Mark Few’s Thoughts After Gonzaga’s Loss to Houston in the NCAA Tournament
A season filled with close calls for the Gonzaga Bulldogs ended with another narrow defeat, this time in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament to the top-seeded Houston Cougars.
After dominating Georgia in the first round, the 8-seeded Zags seemed poised for a tough challenge against the Cougars. Houston, led by senior guard LJ Cryer, took control early, leading by as many as 14 points late in the first half. Gonzaga struggled to find offensive rhythm against Houston’s No. 2 scoring defense.
As the game went on, Gonzaga fought back, showing resilience until the final buzzer sounded on a season full of near-misses and missed opportunities. Graham Ike’s impressive second-half performance helped the Zags chip away at the deficit, even when it seemed like Houston was on the verge of closing the game out. Ike and Ryan Nembhard combined for 16 straight points, cutting the lead to just three with 30 seconds remaining.
The team had been prepared for such moments throughout the season, practicing late-game scenarios. “Zag time” had become a key part of their identity after several near-victories during the regular season. Unfortunately, the game’s early moments were pivotal, and despite a late rally, Gonzaga fell short, with Houston winning 81-76 to advance to their sixth consecutive Sweet 16.
Here’s what Mark Few had to say after the game:
On his team’s effort to make the game close: “It ended up being a fantastic basketball game, especially how our guys fought back. I’m incredibly proud of their resilience. We gave ourselves a chance at the end. Houston was everything we expected, especially in the first 10 minutes and at the start of the second half.”
“We made enough plays to stay in it. Our offense kept us afloat, but we couldn’t string together enough stops to get over the hump. We just came up one possession short.”
On overcoming adversity earlier in the season and against Houston: “I told the team afterward, they really showed their character. From where we were in mid-January to now, after taking some tough losses, they never had a bad practice. They kept their heads up, stayed together, and kept improving. We got so much better.”
“I ran into Kelvin out there, and it’s a shame we met so early in the tournament. He said if they’re a 1-seed, we’re a 1B, and that’s how it felt. We had our opportunities but didn’t capitalize on them, so we had to make it harder on ourselves.”
“I’m just grateful for this group. They’ve shown what they’re made of—high character, winners, and easy to coach. It’s been a blessing as a head coach.”
On Ryan Nembhard’s impact over the last two years: “Ryan has been incredible. He’s one of the best guards I’ve ever coached. He’s got the heart of a champion, always going, always delivering. Even when we thought about pulling him, I said, ‘No way, we need him out there.’”
“Every time they went on a run, Ryan hit big shots. He played great defense and delivered under pressure. His 11 assists tonight, against that kind of defense, was amazing.”
“I think Ryan’s the best point guard in college basketball, and I’ve coached some great ones. Coaches facing him would probably agree. We don’t need awards if the voters don’t know what they’re talking about anyway.”
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