The Gonzaga Bulldogs entered March Madness as the favorites to win it all. With their twin towers of Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme, they looked poised to win it all. Their status as the first seed was a declaration of their talent.
Unfortunately, that first seed designation turned out to be a curse for Gonzaga yet again. After getting booted out of the tournament by the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Bulldogs have once again failed to win the NCAA Tournament as a top seed in the tournament. Ouch. (via ESPN Stats and Info)
Gonzaga has made 5 NCAA Tournament appearances as a No. 1 seed and has not won a title in those seasons. It’s tied for the most No. 1 seed appearances without a title, with Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/smo3kwKmhd
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 25, 2022
The Bulldogs were stymied by two things in particular: Arkansas' stellar defense and Chet Holmgren succumbing to foul trouble. The Razorbacks obviously did a great job defending their players, as only Timme was able to crack the 20-point barrier. However, Holmgren, one of the top prospects in this year's draft, was limited to only 11 points as he battled foul trouble.
This year serves as yet another painful reminder to Gonzaga that being the top seed doesn't guarantee you victory in the NCAA Tournament. We've already seen powerhouses like Kentucky and Murray State be knocked down by an unlikely foe. The single-elimination nature of March Madness forces teams to focus on every opponent. Slack off for even one game, and you're out of the tournament.
Some fans will inevitably complain about the questionable officiating on Holmgren, which has some merit. The Bulldogs were shafted at times with some bad calls. However, complaining does nothing. Mark Few now has to contemplate how to make his team competitive once Timme and Holmgren leave for the NBA.
Follow Us
Subscribe