Ayrton Oneill
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are an intercollegiate men's basketball programme representing Gonzaga University. They have made it to the NCAA Tournament every year since 1999, except in 2020 when March Madness was cancelled. In 2021, the Bulldogs made it to the national championship game but lost to Baylor, 86-70. This was the second time they had made it to the national championship game, having previously lost to North Carolina in 2017. Despite their sustained run of dominance, Gonzaga has never won a national championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gonzaga's basketball team name | Bulldogs |
| Year of first basketball game | 1905 |
| Year of first appearance in the NCAA tournament | 1999 |
| Number of consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament | 26 |
| Number of appearances in the national championship | 2 |
| Number of appearances in the final four | 2 |
| Number of appearances in the elite eight | 5 |
| Number of appearances in the sweet 16 | 11 |
| Number of WCC Player of the Year awards | 15 |
| Gonzaga's basketball home ground | McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington |
| Gonzaga's head coach | Mark Few |
| Outcome of the 2021 national championship game | Lost to Baylor Bears, 86-70 |
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What You'll Learn
Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball history
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are an intercollegiate men's basketball programme representing Gonzaga University. The team first introduced a basketball programme during the 1907–08 basketball season, though the season was not an official one. They achieved a record of 9–2 under head coach George M. Varnell, who became the first official coach for Gonzaga the following year, earning a 10–2 record.
The team has since compiled an impressive record, with 1477 wins and 732 losses as of the 2024-25 season. The Bulldogs have appeared in 27 NCAA tournaments, with 26 consecutive tournament appearances from 1999 to 2024. They have also made nine straight Sweet 16 appearances, the third-longest streak in NCAA Tournament history.
Gonzaga has had 15 of its players receive the WCC Player of the Year award, and two players, Frank Burgess and Adam Morrison, have led the nation in scoring. The team has established itself as a major basketball power, with a strong record in recent years. In 2021, however, they lost in the national championship game to Baylor, with a score of 86-70.
The Bulldogs play their home games at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington, on the university campus. The team's current success is a testament to the programme's long history and dedication to the sport, dating back to the early 20th century.
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Gonzaga's basketball tournament success
Gonzaga University's basketball programme has enjoyed much success in tournaments over the years, despite never winning a national championship. The Gonzaga Bulldogs, as the team is known, play their home games at the McCarthey Athletic Centre in Spokane, Washington. The team has made it to the national championship game twice, the final four twice, the elite eight five times, and the sweet 16 eleven times, including six out of the last seven years.
Gonzaga's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament was in 1999, where they made a deep run to the Elite Eight before losing to the top-seeded UConn. The Bulldogs have since made it to the tournament every year except 2020 when March Madness was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2014-15 season, the team advanced to the Elite Eight again, losing to the eventual national champion Duke. The 2015-16 season was less successful, with the team nearly missing the tournament entirely, but they still managed to make it to the Sweet Sixteen. The 2016-17 season was historic for Gonzaga, as they won their first 29 games and advanced to the school's first-ever championship game, losing to North Carolina.
The 2020-21 season was another historic year for the Bulldogs, as they went 26-0 in the regular season and were the final undefeated team in the country. They earned the top seed in the tournament and made it to the national championship game again, but their undefeated season came to an end with a loss to Baylor. In 2024, the Bulldogs continued their pursuit of their first-ever national championship, making their ninth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance and tying Duke for the third-longest streak in NCAA Tournament history.
Gonzaga's success in tournaments has established them as a major basketball power, with a strong rivalry against fellow West Coast Conference foe Saint Mary's. The two teams have consistently been the top two in the conference over the last two decades, combining to win 24 out of the last 26 conference championship games.
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Gonzaga's highest-scoring players
Despite their impressive basketballing history, Gonzaga has never won a national championship. They came close in 2021, but lost to the Baylor Bears 86-70 in the title game.
Now, let's take a look at some of the highest-scoring players in Gonzaga's history.
Burgess
Burgess is arguably the best player in Gonzaga's history. He is the school's all-time leader in career points (2,196), scoring average (28.1), made field goals (800), single-season scoring average (32.5 in 1960-61), and most points in a single game (52 vs. UC Davis in January 1961). He was a consensus All-American in 1961 and is one of only three Gonzaga players to have his jersey retired.
Calvary
Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, Calvary improved with each season he played for the Zags. By his senior year, he averaged 19 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, earning him WCC Player of the Year honours. Over his career, he totalled more than 1,500 points, made 569 field goals, and pulled down 757 rebounds. His 207 blocks are the most by any Bulldog in history.
Kelly Olynyk
Olynyk stood out on the floor with his long hair and skinny headband, and he put together a memorable junior season with the Zags after redshirting the 2011-12 campaign. He averaged 17.8 points on 62.9% shooting, pulled down 7.3 rebounds, and recorded 36 blocks. This performance earned him WCC Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American honours.
Pangos
Pangos, a fellow Canadian, is beloved by the Gonzaga basketball community. He started all but one of the 142 games he played for the Zags and is the school's all-time leader with 322 made 3-pointers. He also ranks among the top 10 in points (1,824), made field goals (566), assists (536), steals (177), and free throws.
Dickau
Although Dickau's college career didn't start at Gonzaga, he made a significant impact on the program during his two seasons with the team. He averaged 20.1 points, shooting 45.8% from the field and 46.5% from beyond the 3-point line.
Other notable mentions include Anton Watson, Nolan Hickman, and Graham Ike, who led the team to victory in 2024 with a synergistic performance, resulting in a 21-point lead and a 60% shooting percentage from the field.
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Gonzaga's basketball home games
Gonzaga University's basketball team, the Bulldogs, has never won a national championship. However, the team has enjoyed a sustained run of dominance with 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the third-longest streak in NCAA Tournament history.
Gonzaga's home basketball games are played at the McCarthey Athletic Center, located on the university's campus in Spokane, Washington. The arena, nicknamed "The Kennel," has a capacity of 6,000 seats and is known for its intimate atmosphere and raucous crowd support. The Bulldogs' passionate fan base, known as the "Zag Maniacs," are known for their enthusiastic cheers and creative chants, adding to the excitement of home games.
The McCarthey Athletic Center features a state-of-the-art video scoreboard, comfortable seating, and concession stands offering a variety of food and beverage options. The arena also houses the Bulldogs' team store, where fans can purchase Gonzaga merchandise, including jerseys, t-shirts, and other memorabilia. The team's home court features the Bulldogs' logo at centre court, with the words "Gonzaga Bulldogs" displayed prominently on the baselines.
Attending a Gonzaga Bulldogs home game offers a unique and exciting experience for basketball fans. The team's dedicated fan base, energetic atmosphere, and talented players come together to create a memorable game-day environment. The Bulldogs' home games are often sold out, with fans flocking to support their team and create a sea of red and blue, the team's signature colours, in the stands. The team's success over the years has only added to the excitement and anticipation surrounding their home games.
While the Bulldogs continue their pursuit of their first national championship, their home games remain a highlight of the college basketball season, attracting fans from across the region and beyond. The team's unwavering determination, coupled with the passionate support of their home crowd, sets the stage for thrilling basketball action at each home game.
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Gonzaga's basketball head coaches
Gonzaga University's men's basketball team has never won a national championship. However, the team has enjoyed a sustained run of dominance with 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the third-longest streak in NCAA Tournament history. This success has largely been attributed to the team's head coach, Mark Norman Few, who has been at the helm since 1999.
Few was born in Creswell, Oregon, in 1962, and was a star point guard at Creswell High School. He began his coaching career in 1983 as an unpaid part-time assistant at his alma mater, Creswell High School, and later worked at Oregon's summer basketball camps. In 1989, he joined the Gonzaga staff as a graduate assistant under Dan Fitzgerald and was promoted to a full-time assistant in 1990. During his time as an assistant, Few helped lead Gonzaga to its first four postseason appearances. In 1999, he was promoted to associate head coach and, later that year, became the head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
In his first two years as head coach, Few guided the Bulldogs to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, becoming only the second head coach to accomplish this feat since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Few has maintained this level of success throughout his tenure, leading the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament every season except 2019-20 when the tournament was canceled. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs have won at least a share of 22 West Coast Conference regular-season titles and 20 WCC tournament titles. They have also participated in the National Championship game twice, in 2017 and 2021, but fell short on both occasions.
In addition to his success with Gonzaga, Few has also coached at the international level. He was the head coach of the United States national team at the 2015 Pan American Games, where they won a bronze medal. Few was also elected as the assistant coach of the national select team in 2019, helping to prepare the squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Gonzaga has never won a national championship in basketball.
Gonzaga has made it to the national championship twice, losing to North Carolina in 2017 and Baylor in 2021.
Gonzaga has made 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the third-longest streak in the nation.
