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Gonzaga itching to play again after WCC title game loss

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer

SALT LAKE CITY — Gonzaga enters the NCAA Tournament following a loss for one of the rare times under coach Mark Few.

The dominant team in the West Coast Conference for two decades, the Zags lost to Saint Mary's in the conference title game last week in Las Vegas.

The players have put it behind them.

Few hasn't completely — and may never.

"I would say that is definitely not my strong suit," Few said Wednesday. "As a flawed human being, that would be an area I can work on better."

Gonzaga never was able to establish its up-tempo style in the title game and the Gaels rolled to a 60-47 win to earn the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The loss ended the Zags' 21-game winning streak and their six-year reign as WCC tournament champions, but didn't dissuade the NCAA Tournament selection committee from giving them the No. 1 seed in the West Region.

Gonzaga (30-3) opens tournament play Thursday in Salt Lake City against No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson (21-13).

The Zags are expected to roll over the Knights, but will take nothing for granted, particularly after seeing No. 1 Virginia lose to No. 16 Maryland-Baltimore County a year ago at this stage. Gonzaga also is entering the NCAA Tournament after a loss for the first time since 2012.

"As a one seed, everyone is coming after you and they want to beat you," Gonzaga guard Josh Perkins said. "They will come in here with nothing to lose, play with reckless abandon. Being a one seed, we have to know that going in and master intensity and control what we can control."

The Knights twice trailed by 13 in their First Four game against Prairie View A&M before rallying for an 82-76 victory and the program's first NCAA Tournament win.

Fairleigh Dickinson coach Greg Herenda, who was ill with life-threatening blood clots less than a year ago, danced on the court following the victory, but quickly turned his attention to Gonzaga. The Knights arrived in Salt Lake City late Tuesday night and had their team meeting at 2 a.m. before practicing Wednesday afternoon.

"We have to stop celebrating," he said. "You'll be able to celebrate the first NCAA victory for Fairleigh Dickinson University for the rest of your lives. Now we have 24 hours to prepare for a team that is really, really good."

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