Mark Few Reflects on Gonzaga’s NCAA Tournament Win Over Kennesaw State
It wasn’t pretty, and certainly not easy, but for Gonzaga, the goal in the NCAA Tournament is simple: survive and advance. The Bulldogs did just that with a hard-fought win over Kennesaw State in the first round on Thursday.
The game was filled with missed shots, controversial officiating, and moments of frustration, making for anything but a smooth performance from the Bulldogs. However, with the Moda Center packed with Gonzaga supporters, the team hung on until the final buzzer to secure their spot in the next round.
Here’s what head coach Mark Few had to say after the game:
On Not Taking NCAA Tournament Wins for Granted
“I always understand how tough it is to win a game. I’m really proud of our streak—27 straight NCAA Tournament appearances—and the fact that we’ve won games in 17 consecutive tournaments. Winning is tough, and I’m just happy we got through this one. It wasn’t pretty, but the important thing is we moved on.”
On the Turning Point Late in the First Half
“We started doing a better job of rebounding and getting back to attacking the paint with more force on offense. We were too soft earlier, not drawing fouls or creating any advantages. But once we got some stops, we were able to run and attack.”
On Tyon Grant-Foster’s Shot-Blocking
“The best part about Tyon is that when there’s a breakdown, he’s the kind of player who can step in and make a play. Tonight, there were several times where we missed an assignment, and Tyon was there to save us. It’s also great having someone who rebounds the ball the way he does.”
On Jalen Warley’s Versatility
“Jalen is incredibly versatile. He can play any position, from one through five, on both offense and defense. The key thing is he makes plays. When they switched to a 1-3-1 zone, we made a couple mistakes, and Jalen stepped in and made plays. That’s a big strength for us.”
Leave a Reply