team heading into Wednesday night's exhibition opener. So he found himself neither elated nor dismayed by the energetic, but uneven, performance his Bulldogs turned in during an 89-53 rout of Augustana College.

Zag culture comes alive

Gonzaga University basketball fans cheer for everything, even when the woman singing the national anthem hits the high note.

Pacers top Bobcats

Jermaine O'Neal and Sarunas Jasikevicius scored 20 points apiece and the Indiana Pacers won their season opener, 106-99 over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday.

John Blanchette : UW's Turner turns away GU at door

College basketball season begins tonight in our town and just in time, since already the buzz is about next season.

Few mysteries unsolved

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are not quite three weeks into their preseason basketball workouts, but they have already solved several of the mysteries that surrounded the team when they held their first practice of the season earlier this month.

'Gonzo' grows in Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N. C. � It is 10:15 a.m. and the city of Charlotte knows where its children are � at a free-admission National Basketball Association preseason game.

Coach wants Morrison to keep firing

It didn't take long for Adam Morrison to find the bright side of the National Basketball Association preseason. "At least these games don't count," he sighed.

Fast Break

Theo Davis, a highly touted freshman on Gonzaga University's men's basketball team, underwent shoulder surgery early this week and will be sidelined for at least a couple of months.

''Mystery'' surrounds Bulldogs

Mark Few looked out on the floor in the McCarthey Athletic Center Friday evening and quickly surveyed the group of young men warming up.

Morrison makes big splash in debut

CHARLOTTE, N. C. � This is precisely what Adam Morrison is paid to do, so the fact that he did it isn't much of a surprise.

Tracking Morrison

For the past couple years, Adam Morrison has been burned into Spokane's consciousness. His long hair flapping as he attacked the basket. That feeble excuse for a mustache.

Davis receives clearance for GU

Theo Davis, a 6-foot-9, 220-pounder from the Toronto suburb of Brampton, Ontario, will be eligible to play basketball at Gonzaga University this winter. According to GU assistant coach Tommy Lloyd, who was instrumental in the recruitment of the highly touted power forward, the school learned late Friday afternoon that Davis has been cleared to compete by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

7-footer says he'll be a Zag

Andy Poling, a 7-foot center who will be a junior at Westview High in Beaverton, Ore. , orally committed to Gonzaga University on Wednesday night.

In the name of fun

Once again, defense proved to be little more than a rumor. But at least this year, the 3,000 or so fans who hung around to witness the final seconds of the second annual Toyota Dan Dickau Charity Classic basketball game at Gonzaga University's McCarthey Atheltic Center were treated to a little drama � much of which was supplied by several past GU stars who decided to take part in the charity event.

Huskies' schedule has Zags, LSU

SEATTLE � Washington will host Final Four participant Louisiana State in December, two games after its annual in-state showdown with Gonzaga, according to a schedule the school has released.

Morrison signs on dotted line

CHARLOTTE, N.C. � Adam Morrison, the No. 3 overall pick in last month's NBA draft, signed with the Charlotte Bobcats on Thursday.

Morrison checks in

CHARLOTTE, N.C. � "This is Adam Morrison, the newest member of your Charlotte Bobcats," said Adam Morrison, the newest member of your Charlotte Bobcats.

'I thank Spokane'

Shuttled from interview to photo op in an endless loop Wednesday night, Adam Morrison didn't have a chance to be overwhelmed. ( Read the full story )

Adam, meet Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. � Coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff thinks Adam Morrison was the perfect choice for the Charlotte Bobcats' first major move since Michael Jordan became part-owner.

John Blanchette: Bobcats don't need Morrison comparisons

Much has been made of Adam Morrison's various basketball influences and prototypes, and in fact Morrison has often joined in the parlor game. For everyone's sanity, however, a moratorium eventually had to be placed on any further comparisons to Larry Bird, except perhaps in terms of upper lip ornamentation.

Dickau traded to Blazers by Celtics

WALTHAM, Mass. � The Boston Celtics selected Villanova guard Randy Foye with the No. 7 pick in the NBA draft Wednesday night, then promptly traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for Sebastian Telfair in a five-player deal that included former Gonzaga University point guard Dan Dickau.

Trades scramble confusing draft

Players were moving around like pieces on a checkerboard Wednesday night as the 2006 NBA draft lived up to the unpredictability that was promised.

2006 NBA draft

A thumbnail look at the first 10 selections of the NBA draft

Tale of two Zags

As teammates at Gonzaga University for the past two seasons, Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista shared the same goal of helping keep the Bulldogs' men's basketball program among the nation's elite.

Two prep stars commit to Zags

Gonzaga University's men's basketball team, coming off a 29-4 season that included another trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, continues to reap recruiting benefits from its rise to one of the elite national programs.

Area roundup: Gonzaga will meet Nevada in fourth Battle in Seattle

The University of Nevada will be Gonzaga's rival for the fourth annual Comcast Battle in Seattle, Dec. 30 at KeyArena in Seattle, the schools announced Tuesday.

Agent: Diabetes not an issue for Morrison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. � Agent Mark Bartelstein is playing doctor these days, telling NBA teams not to fear Adam Morrison's diabetes. Bartelstein isn't trivializing the disease, but he wants teams to know it's manageable enough that Morrison can have a long NBA career.

Zags will be hosts for NIT Tip-Off

Gonzaga's basketball presence in the Spokane Arena takes on a higher � and earlier � profile next season.

GU, Duke schedule dream matchup

Duke and Gonzaga have made it official. The two national men's basketball powers have agreed to meet this winter on one of the greatest stages in all of sport � New York's Madison Square Garden.

Next stop: NBA

Adam Morrison was walking alone, head down, across the lawn outside the McCarthey Athletic Center on Wednesday, just moments after holding an afternoon press conference to tell the world what it already knew. ( Read the full story )

John Blanchette: Morrison one of a kind

Just as an exercise, whenever someone invokes the phrase "the next level," imagine yourself on a department store elevator. From the second floor, it's pretty obvious what the next level is.

Morrison's stock on the rise

As expected, Gonzaga University has scheduled a press conference this afternoon, presumably to announce that junior Adam Morrison, a consensus All-American and the nation's top Division I scorer, will leave school early to declare for this summer's NBA draft.

Morrison may turn pro

Gonzaga University's Adam Morrison is expected to hold a news conference this week, possibly as early as Wednesday, announcing he will forgo his senior season at GU and declare for this summer's NBA Draft.

Wooden Award to Redick

LOS ANGELES � J.J. Redick took a West Coast vacation this week, spending some time with Adam Morrison and beating out his buddy for the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball's male player of the year.

Zags selected for Hall of Fame Challenge

Arizona will face Illinois and Gonzaga will play Texas in the Basketball Hall of Fame's inaugural Hall of Fame Challenge doubleheader Dec. 2 in Phoenix, officials said Monday.

Zags positively touched lives of many in region

The buzz of another Gonzaga University men's basketball season has boiled down into the predictable topics: What did or should have happened in the final seconds against UCLA; whether Adam Morrison will turn pro; what job offer out there might entice Mark Few?

Morrison, Redick share award

They've been linked to each other all season. And for the first time in its 50-year history, the United States Basketball Writers Association named co-players of the year in college basketball: Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick.

Morrison All-American

Five players were named to the Associated Press men's All-America basketball team Monday and two are from Washington state. Adam Morrison of Gonzaga and Brandon Roy of Washington became the first two players from the Evergreen State to be named All-America the same season.

Fans help soften landing

Having trouble dragging yourself out of the dumps after Gonzaga men's basketball team collapsed in the NCAA basketball tournament Thursday night? Eight-year-old Olivia Byers, still taking baby steps in her life as a Zags fan, took a giant stride toward recovery Friday afternoon.

Zags aren't going away

On a greaseboard hanging from a wall in his office, Gonzaga assistant Leon Rice tracks the recruiting progress of the Bulldogs' men's basketball program. His list of current players, recent letter-of-intent signees and prospective future recruits shows who the Zags expect to have on their rosters for the next several seasons.

Over in a blur

OAKLAND, Calif. � Nothing is supposed to come easy this time of year. But nothing should come this cruelly, either. Given an opportunity � several, in fact � to put away second-seeded UCLA in Thursday night's third-round of the NCAA tournament, the third-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs deferred.

Zags repeat cruel history with defeat

OAKLAND, Calif. � It ended for Adam Morrison the same way it ended for Ronny Turiaf � in tears, a jersey tugged over his face, sprawled inconsolably on a court in March with dreams not just unfulfilled but stolen away.

Fouled, foiled

OAKLAND, Calif. � Gonzaga's J. P. Batista felt he was fouled on the turnover he committed in the final seconds of Thursday night's 73-71 NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA.

Key performances

GU expects rugged defense from Bruins

OAKLAND, Calif. � These are not Steve Lavin's Bruins � which isn't necessarily good news for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. This year's UCLA team, 29-6 and seeded No.

Zag traits with a Pac-10 bias

OAKLAND, Calif. � In the end, UCLA's Jordan Farmar called his decision to become a Bruin a "no-brainer. "But there was a time when the 6-foot-2 sophomore out of Taft High School in Van Nuys, Calif.

Grad guys deliver good news

OAKLAND, Calif. � It's Gonzaga vs. UCLA today to determine the fate of the free world, the Best in the West and the next survivor on the road to the Final Four.

Morrison can play ... and act

OAKLAND, Calif. � Gonzaga's Adam Morrison has encountered just about every kind of defense imaginable this year. Box-and-one. Triangle-and-two. He's been face-guarded by opponents with no responsibility for any kind of help-side defense.

GU VS. UCLA

Dick Bennett is one of four head coaches to have seen both Gonzaga and UCLA from the opposite sideline this season. Bennett, now retired from his job as the head coach at Washington State, watched his Cougars lose at Gonzaga 67-53 in December, then lose to UCLA 63-61 in Los Angeles and 50-30 in Pullman during conference play.

Grier says he'd listen to Pepperdine

Gonzaga assistant Bill Grier would be interested in listening to Pepperdine officials if they want to discuss the possibility of him taking over the Waves' vacant head coaching job.

It's show time!

OAKLAND, Calif. � Residents of Fort Worth, Texas, might know a little about it. And folks in St. Paul, Minn., probably have a few insights. But you've got to figure the people who call this rough-edged city home are the true experts when it comes to being overlooked and overshadowed.

Growth keeps 'Northwest guy' home

OAKLAND, Calif. � Mark Few has had, depending on what rumors one wishes to embrace, at least a couple of opportunities to leave Gonzaga University for what are generally perceived to be greener college basketball pastures.

Zags defense gets no respect

Despite their glossy 29-3 record, No. 5 national ranking and No. 3 regional seed in this year's NCAA tournament, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have taken their share of jabs from the television pundits who seem to endlessly opine on college basketball this time of year.

Zags game fills flights to Bay Area

Flying to California this week? Good luck if you want to get there Wednesday or Thursday and didn't book early. Getting from Spokane to the Bay Area either day by a direct flight has become much more complicated, thanks to Gonzaga University playing its next NCAA basketball tournament game Thursday evening in the Oakland Arena.

Bruins have kept plugging along

Is UCLA really a sleeping college basketball giant, finally re-awakening under the gentle prodding of third-year coach Ben Howland? Gonzaga's Mark Few doesn't think so.

Sweet sensation

SALT LAKE CITY � It happens everywhere he goes now. And Saturday night here at the Huntsman Center was no exception. People stare at Adam Morrison.

Davis' tenure at Indiana ends with defeat

SALT LAKE CITY � Mike Davis wearily said goodbye to Indiana basketball, thanking his players as much for their effort over the last month as for their final game for the coach.

Bulldogs team of stars in this one

SALT LAKE CITY � Big day for Sean Mallon. A double-double. CBS' player of the game. Postgame face time on TV. A flotilla of reporters fishing for his innermost thoughts.

Gonzaga won't be denied Sweet 16

SALT LAKE CITY � There will be no "Two-bad-for-the-Zags" finish to this college basketball season. The Gonzaga Bulldogs made sure of that Saturday night by shrugging off the second-round jinx that has plagued them in each of the last three NCAA basketball tournaments and shoving aside Indiana 90-80 in front of a sellout crowd of 15,122 in the Huntsman Center.

Plow ahead

SALT LAKE CITY � There really wasn't any big secret to the success Indiana had in guarding Gonzaga's Adam Morrison on Saturday night. The Hoosiers let nearly everyone in their undersized lineup take a run at the Bulldogs' scoring leader and player-of-the-year candidate.

First look: UCLA

Matchup: No. 3 Gonzaga (29-3) vs. No. 2 UCLA (29-6)

Bulldogs on their guard

SALT LAKE CITY � Coach Mark Few hinted that Gonzaga fans could see more of David Pendergraft and Erroll Knight than normal this afternoon when his third-seeded Bulldogs take on perennial Big TenConference power and sixth-seeded Indiana in the second round of the NCAA tournament in the Huntsman Center.

Since Davis' decision, IU on roll

SALT LAKE CITY � Rarely has there been a more obvious turning point in a basketball season than this year at Indiana University. On Feb.

Big men for a big game

SALT LAKE CITY � Perhaps the most intriguing matchup in tonight's second-round NCAA tournament showdown between Gonzaga and Indiana will be the low-post test of strength between the Bulldogs' J.

Nothing can motivate like a true legend

SALT LAKE CITY � The best thing Gonzaga has going for it today? The name on the front of the other team's jerseys. Seriously. Because they're not just playing Marco Killingsworth and the hottest team in the Big Ten at the end of the year, along with Ohio State and Iowa.

Role reversal

SALT LAKE CITY � If you've been following the screeching from their opponents of late, you're probably aware that the Gonzaga Bulldogs haven't had to deal with much in the way of foul trouble this season.

Resilient Bulldogs defy opponents to squash them

SALT LAKE CITY � Don't take this the wrong way, Gonzaga fans, but you have the distinction of rooting for the cockroaches of college basketball.

Time to X-hale

SALT LAKE CITY � Seeming dead in the water with their motor burned out and reaching for the oars, the Gonzaga Bulldogs somehow found their way back to shore once again.

Hoosier daddy?

SALT LAKE CITY � For the vast majority of basketball fans, the NCAA Tournament is a TV show. And Zags rooters hope their favorite reality program turns out to be a series with several more episodes.

Attention gets tiresome, but Morrison understands role

SALT LAKE CITY � Publicly, Adam Morrison says all the right things. He calls the massive amount of attention he has received this winter "cool," and says the exposure is "good for the university."

For Zags, biggest buzz
is on dance floor

SALT LAKE CITY � Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship could recognize the look. It's the one that says, "I'm really, really tired of discussing this."

Fans disagree, but Zags don't need validation

SALT LAKE CITY � Such a curious universe, this college basketball and the logic deprived who inhabit its fringes. On Tuesday night, Stanford won what amounted to a play-in game � to the National Invitation Tournament.

Musketeers aim to keep Bulldogs off foul line

SALT LAKE CITY � Sean Miller wasn't around to hear a couple of West Coast Conference coaches carping recently about the foul-shooting edge Gonzaga had in the 16 games it played against league foes this winter.

Blame Pendo for 'stache

SALT LAKE CITY � Gonzaga's David Pendergraft confessed Wednesday afternoon that he was the guy who talked teammate Adam Morrison into trying to grow his now-famous, sort-of mustache.

Caging Morrison

Thanks to Gonzaga's ambitious national schedule and the West Coast Conference's agreement to become a part of ESPN's Big Monday telecasts, Xavier University has had ample opportunity this winter to watch the Bulldogs' irrepressible Adam Morrison play.

Xavier rallies around player departures

Xavier's Justin Cage admits it was a bit unnerving, at first, to realize Brian Thornton and Dedrick Finn no longer had his back. Or the backs of any of his teammates, either, for that matter.

GU aide Grier already a winner

Come postseason tournament time, sleep is always at a premium for college basketball coaches trying to prepare, on a short turn-around, for their next opponent.

Location, location, location! GU happy with Salt Lake

Gonzaga coach Mark Few and his players refused to let themselves get caught up in any seeding debates on Sunday afternoon. After gathering at Few's home to watch CBS-TV's Selection Show for this year's NCAA Tournament, several Bulldogs ventured back to the McCarthey Athletic Center to address the media.

Zags discover X-factor

INDIANAPOLIS � The madness was on before the first tipoff. This year's NCAA tournament draw was a mix of power and unpredictability, with the top seeds surprising no one � and the rest of the field stirring all the debate.

Five things to know about Xavier

No. 3 Zags not blas� about 'Jesuit Throwdown'

Good to have "The Sopranos" back on the tube. But when did they add Jim Nantz and Billy Packer to the cast? Watching Nantz go all Paulie Walnuts on Sunday afternoon in grilling selection committee chair Craig Littlepage on the makeup of this year's NCAA Basketball Tournament field was almost as much fun as watching Adam Morrison bank a game-winning 3-pointer off the glass � and just as rare.

Xavier at a glance

Zags will be a 3 seed, unless, of course, they aren't

Office production slows to a drip until further notice with the announcement this afternoon of the NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket � hieroglyphics that 24th century archeologists will find on our cave walls and puzzle over, like the fossilized remains of the pinwheel imprisoned in Dick Vitale's skull.

GU's depth presents its challenges

Not that Gonzaga coach Mark Few is complaining, but he admits there is a downside or two to dealing with the kind of depth he has on this year's roster.

A club rest of WCC should want to join

Everything that's wrong with the West Coast Conference, I learned by trolling the Internet. Actually, it only took one post. In the vigorous and often silly cyberdebate that buffeted the WCC's postseason tournament this past weekend � the site, the refs, the league's stature and geographic arrogance both perceived and real � a contribution from a fan of one of the California schools was particularly instructive.

Zags find heart on the bench

So did he or didn't he? Get a piece of that last shot, that is. Give Erroll Knight this: unlike his buddy Adam Morrison, who's been sticking to the same story about that game-winning 3-pointer off the glass way back in January, when the tapes were rolling and the pens were cocked Monday night, he came clean.

Morrison in his element

In all likelihood, the 6,000 fans who jammed into the McCarthey Athletic Center for Monday's championship game of the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament saw Gonzaga's Adam Morrison play his final home game as a Zag.

A sigh of relief

Comebacks all seem to have their own unique character. And the one the Gonzaga Bulldogs used to reel in Loyola Marymount in Monday night's finale of the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament in McCarthey Athletic Center was strictly a pick-your-own-hero kind of affair.

Zags dig in, escape with win

Pushed to the edge once again on Sunday, the Gonzaga Bulldogs peeked over and issued their customary response. "No thanks, not yet," they calmly told the University of San Diego, before stepping away from a potential fall � one that could have turned their 38-game home winning streak into nothing more than a mere grease spot � and crafting a hard-earned 96-92 overtime win in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament.

Morrison named to Team USA

Regardless of whether he decides to forego his senior season at Gonzaga and declare for this summer's NBA Draft, Adam Morrison will be playing with the pros in the near future.

Batista's absence proves his worth

Since they are supposed to win, the Gonzo Bulldogs don't get a lot of allowances in the explanation department even in doing so. Their games are too close.

Raivio rediscovers his shooting

With teammate J.P. Batista limping around with a sprained knee and bruised thigh, Gonzaga's Derek Raivio figured he needed to supply some offense if the Bulldogs hoped to sneak past San Diego in the first of Sunday's two West Coast Conference Tournament semifinals at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

GU's perpetual senior class

Describe the typical college basketball fan and a bouncy, beer-fueled student may come to mind. Some show up to games with signs, others sacrifice their bare chests to become human billboards.

Zags face tough USD in semifinal

No college basketball coach likes playing three games in three nights. But come conference tournament time, it certainly beats the alternative. Which is why San Diego's Brad Holland said his team was "ecstatic" about earning the chance to play a third game in the West Coast Conference tournament, even though it means facing regular-season league champion Gonzaga in today's first of two semifinals which tips off at 5 in the Bulldog's McCarthey Athletic Center.

Broncos win it up front

Santa Clara used the front-line scoring of Travis Niesen, Mitch Henke and Sean Denison to offset another big night by Portland's Pooh Jeter and turn back the Pilots 72-68 in Friday's opening round of the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Disrespect rolls in with WCC tourney

Perhaps you're a hard case who doesn't buy the company line that the Gonzaga Bulldogs get every team's best shot. Well, the brutal truth was there to be seen Friday night at McCarthey Athletic Center, which is breaking its maiden as a neutral court this weekend.

Toreros find their lost touch

Brad Holland admitted his had some major concerns about the way his University of San Diego team was playing heading into this year's West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament.

WCC MEN

Short trip this year for Zags boosters

Avid Gonzaga fans often flee to California this time of year for "spring break for grown-ups," a carefree weekend of Zags basketball, golf and sunshine.

Opening act set in WCC men's tournament

Given 14 chances during the regular season, they whiffed 14 times. But the other seven teams in the West Coast Conference continue to hope league bully Gonzaga might yet prove mortal at some point during this year's conference tournament, which starts tonight in the Bulldogs' McCarthey Athletic Center.

Coaches like mood at McCarthey Center

Aside from San Francisco's Jessie Evans, most West Coast Conference men's basketball coaches seem to embrace the idea of playing this year's league tournament in the home arena of regular-season champion and top-seeded Gonzaga.

PMAC draws on creativity

When he draws, Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes prefers the human form. Figures and faces. Now, like any beginner he was at first "just trying to draw a nose that looks like a nose."

Other coaches give Zags slight nod for conference tournament

Too close to call? That's the way the coaches see the West Coast Conference women's basketball tournament that starts today at McCarthey Athletic Center. But all things being equal, they agreed, take the home team.

Morrison, Few earn honors

The Gonzaga Bulldogs continued their recent domination of the West Coast Conference's major postseason men's basketball honors on Tuesday by capturing the conference's player- and coach-of-the-year awards for the sixth consecutive time.

Morrison scores SI cover shot

It's destined to be the hottest Sports Illustrated cover of the year around here, and we're not talking about the recent swimsuit issue. Get ready for "RedMo," the magazine's nickname for Gonzaga University star Adam Morrison and Duke's J.

Former Zag Turiaf scores career-high 10 in Lakers victory

Former Gonzaga University star Ronny Turiaf scored a NBA career-high 10 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 102-87 Tuesday night at Los Angeles.

Assist: Morrison!

Game-winning baskets are nothing new for Gonzaga's Adam Morrison. Game-winning assists, on the other hand . . . Well, at least now he has one.

Gonzaga to celebrate seniors

There will be a decidedly different feeling to Senior Night at Gonzaga University this evening. With GU's McCarthey Athletic Center playing host to the 2006 West Coast Conference Tournament that starts Friday, tonight's regular-season finale against San Francisco will not � as it has in the past � mark the final home-court appearance for the seniors on the roster.

Scoring title takes back seat to winning

He has told the story before � it is the one he loves to tell � about his last night in a Gonzaga uniform. Frank Burgess needed 31 points, just an average game, to win the NCAA basketball scoring title in 1961 � Tom Chilton of East Tennessee State being the leader in the clubhouse.

Morrison, Redick race should go down to wire

J. J. Redick and Adam Morrison. Adam Morrison and J. J. Redick. Almost without fail, one of those is the answer given to any question about national player of the year awards.

Say good Knight

As soon as Gonzaga coach Mark Few emerged from the Bulldogs' locker room following Saturday night's 75-59 West Coast Conference basketball win over San Diego, he was peppered with questions from the media about what J.

Zags face Toreros

Gonzaga coach Mark Few expects more of the same from San Diego tonight when the Toreros invade the McCarthey Athletic Center for their West Coast Conference men's basketball rematch with his fifth-ranked Zags.

Seller acquiesced to GU's bidding

It was at the request of Gonzaga University officials that the bloody gauze used by the Bulldogs' Adam Morrison to stop a nosebleed during a recent men's basketball game has been pulled � temporarily, at least � from the eBay Internet auction site.

Morrison fans bid on bloody gauze

Mark Few could only shake his head in amazement � and disgust. Gonzaga's men's basketball coach had just learned that the bloody piece of gauze the Bulldogs' Adam Morrison used to stop a nosebleed during the first half of Monday night's West Coast Conference game against Pepperdine is on sale on the Internet auction site eBay.

Zags continue to rock

MALIBU, Calif. � Nothing came easy for the fifth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs on Monday night, as they completed a road sweep of the West Coast Conference's two Los Angeles-area men's basketball teams with an 81-71 win over Pepperdine.

Zags fight through it

MALIBU, Calif. � Turns out, there still is a way to take the spotlight off Gonzaga's Adam Morrison. Just have Kobe Bryant walk into the gym while Morrison's being introduced as a member of the Bulldogs' starting lineup.

Duke No. 1 in poll; Zags stay at No. 5

Duke moved back to No. 1 in the Associated Press men's college basketball poll Monday, replacing the only other team to hold the top spot this season.

Outright WCC title within Gonzaga's grasp

MALIBU, Calif. � With at least a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season title already in hand, the fifth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs (22-3 overall, 11-0 in the WCC) roll into Pepperdine's Firestone Fieldhouse this evening looking to build on their 13-game winning streak and win the league title outright.

'Stache talk

When Gonzaga University basketball star Adam Morrison grew a sparse thatch of fuzz on his upper lip this season, the land of the Zags exploded in mustache mania.

Morrison's 44 tames Lions

LOS ANGELES � Gonzaga coach Mark Few realizes that simple halftime adjustments are often the most effective. So rather than delve into the complex during the midpoint break of Saturday's West Coast Conference showdown against Loyola Marymount, Few kept his demands straightforward.

Lions' share of praise

LOS ANGELES � Rodney Tention witnessed his share of superb individual performances during his eight seasons as an assistant under Lute Olson at the University of Arizona.

Tention puts roar back in Lions

LOS ANGELES � It wasn't that his players were unwilling to buy into what first-year Loyola Marymount coach Rodney Tention was selling. They just couldn't figure out how to close the deal.

Throw-back Zag rattles offenses

When David Pendergraft orally committed to Gonzaga four years ago as a 16-year-old sophomore-to-be at Brewster High, he was little more than a curiosity. But in less than two full seasons with the Bulldogs, the undersized 6-foot-6 backup power forward with the conspicuous shock of bright red hair has developed into one of the most recognizable and popular players on campus.

Zags pound Pilots

PORTLAND � Given the opportunity to take a few possessions off, and armed with a reasonable excuse, as well, the Gonzaga Bulldogs refused on Monday night to submit to temptation.

Zags return to conference play against Pilots

PORTLAND, Ore. � The Gonzaga Bulldogs slip back into West Coast Conference play tonight when they take on Portland at the Pilots' 5,000-seat Chiles Center.

Bulldogs relish spotlight

Put Adam Morrison under bright lights on a big stage, and he usually comes up with a performance to rival his surroundings. Such was the case again on Saturday when Gonzaga's junior scoring sensation ambled confidently onto perhaps the biggest stage he has occupied all year and calmly dropped in 34 points to help the fifth-ranked Bulldogs turn back Stanford 80-76.

Gonzaga aces audition for GameDay circus

The tents, the streak, the fleet of TV trucks, the kids camping out in the tents, the promos, the newspaper one-on-ones, the signs, the legend-in-his-own-mind howler wearing the headset blowing into town.

Shoe fits well for generosity

Armani suits and white sneakers are not the sideline fashion look of choice for most college basketball coaches. "It's not a great look," admitted Gonzaga coach Mark Few, "but it makes people ask, 'Why?

GU asks fans to quell 'inappropriate' chants

On the eve of the Gonzaga basketball team's nationally televised game against Stanford, students and faculty members are urging fans not to repeat chants of "Brokeback Mountain" against opposing players.

Stanford will test Zags

The Gonzaga Bulldogs step out of the West Coast Conference tonight to engage Stanford in a late-season showdown that features several intriguing storylines, including GU's 35-game home-court winning streak � the nation's longest, and Adam Morrison's drive to become college basketball's player of the year.

GU looks for Vitale signs

Dick Vitale has never met a college basketball player, coach, fan or game he didn't like. It should come as no surprise, then, that the vociferous and immensely popular color analyst for ESPN would gush to the point of giddiness about making his first trip to Gonzaga University on Saturday to opine � quite loudly, no doubt � on the fifth-ranked Bulldogs' non-conference game against Stanford in the sold-out McCarthey Athletic Center.

Heytvelt cleared to play against Stanford, but may not see action

Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga's injury-plagued redshirt freshman forward, has been medically cleared to play in Saturday's non-conference men's basketball game against Stanford.

Mallon option worked

Gonzaga's Sean Mallon insists he was the third option, at best, on the out-of-bounds play that put him at the foul line and in position to decide Monday night's West Coast Conference men's basketball game between the Bulldogs and visiting Saint Mary's College.

Bulldogs' streak survives

Thanks to a gutsy Gonzaga comeback and a game-winning free throw by Sean Mallon with just three-tenths of a second left on the clock, the talking heads at ESPN won't have to tear up this weekend's College Game Day script afterall.

Zags putting it together

Finding fault with a top-5 men's basketball team that has won nine straight games, sits atop the West Coast Conference standings with an unbeaten record and owns the nation's longest home-court winning streak might seem a bit presumptuous.

No. 5 Zags play the part

For the first time in more days than basketball coach Mark Few would probably like to count, his Gonzaga Bulldogs played up to their national ranking, rather than down to the level of an overmatched opponent.

Downs joins Zags

Micah Downs, a 6-foot-8 freshman transfer from Kansas, has officially enrolled at Gonzaga and has practiced with the Bulldogs the past two days. Downs, a former in-state prep standout at Juanita High School in Kirkland, completed the enrollment process at GU earlier this week after receiving the blessing of Kansas coach Bill Self, who told the Lawrence Journal-World he spoke with Downs by cell phone and saw no reason to interfere with his decision to leave the Jayhawks program.

Raivio stalls while Gonzaga streaks

Conference-leading Gonzaga opens the second half of its West Coast Conference men's basketball schedule tonight against last-place Santa Clara in what appears � on paper, at least � to be a bit of a mismatch.

Morrison earns honor as WCC co-player

Gonzaga University junior Adam Morrison shared this week's West Coast Conference men's basketball player of the week award with Pepperdine senior Tashaan Forehan, the conference announced Tuesday.

No. 5 ranking doesn't mean Bulldogs aren't vulnerable

Gonzaga coach Mark Few is quick to admit his Bulldogs are not a typical top-5 men's basketball team. The Zags, 17-3 overall and 7-0 in the West Coast Conference, have shown a sometimes-disturbing propensity to play to level of their competition.

Morrison manages fast start

The script being used by the Gonzaga Bulldogs of late is starting to get a bit predictable: Climb on Adam Morrison's shoulders for the first 20 minutes of the game, then search out some other scoring options after intermission.

Unpredictable Pilots set down at McCarthey

Gonzaga coach Mark Few admits West Coast Conference rival Portland has been a tough team to read. The Pilots (8-12 overall, 2-4 in the WCC), who invade McCarthey Athletic Center for today's 5 p.

Kansas transfer Downs in process of enrolling at GU

Former Juanita (Kirkland, Wash. ,) High School standout and McDonald's All-American Micah Downs confirmed on Friday that he is in the process of enrolling at Gonzaga University.

Morrison carries an outlaw's mindset

Gonzaga coach Mark Few recently compared the Bulldogs' Adam Morrison, the most proficient scorer in all of NCAA Division I men's basketball, to Old West legend Jesse James.

Morrison, Bulldogs persevere

SAN FRANCISCO � All of the junk defenses, double teams and constant bumping, clutching and grabbing have worn a bit on Gonzaga's Adam Morrison this season.

Gonzaga hopes to slow Dons' gifted guards

SAN FRANCISCO � Mark Few hopes San Francisco's gifted backcourt trio of Armondo Surratt, Jerome Gumbs and Dommanic Ingerson plays down a bit tonight when the unpredictable Dons entertain Few's sixth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs in a West Coast Conference showdown at War Memorial Gymnasium.

Knight rescues Bulldogs

SAN DIEGO � Having been there helps. Nobody appreciates that fact more than Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who watched his sixth-ranked Bulldogs survive another close and fiercely contested men's basketball game Saturday afternoon.

Few praises Knight for hanging tough

SAN DIEGO � Throughout his injury ordeal, Gonzaga's Erroll Knight has been able to count his coach, Mark Few, among his biggest fans. So when Knight, who has battled knee problems all season, stepped into the role of unlikely hero on Saturday by knocking down a late 3-pointer to lift his team to a 64-63 win over San Diego, Few was quick to bestow some well-earned praise on his resilient senior forward.

Gonzaga won't look past San Diego

SAN DIEGO � All it takes is a quick glance at San Diego's game-by-game scores to convince Gonzaga coach Mark Few that his sixth-ranked Bulldogs better bring their best into the Jenny Craig Pavilion for today's 3 p.

Brigham Young post player transfers to Gonzaga

David Burgess, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center, who was considered to be one of the top big-man recruits in the country coming out of Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif., two years ago, has transferred from Brigham Young to Gonzaga.

Turiaf joins Lakers

LOS ANGELES � Ronny Turiaf is back with the Los Angeles Lakers less than six months after having open-heart surgery. The 23-year-old power forward signed a deal Tuesday.

Little Bulldog came up big

Not to make light of the heavy contributions made by Adam Morrison and J.P. Batista, but it was the smallest member of Gonzaga's "Big Three" who came up huge in Monday night's 92-80 West Coast Conference men's basketball win over Loyola Marymount.

Bulldogs tame Lions

Heading into the start of West Coast Conference play, Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few pointed out on several occasions that his Bulldogs had not shown much of a propensity to put away opponents in a decisive way.

Lions surprise of WCC

With the exception of perennial power Gonzaga, which has held serve at the top of the regular-season standings for seven of the past eight seasons, the pecking order in the West Coast Conference men's basketball race has changed dramatically in recent years.

Zags keep it simple

Extra passes and simple plays can make basketball a very simple game. Mark Few has believed and taught that theory throughout his college coaching career.

Morrison amazes Westphal

Paul Westphal claims he isn't surprised by what Gonzaga's Adam Morrison has accomplished on the basketball court this winter. "But I am still definitely impressed," added the fifth-year Pepperdine coach, who brings his young Waves (5-9 overall, 1-1 in the West Coast Conference) into GU's McCarthey Athletic Center tonight for an 8:30 WCC game against Morrison and the sixth-ranked Bulldogs (12-3, 2-0).

Turiaf, Lakers reach deal

Former Gonzaga University men's basketball star Ronny Turiaf will officially become a Los Angeles Lakers player on Monday. Turiaf's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, confirmed late Thursday afternoon that he and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak have agreed on the terms of a contract that will be signed by both parties sometime Monday afternoon.

Fans inspire, don't rattle Morrison

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � Gonzaga coach Mark Few keeps telling opposing men's basketball fans in the West Coast Conference that they're wasting their time � and maybe even hurting their team's chances � when they try to get into Adam Morrison's head.

Morrison big on Big Monday

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � Adam Morrison claims he is confused, even a bit perplexed, about the way most of the inhabitants of the college basketball world seem to obsess over his scoring ability.

Zags make point at Saint Mary's

MORAGA, Calif. � It took them most of the evening, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs finally got around to making the statement � albeit it a modest one � that most experts expected them to make heading into the West Coast Conference portion of their men's basketball schedule.

Not out of their league

MORAGA, Calif. � Mark Few admits the West Coast Conference is not as strong as it was last season. "It's down, there's no question," said Gonzaga's seventh-year men's basketball coach, who has led the Bulldogs to five consecutive regular-season conference championships.

Batista unleashed!

Gonzaga's J. P. Batista, at the urging of his head coach, has started believing he's J. P. Batista again. That fact became obvious on Saturday when the Bulldogs' broad-shouldered senior center, exhibiting a depth of self-confidence that has been lacking of late, erupted for a career-high 32 points and 15 rebounds to lead the eighth-ranked Zags past Saint Joseph's 102-94 in a New Year's Eve matinee that was witnessed by a sellout crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga faces ghost of New Year's Eve past

The last time Saint Joseph's University rolled into town to face the Gonzaga Bulldogs, the Zags were riding a 29-game home winning streak. That was back on Dec.

Former high school star checks out GU campus

David Burgess, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound redshirt freshman center, who announced earlier this month that he is transferring from Brigham Young University, was on the Gonzaga University campus Thursday and is apparently considering becoming a Zag.

Coach appreciates rivalry that has developed

Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli brings his Hawks to Gonzaga's McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday to renew a young, but growing, rivalry with the Bulldogs that has produced three of the most entertaining regular-season games imaginable.

Memphis meltdown

MEMPHIS, Tenn. � Rodney Carney elevated, glided through the lane and slammed home the exclamation point in the closing seconds Tuesday night as No. 8 Gonzaga an 83-72 road loss before a sellout crowd of 18,208 at FedExForum.

Memphis reminds GU coach of Washington

Gonzaga coach Mark Few sees plenty of parallels between the University of Memphis and University of Washington men's basketball teams � which should give GU fans plenty of cause for concern heading into tonight's non-conference showdown against the fourth-ranked Tigers at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn.

Turiaf's pro debut is reason to cheer

From the time Texas Tech knocked off Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA tournament last spring, Bulldog fans have looked forward to the beginning of Ronny Turiaf's professional basketball career.

Spirited in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS � Saint Louis coach Brad Soderberg, a huge advocate of the man-to-man defense, got all gimmicky against the eighth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs on Thursday night and almost crafted one of the biggest upsets of the college basketball season.

On the road again

ST. LOUIS � If things had worked out as originally planned, the Gonzaga Bulldogs wouldn't be facing the hectic, travel-heavy holiday schedule that lies ahead.

Eagles rejected

The half-hearted effort the Gongaza Bulldogs mailed in against Eastern Washington on Monday evening might have been enough to leave some coaches speechless. But not Mark Few.

Eagles-Zags in the Arena must continue

Here's why the Gonzaga Bulldogs may not want to keep playing Eastern Washington downtown at the Spokane Arena:With 5 1/2 minutes to play Monday night, the Zags � ranked eighth in the nation � were tied with a team they'd beaten 19 straight, by an average of 18 points each time.

Zags aren't looking past Eagles

Coach Mark Few seems to be doing everything in his power to impress on his Gonzaga Bulldogs just how much tonight's non-conference men's basketball game against Eastern Washington means � to the Eagles, at least.

Zags pass test

The Gonzaga Bulldogs passed one last final exam Saturday night, but not before the reunited "Big Three" of Adam Morrison, Derek Raivio and J.P. Batista did some late-game basket cramming.

Healed-up Raivio shoots missing element back into GU offense

If he wasn't the best guard on the floor Saturday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center, Derek Raivio was surely the best medicine. But first, a word from the sponsor about Sean Singletary.

Bulldogs know ACC's Cavaliers could spell trouble

Gonzaga coach Mark Few admits he is every bit as concerned about the letters associated with the University of Virginia men's basketball team as he is the numbers.

GU doesn't take a cavalier view of visit

As the extraordinary grows ordinary, big deals become blas�. Take, for example, the current dither over Gonzaga basketball, in which the three-overtime epic last month � the best non-March madness, said some � is a faded clipping already.

No time for culture shock

Mark Few was understandably concerned. Jeremy Pargo, his prized basketball recruit from Chicago's South Side, had flown into Spokane and checked into his dorm room at Gonzaga University just a couple of days earlier.

Yes, Virginia, Zags expect Raivio

Barring any unforeseen setbacks, the Gonzaga Bulldogs should have their starting point guard back for Saturday night's non-conference men's basketball game against Virginia. Junior Derek Raivio, who has missed GU's last two games with a badly bruised hip and lower back, said prior to practice on Tuesday that he plans to be in uniform and available to play when the Zags and Cavaliers tip off at 5 in the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Zags can bank on Morrison

SEATTLE � Did he call it? That was the question most people wanted answered Saturday afternoon after Gonzaga's Adam Morrison banked in a difficult 3-point shot with 2.

Lucky or not, Morrison can plain shoot it

SEATTLE � Twelve seconds to go and his team a point down, he fetched the ball from teammate J. P. Batista 85 feet from the basket and dribbled up court, accepting once again the duty of destiny.

Time to step forward

SEATTLE � Delete his five field-goal attempts, four fouls and 15 minutes played, and Sean Mallon's statistical line from last Sunday's 99-95 road loss to Washington reads like the linescore of a well-pitched, extra-innings baseball game.

Raivio misses flight to heal aching back

SEATTLE � Derek Raivio did not accompany Gonzaga University's men's basketball game on its flight here on Friday to prepare for today's 12:51 p.m. matchup against Oklahoma State in the third annual Battle in Seattle at KeyArena.

Quartet's jam session

When the Gonzaga Bulldogs opened practice some two months and three key injuries ago, their roster seemed top-heavy with scoring options. But on Thursday night, during a typical street fight with regional rival Washington State, GU coach Mark Few could come up with only four � which, in this case, proved to be more than enough.

Pargo, P-Mac develop poise in tough times

Here, in simple math, is what the Gonzaga Bulldogs don't have at the moment: 40 percent of what was expected to be the starting lineup.

Battered Raivio may miss GU's contest with WSU

Gonzaga coach Mark Few still doesn't know if he'll have starting point guard Derek Raivio available for Thursday night's game against regional rival Washington State.

Raivio's status for next game up in the air

Derek Raivio isn't making any brash predictions, but Gonzaga University's junior point guard said Monday night he is hoping to be ready to play in Thursday's non-conference men's basketball game against Washington State.

Huskies bag the Zags

SEATTLE � No one associated with the Gonzaga University men's basketball program expected the Bulldogs' winning streak over Washington to last forever. The way it went down at Bank of America Arena on Sunday evening, however, proved to be downright painful.

Patchwork Zags still gave Huskies fits

SEATTLE � Well, at least the students had the good sense not to storm the floor. A huge weight came off the University of Washington basketball program on Sunday night, but it wasn't so much lifted as it was crawled out from under.

Nobody should step in to stop this yearly dogfight

Just in case not enough ink, air, RAM and general anxiety was being expended in setting the table for today's roundball banquet � Gonzaga vs. Washington, with world peace and the American way at stake � Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar sprinkled a little butane on the candlesticks during the salad course.

GU's Raivio moves forward after friend's death

This hasn't been the easiest of weeks for Derek Raivio. But Gonzaga University's junior point guard is doing his best to "get back to the grind and into the flow" of the college basketball season once again after taking some time off to help bury a friend.

Shaky but standing

Gonzaga coach Mark Few found himself in a difficult situation following Wednesday night's ragged, 89-80, men's basketball win over Portland State. While holding court with the media after the game, Few struggled to give an honest assessment of his own team's shabby play without minimizing the Vikings' considerable effort.

Vikings bring new crew to Gonzaga

It was just a little more than a year ago that Portland State provided the opposition for the first men's basketball game played in Gonzaga University's $25 million McCarthey Athletic Center.

Without Heytvelt, Zags must display a smart toughness

Josh Heytvelt was being prepped for surgery Monday afternoon about the same time Gonzaga coach Mark Few was being asked about what sort of adjustments might be in order to compensate for his young post player's absence these next three months.

Calhoun was clued in to GU's defensive strategy

LAHAINA, Hawaii � University of Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun had a pretty good idea of what Mark Few was devising in the way of defensive strategy for his Gonzaga Bulldogs during the final seconds of Wednesday night's championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Trouble in paradise

LAHAINA, Hawaii � The only guy who couldn't describe the shot that beat Gonzaga in Wednesday night's championship game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational was the guy who took it.

Toughness a trait of this Gonzaga team

LAHAINA, Hawaii � The script began getting away from the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Wednesday night here on Fantasy Island in a familiar way, with their top gun from long range firing blanks.

Postcard from Hawaii

LAHAINA, Hawaii � All four members of Gonzaga University's men's basketball team coaching staff have their wives and kids with them here at the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Hawaiian punch

LAHAINA, Hawaii � Any Gonzaga University men's basketball fans still holding out hope that Adam Morrison might return for his senior year of college next fall might want to consider giving up the dream. ( Read the full story )

Morrison, Ager became Maui maulers

LAHAINA, Hawaii � If the game was extraordinary, the game within the game was incredible. This was Adam Morrison vs. Maurice Ager, for what seemed like 150 rounds and not just 15 and the heavyweight championship of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Batista avoided final foul

LAHAINA, Hawaii � At 6-foot-9 and 269 pounds, J.P. Batista is more about power than finesse. But after being saddled with his fourth foul midway through the second half of Gonzaga's 109-106 triple-overtime win over Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, the Bulldogs' big man was forced to reluctantly back off.

Postcard from Hawaii

LAHAINA, Hawaii � Traveling here with the Gonzaga men's basketball team for this year's EA SPORTS Maui Invitational has had special meaning to Vickie Hertz and her husband Steve.

Bulldogs show poise, knock off Maryland

LAHAINA, Hawaii � Sleeping in probably doesn't rank all that high on the list of top tourist activities on this idyllic Hawaiian island. Not with all of the water, sun and stunning scenery that make it such a popular destination this time of year.

Pargo's 'moment' special

LAHAINA, Maui � For all the aptitudes Jeremy Pargo can bring to a basketball court � vision, feel, fearlessness � and a wide range of motor skills, there is one gift that may best explain his presence at Gonzaga University.

Where Maui turns a cold shoulder

LAHAINA, Hawaii � Granted, Maui is known best for its sunshine, warm winds and seemingly endless expanses of blue water. But there is another side to this Pacific island that is much more desolate, barren and remote than most can imagine.

Terrapins ready for energetic Zags

LAHAINA, Maui � The thing University of Maryland coach Gary Williams remembers most about the 82-68 whipping Gonzaga put on his young Terrapins two years ago is how hard � and smart � the Bulldogs played.

Gonzaga gaining notice in early season events

LAHAINA, Hawaii � Surely there is a happy medium between upgrading the schedule and a suicide note. But nearly 10 years into Gonzaga University's rebirth as a basketball Godzilla, the Bulldogs are still probing the extremes.

Gonzaga virtually defeated

LAHAINA, Maui � This may not sit well with those Gonzaga University men's basketball fans who paid the big bucks to fly to this Eden-like island to watch their beloved Bulldogs compete in the 2005 EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Batista answers call

Not quite a year ago, it took 40 points from a fellow named Ronny Turiaf for the Gonzaga Bulldogs to subdue their irrepressible neighbors from Idaho. ( Read the full story )

Zags ready for anything from unknown Idaho

Gonzaga coach Mark Few wishes he knew a whole lot more about the University of Idaho men's basketball team that will provide the opposition for his Bulldogs in tonight's season opener in the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Injury situation improving for Zags as opener approaches

The injury situation on the Gonzaga University men's basketball team seems to be improving, according to Bulldogs coach Mark Few. But there is still a good chance only one of the three players who missed last weekend's 81-36 exhibition rout of UC San Diego will be available for Saturday's 5 p.

Gonzaga starts slowly, ends up routing UCSD

Another lopsided exhibition win did little on Saturday night to ease Mark Few's early season concerns about his Gonzaga University men's basketball team. "Apprehensive," was how Few described his feelings following the Bulldogs' 81-36 rout of the University of California San Diego in front of another McCarthey Athletic Center crowd of 6,000.

Zags, Eags set to host UCSD in exhibitions

Gonzaga University wraps up its two-game men's basketball exhibition schedule tonight against UC San Diego, an NCAA Division II team that will then turn around and provide the opposition for Eastern Washington's exhibition opener at Reese Court on Sunday evening.

Gonzaga signs guard Bouldin, 7-foot-3 Foster

Gonzaga University gathered up a couple of signatures on Wednesday, and Washington State signed a prospect out of New Zealand.

Zags' Morrison voted preseason All-American

Adam Morrison gave Gonzaga University another first on Tuesday when he was named to the Associated Press preseason All-American men's basketball team. The 6-foot-8 junior forward, who averaged a team-high 19 points per game last season, is the first Bulldogs player in school history to make the AP's five-man elite preseason team.

Zags look for answers

With the start of the 2005-06 college basketball season less than two weeks away, the status of Gonzaga University's Erroll Knight remains uncertain. According to Bulldogs coach Mark Few, the 6-foot-6 senior "isn't doing so good" because of an ailing left knee that has kept him from practicing.

Freshmen lead GU in a rout

As promised, coach Mark Few gave the two youngest members of his Gonzaga University men's basketball team considerable minutes under the bright lights of the McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday night.

Zags face L-C State in exhibition opener

Gonzaga University men's basketball coach Mark Few remains lukewarm about last year's NCAA rule change that prohibits Division I schools from scheduling exhibition games against non-collegiate competition.

Prepare for liftoff

Nathan Doudney is starting his third season as a member of the Gonzaga University men's basketball team, yet he remains one of the Bulldogs' biggest mysteries.

GU No. 7 in 1st poll

Gonzaga University is ranked No. 7 in the preseason USA Today/ESPN college basketball coaches poll that was released Friday.

Turiaf scrimmages with Zags less than four months after surgery

Ronny Turiaf is back. Not all the way, perhaps, but far enough to step on the court and mix it up with some of his former Gonzaga University basketball teammates.

Zags open post-Turiaf era with first practice

Gonzaga University's men's basketball team officially opened its post-Ronny Turiaf era at McCarthey Athletic Center on Friday evening, even though the reigning West Coast Conference player of the year and second-round NBA draft choice of the Los Angeles Lakers was in the building.

GU gets commitment from Canadian prep

Robert Sacre, a 6-foot-11, 248-pound junior center for Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver, B.C., has made an oral commitment to play his college basketball at Gonzaga University.

Bulldogs pick up gauntlet again

Gonzaga University athletic director Mike Roth put the final piece of the Bulldogs' 2005-06 men's basketball schedule into place Friday by approving a contract that obligates the Zags to make a late-December trip to Memphis, Tenn.

One of country's top guards commits to GU

Matt Bouldin, rated among the top 10 high school guards in the country by several national scouting services, has made an oral commitment to play basketball at Gonzaga University next fall.

Zags couldn't have danced without Hank

Every home date a deafening sellout, every game on TV, every week in the Top 25 � the nonstop party of Gonzaga basketball slows only to consider its next conquest or buzz about the latest recruit.

Former GU coach Anderson dead at 84

Hank Anderson once jokingly credited his longevity as basketball coach at Gonzaga University to it being "the only school that would have me" � but that was a reach longer than he could manage even standing 6-foot-7.

Boeheim supports Fews' good deed

Gonzaga University men's basketball coach Mark Few and his wife, Marcy, have modeled their annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Classic and BasketBall Gala after the black-tie event Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and his wife, Juli, have put on back in central New York for the last six years.

Happy to be back home

Ronny Turiaf met with the media Friday afternoon for the first time since undergoing open-heart surgery late last month at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

Gonzaga star is singularly determined

In the days after his open heart surgery last month, Ronny Turiaf would wake up in his bed at Stanford University Medical Center to a beautiful sight.

Tired and sore, Turiaf continues on his recovery

Ronny Turiaf, who returned to Spokane earlier this week after undergoing open heart surgery, continues his recovery at the home of a close friend but remains tired, weak and sore.

Turiaf able to walk briefly

Ronny Turiaf is weak, but up and walking. The former Gonzaga University men's basketball star, who underwent open heart surgery earlier this week at the Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif.

'It''s just the way my heart is'

Gonzaga University officials insist they had no reason to suspect former Bulldogs men's basketball player Ronny Turiaf had any kind of a heart problem, let alone one as serious as was diagnosed earlier this week.

Turiaf trying to maintain positive outlook

He was defiant one second and tearful the next, but Ronny Turiaf tried mightily Friday to put the sunniest spin on the devastating revelation that his basketball career could be over.

Zags, Terps set Hawaiian meeting

Gonzaga University will face the University of Maryland in the opening round of the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational men's basketball tournament on Nov. 21.

Foster, Gray give GU word

Steven Gray, a 6-foot-3 junior guard from Bainbridge, and Will Foster, a 7-3 senior center from White River, both verbally committed to Gonzaga University during summer camps held by the men's basketball coaching staff.

Lakers select Turiaf in second

It took longer than he had probably hoped, but Ronny Turiaf finally learned Tuesday night where he will be shipping his belonging as he begins his career in the National Basketball Association.

Anticipation overrated

Ronny Turiaf spent Monday evening in New York, relaxing with family members over a nice meal and trying to cope with a classic case of wide-ranging pre-NBA Draft emotions.

Turiaf thinks he's NBA ready

This time, Ronny Turiaf thinks he's ready. There's no hesitation in his voice, no sense of doubt. He's confident he made the right decision a year ago when he withdrew from the NBA draft at the deadline and returned to Gonzaga University for his senior season.

Pargo confident he'll get entry

Irving Bryant admits that most of what he says about Jeremy Pargo is tinged with a bit of bias. But he also warns against reading anything into his comments, as slanted as they might seem, that would suggest Pargo is anything but a terrific get for Gonzaga University � as a person, as well as an indisputable basketball talent.

Grier will not seek LMU job

Longtime Gonzaga University assistant Bill Grier announced Thursday morning that he has taken his name out of consideration for the vacant head men's basketball coaching position at Loyola Marymount.

Gonzaga faces the future

Mark Few went into the 2004-05 college basketball season knowing his young Gonzaga Bulldogs were in desperate need of experience. And, man, did they get it.

It's lights out for Zags

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. � It was not the kind of basketball battle Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves wanted to be in. He knew if Monday's second-round Women's NIT game with Southwest Missouri State came down to a 3-point contest, his Bulldogs would be in for a long night.

Different breed for Bulldogs

Tournament time is perfect for Juliann Laney. The Gonzaga wing was overshadowed as the Bulldogs dispatched Brigham Young in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday.

Keeping it in perspective

TUCSON, Ariz. � There wasn't much mystery where the ball was going to go. Gonzaga trailed Texas Tech 69-67 with 19.5 seconds remaining.

The road stops here

TUCSON, Ariz. � John Rupp sits alone on the balcony at Gentle Ben's pub Saturday morning drinking a Bloody Mary and gazing into the rain.

Finality no more apparent than for Turiaf

TUCSON, Ariz. � When it was over, when he heaved the ball nearly the length of the court in desperation with no time to even utter a prayer, Ronny Turiaf let himself melt to the floor, his knees finding his elbows.

Stalled in second

TUCSON, Ariz. � The downside to playing in the NCAA men's basketball tournament is the abruptness and finality with which it ends � for every team but one.

A winner, at least on paper

TUCSON, Ariz. � It has been 10 years since Bob Knight dressed down an NCAA Tournament functionary � OK, it was former University of Idaho sports information director Rance Pugmire � on a dais in Boise, new lye for a toxic legend.

Gonzaga aims for pout-proof effort

TUCSON, Ariz. � It was Ronny Turiaf who put this morning's second-round NCAA Tournament matchup between Gonzaga and Texas Tech in the most proper of perspectives.

Matchups

Attitude adjustment

TUCSON, Ariz. � There will be better nights for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament. Either that, or there will only be one more.

Double-double trouble

TUCSON, Ariz. � Ronny Turiaf made only one field goal, but he still had an effect on the scoreboard. More precisely, he limited the amount of points Winthrop put up with his rebounding and shot-blocking.

Cinderella shoe was almost on other foot

TUCSON, Ariz. � How best to explain this? Well, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were on Thursday afternoon exactly the kind of team they dreamed of drawing back when they themselves were NCAA Tournament curios.

Key to dealing with Raiders is on the boards

To beat Texas Tech, you do it from the inside out. That was fairly obvious during the closing weeks of the Big 12 Conference season, when the Red Raiders � Gonzaga's opponent in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by virtue of a 78-66 first-round win over UCLA on Thursday � lost four of seven games.

Second half brought out best in Zags junior Batista

TUCSON, Ariz. � Gonzaga junior forward J. P. Batista had experienced this feeling before. The easy-going Brazilian was a little edgy, slightly out of his comfort zone.

Zags expect patience from Eagles

TUCSON, Ariz. � The defensive styles are similar, but Gonzaga University and Winthrop will put two dramatically different offensive approaches on display at 4:25 p.

Bulldogs prepare for pressing Eagles

TUCSON, Ariz. � Gonzaga defensive specialist Erroll Knight probably appreciates defensive handiwork more than the typical college basketball player. That's why he has considerable respect for Winthrop's attention to defense in general and his defensive assignment, Eagles junior James Shuler, in specific.

Turiaf trusts pups

TUCSON, Ariz. � As a senior co-captain and the only player on Gonzaga's roster with any appreciable amount of postseason experience, Ronny Turiaf is constantly tempted to lecture his teammates on the pressures of playing in the NCAA Tournament.

Don't make Four gone conclusions

TUCSON, Ariz. � This is written with the utmost sincerity:If Rick Neuheisel planned on participating in another NCAA Tournament Calcutta � and considering he has an extra $4.

Chase a chance to outrun sorrows

As a 25-year-old reporter in Delaware, I interviewed a man who hunted to the hounds � in his pickup. The 50-something man told me his life was filled with sorrow, but he temporarily forgot his troubles while chasing rabbits.

Now they know

James Shuler arrived on the Winthrop University campus in Rock Hill, S.C., in the fall of 2002, figuring annual trips to the NCAA men's basketball tournament must be included in the small print section of the national letter of intent he signed.

Experience overrated

Gregg Marshall led his Winthrop University men's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament four years in a row, starting in 1999. And on each occasion, it was one and out for his Eagles, who even suffered the indignity of losing a play-in game to Northwestern State in 2001.

Gonzaga tastes victory, defeat

The NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee rewarded the Gonzaga University men's team for its 25-4 record with a No. 3 seed in the Albuquerque (N.M.) Regional of this year's Big Dance.

Zags snag No. 3 seed for tournament

The Gonzaga Bulldogs once again gathered at the home of head coach Mark Few and his wife, Marcy, on Sunday to learn the first-round details of their upcoming NCAA Tournament quest.

Search for Inner Zag starts with the right outfit

Our journey began, as most chick trips do, as an excellent excuse to shop. My friend, Becky Nappi, wanted to become a true Gonzaga fan.

Few furious with committee for not selecting Gonzaga's women's team, John Blanchette says.

There was a time, dating back to his days as an assistant and then as a newbie head coach, that you could get a pretty strong take on the NCAA bracket from Gonzaga's Mark Few every Selection Sunday.

Gonzaga's opponent

Winthrop University Location: Rock Hill, S. C. Enrollment: 5,161Nickname: EaglesConference: Big SouthCoach: Gregg Marshall (158-81, 7th year at WU)2004-05 record: 27-5 overall; 16-1 in Big South, 1st)Qualified: by winning Big South tournamentKey players: G Torrell Martin, 6-5, Soph.

Bulldogs Turiaf, Morrison make District 9 team

Gonzaga University's Ronny Turiaf and Adam Morrison earned more honors Wednesday as both were named to the U. S. Basketball Writers Association (UWBWA) All-District 9 team.

Bulldogs' pups step up

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � If this weren't the season that the Gonzaga Bulldogs were supposed to trip and fall, it was at least presumed they'd have to stop and re-tie their shoelaces.

WCC: It's a slam dunk!

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � Adam Morrison punctuated a sensational two-day run in the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament Monday night with a stirring, late-game, end-to-end sprint and two-handed dunk.

GU finally lands WCC tourney

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � It's the biggest college basketball upset since Chaminade over Virginia. The West Coast Conference tournament? It's coming to Spokane.

Gonzaga levels Toreros

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � With the grinds of the regular season in the rear-view mirror, Mark Few normally eases up on his Gonzaga Bulldogs heading into the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament. ( Read the full story )

Altidor-Cespedes picks perfect time to shine

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � He may never allow himself to be the star, but Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes at least allowed himself to be something else Sunday night.

Gonzaga will play Pepperdine-San Diego winner

Gonzaga University will play either Pepperdine or San Diego in the 6 p. m. semifinal Sunday of the West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament at the Leavey Center on the Santa Clara University campus.

Tourney will be gantlet

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � West Coast Conference men's basketball coaches are in agreement that regular-season champion Gonzaga and runner-up Saint Mary's are a step above the rest of the league.

Bulldogs wrap it up in style

Ronny Turiaf went into his final home game as a Gonzaga Bulldog hoping he wouldn't get too emotional. "I don't want to pass out," he said prior to Monday's non-conference Senior Night matchup against Northern Colorado.

For the second time in five years GU men sweep all the individual awards

Any lingering questions about Gonzaga's ability to reload were answered in resounding fashion Monday morning when the regular-season league champion Bulldogs placed three players on the 2004-05 All-West Coast Conference men's basketball team and swept the league's four top individual awardsFor a record fifth year in a row, the 12th-ranked Zags captured the WCC's two most prestigious postseason honors, with Mark Few being named Coach of the Year and senior forward Ronny Turiaf being selected Player of the Year, while joining sophomore teammates Adam Morrison and Derek Raivio on the 10-player all-conference team.

UNC, Gonzaga move up in poll

North Carolina's second victory of the season over Duke gave the Tar Heels a nice boost in the Associated Press women's basketball poll, not to mention a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

All-WCC men

Coach of the year: Mark Few, GUPlayer of the year: Ronny Turiaf, GUNewcomer of the year: J. P. Batista, GUDefender of the year: Errol Knight, GUGU players on first team: Turiaf, Adam Morrison, Derek RaivioAll-Freshman: David Pendergraft...

Gonzaga's Pied Piper

Everyone has seen the TV spots. "We're on the same team," they say, drolly making the point that Gonzaga University's celebrity basketball players and the anonymous business major are all part of one big � or small, rather � happy family.

Gonzaga finishes with style

PORTLAND, Ore. � Faced with the unsettling prospect of, perhaps, having to share the wealth in this year's tightly contested West Coast Conference men's basketball race, the Gonzaga Bulldogs opted, once again, to go stingy. ( Read the full story )

Zags can own WCC outright with win

PORTLAND � Gonzaga coach Mark Few figures Portland learned a few things about his 12th-ranked Bulldogs when the two teams met earlier this year in GU's McCarthey Athletic Center.

Favorite son

In the eight years since he left the warm breezes of the Caribbean in pursuit of his basketball dream, Ronny Turiaf figures he has spent fewer than 200 days back in his hometown of Le Robert on the French-ruled island of Martinique. ( Read the full story )

Bulldogs' win over USF ensures top seed in WCC

Not that it matters all that much to Gonzaga coach Mark Few, but after West Coast Conference officials did the math following Saturday's games, it was determined that GU's 75-73 win over San Francisco meant more than previously thought.

Morrison nails it for Bulldogs

With as many offensive options as Gonzaga coach Mark Few has at his disposal, selecting a player to take a potential game-winning shots can sometimes create a dilemma. ( Read the full story )

Morrison's last-second basket worked just exactly as drawn up

Gonzaga University coach Mark Few said the last-second shot Adam Morrison made Saturday afternoon to lift his 13th-ranked Bulldogs past San Francisco, worked almost exactly like it had been drawn it up during a timeout that was called with 20 second left and the game tied at 73.

Zags' magic number for title is two

Gonzaga University earned at least the No. 2 seed and a bye into the semifinals of next month's West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament by knocking off San Diego 90-73 Thursday night.

A fitting tribute for Burgess

Funny thing about how they retire jerseys at Gonzaga University:Whenever the school actually gets around to it, it turns out the number has been mothballed already.

Two much to handle

With Derek Raivio playing like himself again and Ronny Turiaf making another loud stretch-run statement, 13th-ranked Gonzaga was simply too much for San Diego to deal with Thursday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center. ( Read the full story )

Gonzaga senior looks back on enjoyable ride

Brian Michaelson arrived at Gonzaga University during fall 2000 and walked on to the Bulldogs basketball team. He'd had an outstanding prep career at Jesuit High School in Portland, where he averaged 19.

Bulldogs face inconsistent Toreros

Not all field-goal droughts are the same. Few college basketball coaches can speak to that fact as well as San Diego's Brad Holland, whose Toreros recently suffered through a couple that bordered on the absurd.

Around the WCC

Saint Mary's Gaels (20-7 overall, 7-3 in the WCC) are one of 15 teams in the nation with at least 20 wins. The Gonzaga Bulldogs (19-4, 9-2) could join the Gaels on that list with a win over San Diego (13-10, 5-5) this evening.

Around the WCC

Saint Mary's Gaels (20-7 overall, 7-3 in the WCC) is one of only 15 teams, nationwide, with at least 20 wins. The Gonzaga Bulldgos (19-4, 9-2) could join the Gaels on that list with a win over San Diego (13-10, 5-5) this evening.

Turiaf honored by WCC

Gonzaga University senior post player Ronny Turiaf has been named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in the Bulldogs' road sweep of Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.

GU playing statistics game

Number of points. Number of rebounds. Number of assists. Number of turnovers. In most fantasy leagues, simple numbers work just fine. And they are usually enough to satisfy the curiosity of the average college basketball fan.

Zags breathe a sigh of relief

LOS ANGELES � For Gonzaga University, Saturday night's West Coast Conference men's basketball matchup against Loyola Marymount was all about toughness. Bulldogs coach Mark Few had challenged his team all week long to dig down and finally find the toughness needed to pull off its first conference road sweep of the season. ( Read the full story )

Zags want to do some trailblazing at Loyola

LOS ANGELES � Mark Few was asked earlier this week if he thought winning out would be enough to earn his Gonzaga Bulldogs the No.

Turiaf still in Naismith hunt

Gonzaga University senior Ronny Turiaf is one of thirty mid-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy. The Top 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country.

GU powers past Waves

MALIBU, Calif. � On a Thursday evening when 18 NBA scouts requested credentials to the game, a whole bunch of Gonzaga Bulldogs made rather loud statements that they all, perhaps, deserve a chance to take their games to the next level.

Around the WCC

Gonzaga's Mark Few, who picked up his 150th career win when his Bulldogs drilled Santa Clara 92-75 on Saturday, ranks No. 3 on the NCAA Division I victory list for sixth-year head coaches.

Turiaf again in running for Wooden award

Gonzaga University senior Ronny Turiaf has been selected to the John R. Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 30 for collegiate basketball's outstanding player of the year.

GU wins by counterpunch

Aesthetically, it was a disaster. But considering the casting, there was really no reason to expect Saturday's West Coast Conference men's basketball battle between Santa Clara and Gonzaga to resemble ballet.

Home fires burn again for Ronny

It was a big-picture, bottom-line, smiles-all- around Saturday for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Start with not one but two double-doubles � in points and rebounds by J.

Zags get tough after half, top Gaels

So many issues. So little time. That was the situation facing Gonzaga coach Mark Few at halftime of Thursday night's West Coast Conference showdown against league-leading Saint Mary's. ( Read the full story )

Gonzaga finds the key: Bulldogged defense

There is nothing like hard evidence. The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been Top 25 tenants for the last nine weeks now and 31 of the last 33, so the guard at the front gate knows them and there's little question of whether they belong in the neighborhood.

Janitors' friend starts to clean up

On a warm July evening that is about to morph into a warm July morning, Derek Raivio finds himself bored � and in need of a fix.

Around the WCC

Gonzaga announced earlier this week that tickets were still available for both tonight's showdown against conference-leading Saint Mary's and Saturday's game against Santa Clara. But according to university officials, all 120-some tickets returned by the two visiting schools were snapped up by Bulldog Club members less than eight minutes after going on sale Wednesday morning.

Batista plays rock 'n' roll

Gonzaga's Ronny Turiaf affectionately refers to teammate J. P. Batista as "the Brazilian Beast. "But the word most often used to describe Batista following Saturday night's hard-earned 91-79 West Coast Conference win over Portland was "rock.

Wary GU must steer clear of Pilots

It was two years ago that the University of Portland men's basketball team breezed into the old Kennel in Martin Centre and put a 72-68 defeat on Gonzaga that ranks as one of the biggest West Coast Conference upsets in recent memory.

Disy, Turiaf are relatively close

Harry Disy's postgame ritual rarely changes. After his North Idaho College basketball games he usually checks in with cousin, Ronny Turiaf, the Gonzaga University standout.

Living by the rules

Michael Holton proudly admits to being "old school" � as in UCLA-style "old school. "The fourth-year University of Portland men's basketball coach, who was a scholastic All-American and four-year letterwinner for the Bruins in the early 1980s, fondly recalls the "life lessons" he learned under coaches Larry Brown and Larry Farmer.

Around the WCC

When San Francisco knocked off No. 11 Gonzaga last Thursday, the Dons became the fifth conference team to beat a top-20 team this season.

Nothing comes easy

Expectations � great, small or otherwise � hang over every college basketball program. But for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who cap the first half of their West Coast Conference schedule on Saturday with an 8 p.

Most valuable: Derek Raivio

Remember when the graduation loss of Blake Stepp had everyone bemoaning the lack of an experienced point guard? Well, this 6-foot-3 sophomore has emerged as not only a capable replacement, but, perhaps, Stepp's equal, averaging 12.

Top defender: Erroll Knight

This is a no-brainer. Knight, a 6-foot-7, 211-pound junior, might be the most athletic player to ever wear a GU uniform. He will not wow you with his shooting or offensive instincts, but he rebounds and flies around with the best in the WCC.

Tough luck: Ronny Turiaf

This was supposed to be the year GU's 6-foot-10 senior and co-captain established himself as a lottery pick. But he has been playing hurt (two sprained ankles).

Top newcomer: J.P. Batista

This 6-foot-9, 269-pounder from Brazil is remarkably strong and possesses an uncanny ability to score around the basket. The first-year junior college transfer is averaging 10.

Biggest surprise: David Pendergraft

This 6-foot-6, 218-pound freshman, from tiny Brewster High School, seemed destined to redshirt this season, but was pressed into duty because of an injury to Erroll Knight.

Zags bounce back

SAN DIEGO � With no time to physically correct the multitude of glaring deficiencies his Bulldogs had put on public display while losing to San Francisco Thursday night, Gonzaga coach Mark Few opted to challenge his team mentally. ( Read the full story )

Knight cured what ailed Zags

SAN DIEGO � College basketball coaches will tell you there isn't a magic pill you can prescribe to make sure your team comes out energized and ready to play every night out.

Bulldogs seek to boost inside presence at USD

SAN DIEGO � Simply stated, it doesn't get any easier this afternoon for a Gonzaga University men's basketball team that is still desperately searching for an identity.

Zags fall before the Dons

SAN FRANCISCO � There's no official column in a basketball box score that tracks desire. But coaches know you can get a pretty good post-game read on who wanted it most by simply checking the rebounding numbers.

Morrison rides Waves

It isn't always easy being a natural-born scorer like Adam Morrison. Especially you're trying to co-exist with a cluster of equally offensive-minded teammates within a Gonzaga offensive scheme that stresses patience and rewards the extra pass. ( Read the full story )

Cream known as Gonzaga rises to the top again

By pretty much unanimous acclaim, the West Coast Conference is this year's Atlantic-10 � which is to say, tougher and more fraught with peril top to bottom than its college basketball pedigree would suggest.

Zags glad to have old Turiaf back in fold

Gonzaga's Ronny Turiaf has re-entered the building. And with Paul Westphal bringing his enigmatic, but immensely talented, Pepperdine Waves into McCarthey Athletic Center for today's 5 p.

GU big guys come up large

It was a night of celebration for a couple of Gonzaga University's big men on Thursday, and they both really lived it up. With J.

Gaels pull off upset, shock GU

MORAGA, Calif. � Saint Mary's used some uncanny long-range shooting to wash away seven years of frustration Saturday night at McKeon Pavilion. The Gaels, fueled by a wildly enthusiastic sellout crowd, some outstanding defensive pressure and 16-for-27 shooting from 3-point range, built a 15-point second-half lead and did enough good things down the stretch to stun 11th-ranked Gonzaga 89-81 in an early-season matchup of West Coast Conference powers.

WCC's favorites to clash

MORAGA, Calif. � With the 2004-05 West Coast Conference men's basketball season still in its infancy, the national bother over tonight's game between 11th-ranked Gonzaga University and Saint Mary's College has been minimal.

Raivio to the rescue for Zags

SANTA CLARA, Calif. � On a night in which Gonzaga University's two top scorers weren't getting it done, Derek Raivio did. The Bulldogs' slender 6-foot-3 sophomore point guard, in perhaps his finest moment as a Zag, scored a career-high 32 points on Thursday and did a whole lot of other things exceptionally well as 11th-ranked GU opened defense of its West Coast Conference regular-season title with a 91-87 win over stubborn Santa Clara.

Zags, star scaling new challenges

Ronny Turiaf reached a rare and undesired symbiosis with his becharmed army the other night. However badly it hurts him to play right now, it was nearly that painful to watch.

Nobody blames Turiaf except Turiaf

COLUMBIA, Mo. � On a night when their senior leader simply didn't have it, the Gonzaga Bulldogs failed � for one of the few times in recent memory � to find someone else willing to take over the game.

Shown up

COLUMBIA, Mo. � Anytime you can hold an opponent without a field goal for the last 8� minutes of a college basketball game, you have to like your chances.

Zags' sights on another Big 12 team

COLUMBIA, Mo. � Short preparation and short recovery. Gonzaga University must deal with both tonight � along with a young, but immensely talented Missouri men's basketball team � as the 12th-ranked Bulldogs (10-1) attempt to build on their early-season success in a non-conference matchup against the Tigers (6-5).

Zags give 'em 3rd degree

OKLAHOMA CITY � Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few stopped short of saying Tuesday night's 78-75 upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State was as good as it gets.

Bulldogs top pesky Eagles

Even if the 13th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs had nothing to win against Eastern Washington, they did. They won on the scoreboard 83-70 much to the delight of the impatient majority of the 12,000 fans in the Arena Tuesday night.

Eagles have work cut out

Right now, the Gonzaga and Eastern Washington men's basketball teams are going in opposite directions, which doesn't bode well for today's 6 p. m. matchup at the Arena.

Gonzaga's super sophs coming of age

LAS VEGAS � As co-captain, leading scorer, leading rebounder and resident senior mentor, Ronny Turiaf has plenty invested in this year's Gonzaga University men's basketball team.

Jackpot!

LAS VEGAS � There are some major tests still to be taken and some serious measuring still to be done. But for now, Mark Few will take the improvement his young Gonzaga University men's basketball team has made in the three short weeks since its blowout loss to Illinois in the Wooden Tradition.

GU again weakened at bad time

LAS VEGAS, Nev. � For the second time this season, Gonzaga University steps onto college basketball's center stage a bit short-handed. In an earlier 89-72 loss to then fifth-ranked Illinois � with defensive stopper Erroll Knight watching from the bench with a sprained thumb � GU's undermanned backcourt was overwhelmed by the quickness of the Fightin' Illini, who have since risen to the top of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Bulldogs smother Billikens

Mark Few had seen enough of the softer side of his Gonzaga University men's basketball team. Heading into Saturday night's non-conference matchup against Saint Louis, the Bulldogs' sixth-year coach was looking for some of that old-time toughness that had characterized GU teams of the past.

Saint Louis searches for shooters

Brad Soderberg likes almost everything about his Saint Louis University men's basketball team. The Billikens defend, rebound, dive on the floor after loose balls and play with an abundance of energy.

Escape from Pullman

PULLMAN � Washington State came back home to play Gonzaga on Tuesday night wondering what the damage would be after a 52-point loss at Oklahoma State.

Gonzaga finds a bit of beauty in ugly victory

SEATTLE � Scoring isn't as easy as Gonzaga University usually makes it look. Need a second opinion, you say? Then ask Bulldogs coach Mark Few, who watched his Zags survive a shaky offensive performance Saturday afternoon to turn back the University of Massachusetts 68-57 in the second-annual Battle of Seattle in KeyArena.

Maybe even bigger than the victory is Erroll Knight''s return, says John Blanchette.

SEATTLE � Turnovers usually don't make the highlight reel. This one should. Erroll Knight's basketball season was just 16 seconds old when he had his first ah-damn moment Saturday, hesitating and then holstering on an open jump shot while still in the air, then trying to dump the ball off to Gonzaga teammate Adam Morrison � who had vacated the area, cutting to the basket for a potential rebound.

Minutemen count on hard time from GU

SEATTLE � Opposing coaches keep looking at the video of Gonzaga's lopsided loss to Illinois in last Saturday's Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis, hoping to scrape together some ideas on how to deal with the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs have bite

Never underestimate the importance of a trial run. Although it might sound like a meaningless phrase attached to a throw-away effort, it can work wonders for a young basketball team.

Few sees little wrong with Illini

INDIANAPOLIS � Gonzaga coach Mark Few was asked to assess Illinois' fifth-ranked men's basketball team Saturday afternoon, just moments after the Fighting Illini had humbled his 24th-ranked Bulldogs 89-72 in the first game of the Wooden Tradition doubleheader at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Fighting Illini punch out Zags

INDIANAPOLIS � Gonzaga assistant Bill Grier had just informed the official scorer of the Bulldogs' lineup changes for the start of the second half of Saturday's Wooden Tradition basketball matchup against Illinois.

Gonzaga faces Illinois

INDIANAPOLIS � The timing still isn't great, but it could have been much worse. Gonzaga University could have drawn fifth-ranked Illinois a week or so earlier while the NCAA was still debating the eligibility status of J.

Turiaf's 40 points tip scale

Guarding Gonzaga's Ronny Turiaf can be hazardous to your playing time, as well as your ego. Just ask Idaho's Mike Kale, who was assigned that thankless task Wednesday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center and fouled out after logging only 7 minutes on the court.

Staying power

George Pfeifer, the highly successful and well-respected men's basketball coach at Lewis-Clark State College, had just watched his NAIA Warriors get roasted by Gonzaga University in a preseason exhibition at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga returns to form

Faced with a short turnaround and some major defensive issues, Mark Few wasn't sure what to expect from his Gonzaga University men's basketball team in Sunday afternoon's non-conference showdown against Montana.

Few: Bear down on Griz

Mark Few is hoping to see his Gonzaga Bulldogs ratchet up the defensive passion today when they play host to the University of Montana in a 2 p.

GU signs blue-chip guard from Illinois; academic status up in air

Jeremy Pargo, considered one of the best prep guards in Illinois, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for Gonzaga University next fall.

Zags win to open McCarthey era

Mark Few didn't even try to defend his Gonzaga Bulldogs' effort on defense Friday night. "It was absolutely the worst I've seen in my 16 years here," the Zags sixth-year head basketball coach said.

PSU looks tougher this time

Twenty-two months ago, this didn't seem like a rivalry worth revisiting. But a lot has changed since that dismal January evening in 2003, when Gonzaga University rolled into Memorial Coliseum and overwhelmed a grossly undermanned Portland State men's basketball team 87-49.

Knight out; Pendergraft likely to lose redshirt

Gonzaga University guard Erroll Knight injured the thumb on his shooting hand at practice and will not play in tonight's season-opening basketball game against Portland State.

Gonzaga tips off in style

Gonzaga University got most of what it wanted out of Friday night's basketball exhibition against Emporia State. Along with a lopsided 114-86 win, the Bulldogs got a chance to shake off the competitive cobwebs, expose a few early season warts and unofficially christen the McCarthey Athletic Center, their new 6,000-seat arena, in grand style.

Former Zags hoping they make cut in NBA

Back when they were basketball teammates on the Gonzaga University men's basketball team, Dan Dickau, Blake Stepp and Cory Violette used to occasionally golf together.

Gonzaga signs California prep standout

Larry Gurganious, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound senior-to-be at Saint Mary's High School in Berkeley, Calif. , has made an oral commitment to play basketball for Gonzaga University next winter.

Gonzaga's Turiaf on preseason Wooden Award list

Gonzaga University senior Rony Turiaf is one of 50 players named to the preseason list for the men's John R. Wooden Award for college basketball.

Morrison selected to USA squad

Gonzaga University sophomore Adam Morrison, a graduate of Mead High, was named to the 12-member USA Young Men's Qualifying team, USA Basketball announced Friday from East Rutherford, N.

GU's Morrison appears to lock up spot

Gonzaga University sophomore Adam Morrison of Mead is one of 13 candidates for the 12-member USA Young Men's Qualifying Team, USA Basketball announced Wednesday. The finalists for the USA Basketball 20-and-under squad will continue training at the New Jersey Nets' practice facility in East Rutherford, N.

Morrison among 16 finalists

Gonzaga University sophomore Adam Morrison remains in the hunt for one of the 12 roster spots on the 2004 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Team after cuts were made on Sunday at a tryout in East Rutherford, N.

Bulldogs set another demanding schedule

Gonzaga University didn't exactly go national in its attempt to schedule a men's basketball opponent for next season's dedication of the Bulldogs' new 6,000-seat home arena.

Stepp strengthens growing tradition

The Gonzaga men's basketball team has spoiled us. Not long ago, we got excited when the Bulldogs were picked to play in the National Invitational Tournament.

Draft day just another day in the life of Stepp, who's headed to Minneapolis

As it turns out, Thursday's NBA draft unfolded rather uneventfully for Blake Stepp. The former Gonzaga University standout, after talking to his agent, knew going in that he was destined to be a late second-round selection.

Stepp gets the draft call

Gonzaga University's Blake Stepp, a four-year starter and two-time West Coast Conference player of the year, was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of Thursday's National Basketball Association draft.