Nearly two years later, Mick Cronin still hasn’t watched the video of Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs’ 40-footer at the buzzer that handed the Bruins a 93-90 overtime loss at the 2021 Final Four in Indianapolis. The Bruins’ fourth-year head coach watched video of that instant classic and Gonzaga’s 83-63 rout over UCLA last season at T-Mobile Arena, but he froze the image after Johnny Juzang scored on a putback with 3.3 seconds remaining. “You mean that shot?” Cronin said. “I studied the game (Monday night). I hit the pause as soon as we tied it. What do I need to watch that for – you think I’m a masochist?”
Drew Timme has known UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. for years, dating back to their days as prep standouts. They were roommates at the Ballislife All-American game and caught up at the ESPYS when Gonzaga’s pulsating 93-90 overtime against the Bruins in the 2021 Final Four won “Best Game” award. Their friendship is taking Thursday night off when third-seeded Gonzaga tangles with No. 2 UCLA at T-Mobile Arena.
The fact that Adam Morrison’s tears created a flood of mockery seems one of the historic low moments for that faction of wrong-headed sports observers.
It’s become a popular route for Gonzaga players upon checking out of games. They’ll trade words with Mark Few. They’ll go down the line of folding chairs exchanging high-fives and fist bumps with teammates. Finally, they’ll stop at the end of the bench and pull up a seat next to the team’s first-year student assistant.
The Zags have certainly seen the nastier side of social media, which presents a double-edged sword for student-athletes. They’ve grown up in the social media age, so they’re accustomed to adoration that typically follows a good performance and biting criticism that rolls in if they or their team have a subpar showing. No topic appears to be off limits.
When TCU took a five-point lead over Gonzaga at halftime of Sunday night’s West regional game, there likely were some nervous bettors who put money on the Bulldogs.
DENVER – Over the course of 40 minutes in Denver’s high altitude, Drew Timme was the Gonzaga player consistently making the hustle plays, spilling his sweat in the post and expending the energy that was needed to match the physicality and athleticism of TCU.
Michigan State, Xavier, Kent State, San Francisco, Santa Clara, BYU twice. Add TCU to the list. Gonzaga trailed in the second half of those games, often in the closing minutes or even seconds, before finding a way to get to the finish line first.
