Skip Navigation

ZagOn: Gonzaga's COVID-19 Response

Information on booster and testing requirements for the start of the Spring semester. Plus FAQs, dashboard, and more. Visit gonzaga.edu/ZagOn

  • University Navigation University Navigation
  • Search Button
Search Button
s
Close Menu

Gonzaga Home

  • About
  • Academics
  • Admission
  • Student Life
  • Athletics
  • myGU

College & Schools

  • Online Graduate Programs
  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • School of Business Administration
  • School of Education
  • School of Engineering & Applied Science
  • School of Law
  • School of Leadership Studies
  • School of Nursing & Human Physiology

Info For

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Military & Veterans
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Our Community
  • Basketball Fans
Visit
Apply
Give
Close Menu
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
  • Search Button
  • Toggle Menu
News, Events & Stories Menu
  • News
  • Events
  • Stories
  • Publications
  • Galleries
News

News

Close Menu
Events

Events

Close Menu
Stories

Stories

Close Menu
Publications

Publications

Close Menu
Galleries

Galleries

Close Menu
  • Home
  • News, Events & Stories
  • Stories
  • Zags Women and Men Dancing in NCAA Tournament Again

Zags' Women, Men Dancin' in NCAA Tournament Again

Corey Kispert and Jill Townsend taking it to the hoop. (GU photos)

March 16, 2021
|
Gonzaga News Service

SPOKANE, Wash. — It’s March and that means Madness as the Gonzaga men’s and women’s basketball teams compete in the NCAA Tournament, again, on Saturday and Monday, respectively, with the men earning the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in program history.

This marks the 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament berth (23rd overall) for the men — one of the four No. 1 seeds for the fourth time in program history — and the 12th overall for the women who secured a No. 5 seed, tied for the highest in program history.

Men

Atop the West bracket, the undefeated (26-0) men will face the winner of Thursday’s First Four game between Appalachian State and Norfolk State game at 6:20 p.m. PDT on Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the city where the entire men’s tournament will be held this year due to the pandemic.

The game will be on TBS. If the Zags win, they will take on the winner of Saturday’s No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Missouri game on Monday.

Led by Coach Mark Few, the Zags are first in the nation in scoring offense (92.1), field goal percentage (55.1), two-point percentage (63.9), scoring margin (23.0) and points in the paint (51.2).

The Zags’ 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids mark the third-longest current streak in the nation (Kansas 31 and Michigan State 23). The Zags are 34-22 all-time in 21 previous NCAA Tournament appearances with 10 trips to the Sweet 16, four trips to the Elite Eight, one Final Four and one national championship game.

Gonzaga is 31-20 in the NCAA Tournament under Coach Few with a berth in all 21 seasons in his career as a head coach. GU is the last unbeaten team in the nation, and one of 29 teams in Division I history to end the regular season unbeaten. The Zags’ 30 straight wins (a program record) is the longest active streak in nation, along with its 21 straight conference wins.

Women

In the Tournament’s Mercado region, the No. 5-seed (23-3) Zags and will face No. 12-seed Belmont (20-5) at 1 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 22, in San Marcos, Texas. The game will be on ESPN2. If the Zags win, they will take on the winner of Monday’s No. 4 Indiana vs. No. 13 VCU game on Wednesday.

Led by sixth-year Coach Lisa Fortier, Gonzaga returns to the NCAA Tournament for its fourth-straight season (excluding the 2020 NCAA Tournament that was cancelled due to the pandemic).

Gonzaga defeated Brigham Young 43-42 on a last-second shot by Jill Townsend to capture the Zags’ ninth West Coast Conference tournament title.

In 11 previous NCAA Tournament appearances, Gonzaga has advanced to the Elite Eight once (2011), and the Sweet 16 four times: 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. GU is 11-11 in the NCAA Tournament. In its last NCAA tournament (2019), Gonzaga advanced to the second round before falling to No. 4 seed Oregon State 76-70.

Hope, Excitement Abound on Gonzaga Day

The Gonzaga community worldwide united on March 11 to “Celebrate Hope,” the theme for the virtual festivities for the University's 9th annual Gonzaga Day. Thousands of Zags shared photos and videos, engaged on GU social media channels and 513 people entered to win Zag Swag packages.

Other Highlights:

  • Nearly 20 alumni and friends’ chapters created social media campaigns and shared stories celebrating hope
  • 474 downloads of the Zag Nation Mobile App during the week (adding to a total of over 2,000 users)
  • The Seattle alumni chapter hosted a socially distanced service project benefiting St. Vincent de Paul in Seattle
  • 47 alumni and friends supported 43 students in their career search and networking in the Bay Area Trek with virtual “visits” to Facebook, Google, Salesforce, InkHouse, Square, Stryker, DocuSign and Trinity Alps Capital Partners

 

Follow the Zags

Gonzaga alumni, parents, fans and friends can find everything related to the Zags in the NCAA Tournament at: gonzaga.edu/gonzaga-basketball.

With in-person events not being possible due to the pandemic, alumni relations is planning several opportunities to celebrate our women’s and men’s teams in new ways including:

  • Virtual pre-game rally events
  • “Zag Swag” give-a-way times both on campus and virtually on game days, discounted apparel promotions in partnership with the Zag Shop and more
  • Watch your email this week for updates and event details 
  • Download the Zag Nation Alumni and Friends mobile App to receive immediate tournament updates
  • Download an app for game-time live chat events
  • Print Go Zags signs and men’s and women’s player trading cards to join the fun
Share Story
Related Stories
  • Zags' Women, Men Dancin' in NCAA Tournament Again
  • Zags Women, Men Dancin' in NCAA Tournament
  • Zags Women, Men Dancin' in NCAA Tournament
  • The Secret Sauce of Mike Roth

Categories

  • Student Life
  • Alumni
  • University Advancement
  • News Center

Subscribe

Subscribe to Messages from Gonzaga University


First Name
Last Name
Email Address *

Get the latest news sent to you as soon as it is published. While the frequency of these emails varies, you’ll typically receive between two and five emails per week, depending on the time of year.

A monthly newsletter sent from August through June that highlights some of our best news, stories and events.


Back to Top
Visit
Apply
Give
Quick Links
  • Maps & Directions
  • Employment at GU
  • Emergency Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Title IX
  • Consumer Information
  • ZagMail
  • Contact Us
  • Harassment & Discrimination Policy
  • Virtual Tour
  • myGU Intranet
Gonzaga University
502 East Boone Avenue
Spokane, WA 99258-0102
(800) 986.9585
A Jesuit, Catholic, Humanistic University
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube