Now comes the hard part for Gonzaga.
Less than 16 hours after walking off the floor with one of the most scintillating wins in the …
Now comes the hard part for Gonzaga. Less than 16 hours after walking off the floor with one of the most scintillating wins in the game’s history, the barely-still-undefeated Bulldogs returned to the practice court Sunday to get ready for the national championship game. Their opponent, Baylor, is rested, ready and waiting for a challenge. The meeting Monday is one most hoops fans have waited for all year — two years, really — a matchup between two teams who have been on a collision course since the bracket came out. No need for extra motivation here. But how do the Zags move on after THAT? « It’s a lot in 30 hours, but it is what it is, » Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. « My guys have been great at game preparations all season, so consistent with effort and the attention to detail on game night. So, we’re definitely banking on that. » To recap, Jalen Suggs banked in a shot from a step inside the midcourt line at the buzzer to lift the Zags to a 93-90 overtime victory over UCLA. The game ended after 11 p.m. Saturday. By the time that happened, Baylor (27-2) was back at the hotel. « We were probably like everyone else on the eighth floor of the hotel, » Baylor coach Scott Drew said of the reaction to The Shot. « Pandemonium erupted. » The Bears rolled over Houston 78-59 and, suddenly, they look every bit as unbeatable as the unbeaten Bulldogs (31-0). No team has come closer than nine points of Baylor over the three weeks in Indianapolis. This matchup has been a long time in the making. Had the COVID-19 pandemic not washed out the 2020 postseason, both these teams would have been No.1 seeds in last season’s NCAA Tournament.
