Friday, March 17
Denver, CO
4:35 p.m.
Gonzaga University
vs
14-seed Grand Canyon
Photo by: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
MBB and Grand Canyon Meet in First Round
3/14/2023 1:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Zags and ‘Lopes meet for first-time ever
3-seed Gonzaga (28-5) vs. 14-seed Grand Canyon (24-11)
FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 4:35 P.M. PT | BALL ARENA | DENVER, CO
TELEVISION: truTV
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE RADIO | LIVE STATS
THE TIP OFF
- Gonzaga will meet Grand Canyon on Friday at 4:35 p.m. Pacific, in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in the Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. It's the Zags' first-ever meeting with Grand Canyon.
- GU is making its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance and 25th overall. The 24 straight berths to the field are the third-longest current streak in the nation (Kansas 33 and Michigan State 25).
- The Zags are 41-24 all-time in the 24 previous NCAA Tournament appearances with 12 trips to the Sweet 16, five trips to the Elite Eight, two Final Fours and two appearances in the national championship game.
- Gonzaga is the third seed in the West Region.
- The Zags are 38-22 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Few with a berth in all 24 seasons.
- Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round NCAA Tournament game each of the last 13 tournaments, Kansas is the other at 15. The Zags are the only program to appear in the last seven Sweet 16s.
- The Bulldogs have the most wins in the NCAA Tournament since 2017, going 17-5, Kansas is next at 15-4. GU's 22 wins in the tournament since 2015 is also the most, with Villanova and North Carolina second at 21.
- Gonzaga has earned more NCAA Tournament "units" than any program in the country in the last five seasons.
- The Bulldogs are 32-18 all-time as a single-digit seed, with a 15-2 record in first round games.
- GU plays in Denver in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. In 2011 in the Pepsi Center, the Zags upset 6-seeded St. John's in the first round, 86-71, before falling to 3-seeded BYU in the second round. In 2016, Gonzaga upset 6-seeded Seton Hall 68-52 and 3-seeded Utah 82-59 in the first and second rounds.
- In 2021-22, top-seeded GU defeated 16th-seeded Georgia State (93-72) and ninth-seeded Memphis (82-78) in Portland, Ore., advancing to the Sweet 16 in San Francisco, where it fell to fourth-seeded Arkansas (68-74).
- Gonzaga clinched its 16th straight 25-win season, which is now the NCAA Div. 1 record.
- GU leads the country averaging 87.5 points per game and shooting 52.9 percent from the field. The Zags are also first in effective field goal percentage (.592) and top KenPom's ratings in offensive efficiency.
- Drew Timme is second in the nation with 272 made field goals and is eighth with 689 points. His 20.9 points per game rank 15th in the nation. Timme and Anton Watson are first and second in the WCC in field goal percentage at 62.4 and 61.4 percent. Watson is second in two-point field goal percentage at 67.2 percent. Nolan Hickman is second with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Anton Watson is second averaging 1.88 steals.
- Timme was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, while Malachi Smith was named the Sixth Man of the Year. Timme and Julian Strawther earned First Team All-WCC honors.
- Timme was named First Team All-American by Sporting News, and to the Wooden Award National Ballot. He is also a Malone Award Finalist (nation's top power forward), an award he won in 2021, while Strawther is a Julius Erving Award Finalist (nation's top small forward).
- The Bulldogs are 11-4 versus Quad 1 and 2 opponents this season, going 6-4 against Quad 1. Five of GU's six Quad 1 victories are against ranked foes. Gonzaga faced nine opponents that are in this year's tournament field.
- The Bulldogs claimed a share of their 11th straight West Coast Conference regular season title, the longest active streak in the nation, along with winning their fourth straight WCC Tournament title.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
- Gonzaga is making its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 25th overall.
- The 24 straight berths to the field are the third-longest current streak in the nation (Kansas and Michigan State), and the sixth-longest in NCAA Div. 1 history.
The Zags are 41-24 all-time in their 24 NCAA Tournament appearances with 12 trips to the Sweet 16, five trips to the Elite Eight, two Final Fours and two appearances in the national championship game.
- GU is 38-22 in the NCAA Tournament under Mark Few with a berth in all 24 seasons of his head coaching career.
- The Bulldogs have the most wins in the NCAA Tournament since 2017, going 17-5, Kansas is next at 15-4. GU's 22 wins in the tournament since 2015 is also the most, with Villanova and North Carolina second at 21. Duke and Kansas both have 19.
- Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round NCAA Tournament game each of the last 13 tournaments, Kansas is the other at 15.
- The Bulldogs are 32-18 all-time as a single-digit seed, with a 15-2 record in first round games as a single-digit seed.
- The Zags receive a three-seed for the third time in program history, with the last coming in 2006 when they advanced to the Sweet 16.
- Gonzaga plays in Denver in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. In 2011 in the Pepsi Center, the Zags upset 6-seeded St. John's in the first round, 86-71, before falling to 3-seeded BYU in the second round. In 2016, Gonzaga upset 6-seeded Seton Hall 68-52 and 3-seeded Utah 82-59 in the first and second rounds.
- In 2021-22, top-seeded Gonzaga defeated 16th-seeded Georgia State (93-72) and ninth-seeded Memphis (82-78) in Portland, Ore. The Zags then advanced to the Sweet 16 in San Francisco, where it fell to fourth-seeded Arkansas (68-74).
MADE FOR MARCH
- Drew Timme has 204 total points in the NCAA tournament, making him the all-time GU leading scorer in the tourney. He has 80 made field goals in the tournament, which also leads GU in tourney all-time.
- Timme's 43 made free-throws during the tournament tops the program, while his 61 attempted free throws are second. He is fourth with 73 rebounds.
- Anton Watson is tied for third in program history with 12 steals in the NCAA Tournament in his career.
SCOUTING THE 'LOPES
- The 'Lopes won the Western Athletic Conference tournament title Saturday, beating third-seeded Southern Utah, 84-66. GCU entered as the fifth-seed.
- Ray Harrison was named the tournament's Most Oustanding Player after leading Grand Canyon with a game-high 31 points, going 5-of-7 from three-point range. He added eight rebounds and eight assists. Gabe McGlothan scored 21 points, and Noah Baumann chipped in 16 with five three-pointers. Yvan Ouedraogo grabbed 13 rebounds. GCU made 13 three-pointers and had 23 assists on its 30 made shots from the field.
- Harrison averages a team-high 17.7 points and 3.6 assists per game. He is third in the WAC in scoring. McGlothan adds 12.8 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game, which is second in the WAC. Chance McMillan is scoring 10.7 points per game.
- Harrison, a sophomore transfer from Presbyterian, was named First Team All-WAC. McGlothan was named Second Team and All-Tournament Team.
- GCU leads the WAC averaging nine threes per game.
- The Lopes are on a six-game winning streak with 50 percent shooting or better in each game.
- In its only other appearance in the tournament, GCU fell to second-seeded Iowa two years ago as a No. 15 seed, 86-74.
SERIES NOTES
- This is the first all-time meeting between Gonzaga and Grand Canyon.
- The Zags are 15-20 all-time against current members from the Western Athletic Conference, including 8-20 against Seattle University.
- In the last matchup against a WAC opponent, Gonzaga beat Tarleton State last season, 64-55, in Spokane on Nov. 29, 2021.
UP NEXT
- With a victory, Gonzaga would advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- The Zags would play the winner between Texas Christian and the victor of the play-in game with Arizona State and Nevada Sunday.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Drew Timme ranks first in program history with 2,210 points and is tied for fifth with 859 rebounds. He is 27 points from passing Pepperdine's Colbey Ross for fifth on the WCC all-time career scoring list.
- Anton Watson is ninth all-time in GU history with 157 steals in his career. He needs one more for eighth and two for seventh. Watson is also one steal from fifth for most in a single season.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 4:35 P.M. PT | BALL ARENA | DENVER, CO
TELEVISION: truTV
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE RADIO | LIVE STATS
THE TIP OFF
- Gonzaga will meet Grand Canyon on Friday at 4:35 p.m. Pacific, in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in the Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. It's the Zags' first-ever meeting with Grand Canyon.
- GU is making its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearance and 25th overall. The 24 straight berths to the field are the third-longest current streak in the nation (Kansas 33 and Michigan State 25).
- The Zags are 41-24 all-time in the 24 previous NCAA Tournament appearances with 12 trips to the Sweet 16, five trips to the Elite Eight, two Final Fours and two appearances in the national championship game.
- Gonzaga is the third seed in the West Region.
- The Zags are 38-22 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Few with a berth in all 24 seasons.
- Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round NCAA Tournament game each of the last 13 tournaments, Kansas is the other at 15. The Zags are the only program to appear in the last seven Sweet 16s.
- The Bulldogs have the most wins in the NCAA Tournament since 2017, going 17-5, Kansas is next at 15-4. GU's 22 wins in the tournament since 2015 is also the most, with Villanova and North Carolina second at 21.
- Gonzaga has earned more NCAA Tournament "units" than any program in the country in the last five seasons.
- The Bulldogs are 32-18 all-time as a single-digit seed, with a 15-2 record in first round games.
- GU plays in Denver in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. In 2011 in the Pepsi Center, the Zags upset 6-seeded St. John's in the first round, 86-71, before falling to 3-seeded BYU in the second round. In 2016, Gonzaga upset 6-seeded Seton Hall 68-52 and 3-seeded Utah 82-59 in the first and second rounds.
- In 2021-22, top-seeded GU defeated 16th-seeded Georgia State (93-72) and ninth-seeded Memphis (82-78) in Portland, Ore., advancing to the Sweet 16 in San Francisco, where it fell to fourth-seeded Arkansas (68-74).
- Gonzaga clinched its 16th straight 25-win season, which is now the NCAA Div. 1 record.
- GU leads the country averaging 87.5 points per game and shooting 52.9 percent from the field. The Zags are also first in effective field goal percentage (.592) and top KenPom's ratings in offensive efficiency.
- Drew Timme is second in the nation with 272 made field goals and is eighth with 689 points. His 20.9 points per game rank 15th in the nation. Timme and Anton Watson are first and second in the WCC in field goal percentage at 62.4 and 61.4 percent. Watson is second in two-point field goal percentage at 67.2 percent. Nolan Hickman is second with a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Anton Watson is second averaging 1.88 steals.
- Timme was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, while Malachi Smith was named the Sixth Man of the Year. Timme and Julian Strawther earned First Team All-WCC honors.
- Timme was named First Team All-American by Sporting News, and to the Wooden Award National Ballot. He is also a Malone Award Finalist (nation's top power forward), an award he won in 2021, while Strawther is a Julius Erving Award Finalist (nation's top small forward).
- The Bulldogs are 11-4 versus Quad 1 and 2 opponents this season, going 6-4 against Quad 1. Five of GU's six Quad 1 victories are against ranked foes. Gonzaga faced nine opponents that are in this year's tournament field.
- The Bulldogs claimed a share of their 11th straight West Coast Conference regular season title, the longest active streak in the nation, along with winning their fourth straight WCC Tournament title.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
- Gonzaga is making its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 25th overall.
- The 24 straight berths to the field are the third-longest current streak in the nation (Kansas and Michigan State), and the sixth-longest in NCAA Div. 1 history.
The Zags are 41-24 all-time in their 24 NCAA Tournament appearances with 12 trips to the Sweet 16, five trips to the Elite Eight, two Final Fours and two appearances in the national championship game.
- GU is 38-22 in the NCAA Tournament under Mark Few with a berth in all 24 seasons of his head coaching career.
- The Bulldogs have the most wins in the NCAA Tournament since 2017, going 17-5, Kansas is next at 15-4. GU's 22 wins in the tournament since 2015 is also the most, with Villanova and North Carolina second at 21. Duke and Kansas both have 19.
- Gonzaga is one of only two teams to win its opening-round NCAA Tournament game each of the last 13 tournaments, Kansas is the other at 15.
- The Bulldogs are 32-18 all-time as a single-digit seed, with a 15-2 record in first round games as a single-digit seed.
- The Zags receive a three-seed for the third time in program history, with the last coming in 2006 when they advanced to the Sweet 16.
- Gonzaga plays in Denver in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. In 2011 in the Pepsi Center, the Zags upset 6-seeded St. John's in the first round, 86-71, before falling to 3-seeded BYU in the second round. In 2016, Gonzaga upset 6-seeded Seton Hall 68-52 and 3-seeded Utah 82-59 in the first and second rounds.
- In 2021-22, top-seeded Gonzaga defeated 16th-seeded Georgia State (93-72) and ninth-seeded Memphis (82-78) in Portland, Ore. The Zags then advanced to the Sweet 16 in San Francisco, where it fell to fourth-seeded Arkansas (68-74).
MADE FOR MARCH
- Drew Timme has 204 total points in the NCAA tournament, making him the all-time GU leading scorer in the tourney. He has 80 made field goals in the tournament, which also leads GU in tourney all-time.
- Timme's 43 made free-throws during the tournament tops the program, while his 61 attempted free throws are second. He is fourth with 73 rebounds.
- Anton Watson is tied for third in program history with 12 steals in the NCAA Tournament in his career.
SCOUTING THE 'LOPES
- The 'Lopes won the Western Athletic Conference tournament title Saturday, beating third-seeded Southern Utah, 84-66. GCU entered as the fifth-seed.
- Ray Harrison was named the tournament's Most Oustanding Player after leading Grand Canyon with a game-high 31 points, going 5-of-7 from three-point range. He added eight rebounds and eight assists. Gabe McGlothan scored 21 points, and Noah Baumann chipped in 16 with five three-pointers. Yvan Ouedraogo grabbed 13 rebounds. GCU made 13 three-pointers and had 23 assists on its 30 made shots from the field.
- Harrison averages a team-high 17.7 points and 3.6 assists per game. He is third in the WAC in scoring. McGlothan adds 12.8 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game, which is second in the WAC. Chance McMillan is scoring 10.7 points per game.
- Harrison, a sophomore transfer from Presbyterian, was named First Team All-WAC. McGlothan was named Second Team and All-Tournament Team.
- GCU leads the WAC averaging nine threes per game.
- The Lopes are on a six-game winning streak with 50 percent shooting or better in each game.
- In its only other appearance in the tournament, GCU fell to second-seeded Iowa two years ago as a No. 15 seed, 86-74.
SERIES NOTES
- This is the first all-time meeting between Gonzaga and Grand Canyon.
- The Zags are 15-20 all-time against current members from the Western Athletic Conference, including 8-20 against Seattle University.
- In the last matchup against a WAC opponent, Gonzaga beat Tarleton State last season, 64-55, in Spokane on Nov. 29, 2021.
UP NEXT
- With a victory, Gonzaga would advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
- The Zags would play the winner between Texas Christian and the victor of the play-in game with Arizona State and Nevada Sunday.
MILESTONE WATCH
- Drew Timme ranks first in program history with 2,210 points and is tied for fifth with 859 rebounds. He is 27 points from passing Pepperdine's Colbey Ross for fifth on the WCC all-time career scoring list.
- Anton Watson is ninth all-time in GU history with 157 steals in his career. He needs one more for eighth and two for seventh. Watson is also one steal from fifth for most in a single season.
Players Mentioned
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