WCC Basketball

Jalen Suggs knocked down one of the biggest shots in Final Four history on Saturday, banking in a half-court shot as time expired in overtime to lift No. 1 Gonzaga over No. 11 UCLA, 93-90, and keep the Bulldogs'  perfect season intact.  

Now 31-0, the Zags will face No. 1 Baylor for the national championship on Monday night—pitting the top two teams all season against each other at last. 

It's all thanks to Suggs, who picked up the ball with 3.3 seconds remaining after UCLA knotted things at 90, took three dribbles and let his shot fly into the history books. 

Gonzaga entered the Final Four as 14-point favorites, but couldn't find any separation from UCLA all night as Johnny Juzang, Tyger Campbell and Jamie Jaquez Jr. combined for 65 points and kept the game within three possessions all night. The Zags countered with 25 points from Drew Timme, 22 from Joel Ayayi and 16 from Suggs.

A likely lottery pick when the NBA draft rolls around this summer, Suggs shot is reminiscent of some of the most epic March Madness moments. This one goes up there with Christian Laettner over Kentucky, Mario Chalmers against Memphis, Kris Jenkins for the title against North Carolina and Lorenzo Charles over Houston. 

Suggs was in shock afterwards, telling the CBS broadcast he'd been missing his half-court heaves in practice lately, but Gonzaga head coach Mark Few gave him more credit than that, telling CBS that Suggs has always been the go-to guy whenever the team practices late-game situations like that.

On Saturday it paid off. It paid off for Few, for Suggs and for a Gonzaga program on the cusp of becoming the first undefeated national champions since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 en route to the title. 

The Bulldogs get their shot to join the Hoosiers on Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis thanks to Suggs. 

After leading Gonzaga to the first undefeated regular season in program history, Mark Few has been named the 2020-21 Naismith Men's Coach of the Year.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Few as the winner of the award on Friday. He issued a statement about receiving the honor:

"The Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year is an incredible honor. I'm very humbled by it because I'm surrounded by so many amazing coaches in our profession that I look up to and really hold in great reverence. Especially with the year we all have been through, I think everybody did an amazing job shepherding their teams through all the challenges. This really means a lot. It's great to be honored, and I appreciate it."

Few beat out fellow finalists Scott Drew of Baylor, Juwan Howard of Michigan and Nate Oats of Alabama. This marks the second time in his career that the 58-year-old has been named Naismith Men's Coach of the Year. The Oregon native previously won it in 2016-17 after a 32-1 regular season and a trip to the national title game. 

Gonzaga is two wins away from being the first men's program to finish undefeated since the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers.

The Bulldogs entered this season with high expectations after being ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25. They have held that position all season and earned the top overall seed in the NCAA men's tournament. 

Gonzaga leads the nation in scoring offense (91.6 points per game) and outscores opponents by an average of 23.1 points per game in 2020-21. Only one of its 30 games thus far have been decided by fewer than 10 points (87-82 against West Virginia on Dec. 2). 

Despite playing in a mid-major conference, Few has turned the West Coast Conference school into a national powerhouse since replacing Dan Monson as head coach prior to the 1999-2000 season. They have made 20 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament and has earned a No. 1 seed four times since 2012-13. 

Few will lead Gonzaga into the Final Four for the second time in school history. The Bulldogs will play UCLA on Saturday at 8:34 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to the championship game Monday. 

Gonzaga men's basketball secured a future backcourt star Friday when combo-guard Hunter Sallis joined its 2021 recruiting class, according to ESPN's Paul Biancardi.

The 5-star prospect is the No. 18 overall player, No. 2 combo-guard and No. 1 player from the state of Nebraska in the class of 2021, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Sallis, who checks in at 6'5" and 175 pounds, drew interest from a number of other teams throughout the recruiting process, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Louisville, UCLA and Nebraska.

There is plenty that immediately jumps out about his game, including his versatility as someone with both impressive ball-handling skills who can break down a defense off the bounce and the ability to score from the wing as a jump-shooter or slasher when there is open space.

Sallis also possesses the athleticism to get out in transition and finish above the rim when there is traffic.

That ability also helps him stay in front of opponents on the defensive side, and his quick hands help create turnovers and chances on the other end.

Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha World-Herald wrote:

"It's hard not to marvel at the athleticism. Everything is just so effortless with him. How he glides down the court on the break, or how he rises up to volleyball-spike a shot attempt into the stands, or how he sizes a guy up and bolts baseline for a layup. If you exhale for a second, Sallis makes you pay. And there's just so much room for him to grow."

If Sallis builds on that description during his collegiate career, he will likely be lacing it up in the NBA in the not-too-distant future.

He will also help the Bulldogs remain among the ranks of national title contenders. While 5-star recruits coming to Gonzaga may be a thing of recent history, the program has established itself among the upper echelon of men's basketball and is attempting to complete an undefeated season in the 2021 NCAA tournament.

Recruits like Sallis will help it remain among the country's best.

There was no stopping Pepperdine on Wednesday. 

The Waves absolutely cruised to an 84-61 win over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the College Basketball Invitational championship game, led by a huge night from Victor Ohia Obioha.  

While the Waves were flowing, everything went wrong for Coastal Carolina (18-8). They shot just 38 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers. 

Pepperdine (15-12) ended their season in style, meanwhile, cruising in the CBI with three straight double-digit wins. Not a bad showing for a team that traveled across the country to participate in the CBI in Daytona Beach and promptly played three games in four days. 

Finishing fourth in the WCC and winning the CBI for the first time in school history was a pretty darn good season for Lorenzo Romar's charges. The Waves will look to build on that result next season as they look to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2001-02 season. 

Key Stats

Victor Ohia Obioha, PEPP: 16 PTS, 6 REBS, 2 BLKS

Colbey Ross, PEPP: 15 PTS, 7 ASTS

Kessler Edwards, PEPP: 9 PTS, 6 REBS

DeVante' Jones, CCAR: 8 PTS, 5 REBS

Essam Mostafa, CCAR: 15 PTS, 5 REBS

Deanthony Tipler, CCAR: 16 PTS

Ohia Obioha Was Ballin' 

Ohia Obioha has had a nice CBI, putting up 13 points and 11 rebounds in Pepperdine's quarterfinal win over Longwood. But he saved his best for the championship game, with an incredibly efficient night (7-of-9 from the field). 

Pepperdine has relied on its top scorers, Colbey Ross (17.6 PPG) and Kessler Edwards (17.5 PPG) throughout the season. Ohia Obioha (5.1 PPG) has generally been an afterthought in that regard. But not on Wednesday. 

If the junior center can continue to progress on that end, the Waves might have a very solid player on their hands next season. 

A Tough Way To Close The Season For DeVante' Jones

Jones has been awesome this season, averaging 19.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, three assists and 2.8 steals per game. He didn't have that same magic against Pepperdine, however, as early foul trouble limited him on Wednesday. 

After putting up 25 points in a quarterfinals win over Bryant, Jones combined to score just 17 points in the last two games. That didn't keep Coastal Carolina from beating Stetson, but it was too much to overcome against a humming Pepperdine side. 

There's no shame in having a few tough games, especially after a season that saw you win Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. Expect Jones to tear it up in his senior year, too, especially after his junior campaign ended in disappointment. 

The No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament is into the second round after blowing by No. 16 Norfolk State for a 98-55 Gonzaga victory. 

It's the 12th straight tournament where Bulldogs head coach Mark Few has brought his team to the round of 32 as 2021 looks like his best chance to deliver a long-awaited title back to Spokane, Washington. Jalen Suggs and Drew Timme combined for just 16 points in the victory as an overmatched Spartans team could hardly keep up. 

Norfolk State (17-8) needed a career performance from reserve guard Jalen Hawkins to eek out a 54-53 victory over Appalachian State in the First Four for the right to face the Zags. That would prove to be the team's lone highlight in the NCAA tournament as the Spartans' second-ever appearance ends the same way their first did—with just one victory before elimination. 

The still undefeated Bulldogs (27-0) now move onto face No. 8 Oklahoma as Gonzaga attempts to reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight tournament.

Notable Performers

Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga Bulldogs: 23 PTS, 6-9 3PT, 5 REB 

Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga Bulldogs: 15 PTS, 9 REB

Devante Carter, G, Norfolk State Spartans: 12 PTS, 4 AST

Kyonze Chavis, G, Norfolk State Spartans: 12 PTS, 4 STL

Kispert in Control For Zags

Just when it looked like Gonzaga could be in for a bit of trouble after Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs fell into early foul trouble, Corey Kispert came to the rescue and then some for the top-seeded Bulldogs. 

In an epic first half performance, Kispert went 5-of-7 from behind the arc with 15 points as the Zags turned a one-point deficit with 12 minutes left in the first half into a 20-point lead at the break. None of the early bad breaks seemed to faze the Bulldogs even a little bit. 

As Suggs went to the bench early, Anton Watson came in and promptly went 4-for-4 from the field with five rebounds, two assists and a steal. 

Saturday night felt as much like a tune-up game for Gonzaga as anything else—even by No. 1 vs. No. 16 standards.

Mark Few's club spent much of the second half feeding the players who struggled in the first frame. They tossed lobs to Suggs to make sure he got a few highlights, fed Timme down low to make sure he got his post game working and cleared the way for freshman guard Julian Strawther to knock down a few shots from deep in order to get used to playing in the tournament. 

Rarely will postseason games look as easy as the Zags showed on Saturday night. Which is exactly why Few tried to take advantage in every way, turning an ugly start into a complete team win.

Yet before that could happen, it was Kispert who showed even if he's not the team's top option, he's reliable enough to keep the team afloat when things look rough.

Zags' Depth Too Much For Spartans

In theory, Norfolk State did everything it was supposed to if it wanted to upset Gonzaga on Saturday. 

The Spartans put likely lottery pick Suggs in foul trouble four minutes into the game and held him to just four points with 12 minutes remaining in regulation. NSU put forward Timme in early foul trouble, too, taking away another of Gonzaga's top playmakers. 

The Spartans even matched the Bulldogs with six turnovers in the first half.

None of it mattered. 

Not with Joel Ayayi, Kispert and Watson still on the floor. The trio combined for 30 points through 20 minutes as the Bulldogs took a 20 point lead into halftime. As much as Norfolk State did right, it couldn't keep up with the depth of Gonzaga.

The Spartans shot 27.3 percent from the floor in the first half to Gonzaga's 46.7 percent with NSU connecting on just three three-pointers. That was never going to be enough against the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament no matter how well the rest of Norfolk State's game plan worked. 

Getting the right breaks against Gonzaga won't be enough for any team in the tournament. The Spartans can take some solace there. 

Anything less than a perfect game against the Bulldogs won't lead to a victory. And even then it might not be enough to topple Few's best team in years.

What's Next

Gonzaga advance to face No. 8 Oklahoma in the second round Monday. No tipoff time was announced as of Saturday night. 

The NCAA will accommodate BYU's school policy of not competing in athletic events on Sundays should the Cougars reach the Sweet 16. 

The organization announced Monday the East's regional semifinals and final would move to Saturday, March 27 and Monday, March 29 if the Cougars win their first two games. The Midwest region, which is currently slated to compete on those days, would move its last two rounds to March 28 and 30.

"That contingency will only be utilized in the event that BYU were to advance to the Sweet 16," Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's senior vice president of basketball, said of the situation. "If they do not, then there would be no change to dates for any teams for regionals."

The situation may resolve itself, considering BYU has made just one Sweet 16 appearance (2011) since 1981.

The Cougars earned a No. 6 seed after finishing 20-6 in the regular season, and they sit 29th in ESPN.com's College Basketball Power Index.

The selection committee did BYU few favors since a first-round matchup with either Michigan State or UCLA awaits Saturday. The Spartans in particular could be a tough out, having registered upsets of Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan within the last month.

Should BYU move on, a date with third-seeded Texas could beckon in the second round.

Welcome to the Gonzaga bandwagon, where the ferocious Bulldogs are the furthest thing from underdogs.

Gonzaga's Tourney History

Although not a big-conference juggernaut, Gonzaga is a major March Madness mainstay.

The Bulldogs haven't missed an NCAA tournament this century, making the bracket every year since Mark Few took over as head coach in 1999.

Despite dancing for decades, Gonzaga is still pursuing its first national title. As a No. 1 seed, the Bulldogs reached the Final Four for the first time in 2017, only to lose to North Carolina in the championship game. They also stormed into the 2019 tournament as a top seed, but this looks to be Gonzaga's best squad yet.

This Year's Best Players

Jalen Suggs can solidify his case as a top-five pick in this year's NBA draft. The freshman guard is the perfect catalyst for an exciting, high-octane offense that can outscore anybody. Look for him to bring high energy to both sides of the court.

However, this is far from a one-man show. Forward Corey Kispert has emerged as a top scorer in his senior year, and Drew Timme provides a formidable presence in the paint. Outside Kispert, this team relies heavily on underclassmen, so don't expect this program to slow down anytime soon.

Why They're Going to Win

Everyone loves a Cinderella squad that defies the odds and busts brackets, but isn't it also fun watching excellence prevail?

Gonzaga is the deserving favorite. After all, the Bulldogs began the year ranked No. 1 and haven't budged since.

But they're also not a big, bad dynasty hogging the spotlight. Gonzaga combines dominant play with the feel-good nature of a small-conference school finally receiving its long-overdue "One Shining Moment."

As nonconference play ended in December and Gonzaga held an undefeated record, the chase for history was on. And after an 88-78 comeback win in the West Coast Conference tournament final against BYU on Thursday, the Bulldogs have completed Step 1.

Now comes the hard part.

Gonzaga, at 26-0, is only the 20th team in men's college basketball history to enter the NCAA tournament with zero losses. That alone is a significant accomplishment. But of the previous 19, only seven celebrated a national title.

The last undefeated team to win the NCAA tournament is 1975-76 Indiana, which navigated a 32-team field. Since then, however, none of the four undefeated teams cut down the nets. Most recently, Wichita State (2013-14) and Kentucky (2014-15) lost in the second round and Final Four, respectively.

In most cases, history can guide expectations. That's not possible here for a couple of key reasons.

Because of such a small sample size, it's dangerous to draw sweeping conclusions. And since 17 of the 19 undefeated years happened at least 30 years ago, most are irrelevant.

Stylistically, the Zags are similar to 1990-91 UNLV, the fast-paced, high-scoring juggernaut from the Big West. But, again, 30 years have passed. While comparing them is fun in theory, their opponents play much differently.

So the last two occurrences are the best reference points. The interesting part is Gonzaga has an opposing profile.

Wichita State and Kentucky had great offenses that ranked 17th and sixth, respectively, in adjusted efficiency on KenPom.com. But they finished 11th and first on the defensive side, also playing at far slower tempos than Gonzaga. Wichita State checked in 243rd, and Kentucky ended the season 274th.

Most notably, Wichita State and Kentucky locked down the perimeter. Opponents hit threes at the 29th- and third-lowest rates, respectively, while Gonzaga is 110th.

On the other hand, the Zags boast the nation's top offense and fourth-fastest tempo while ranking 12th on defense. Behind top scorers Corey Kispert, Drew Timme and Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga leads the country with a 63.3 true shooting percentage; Wichita State and Kentucky finished 41st and 57th.

Elite offenses are not unique, of course, but Gonzaga is the first one in 30 years to threaten for an undefeated record. Basically, if you're a millennial or younger, this style of team has essentially never entered the NCAA tournament with these stakes during your basketball fanhood.

Understandably, some viewers only care about one simple question: Can the Zags finish the job?

Beyond the statistical measures, competition level is a good starting point. Although the NET ranking is today's standard, the RPI rating is the measure of the past and still available.

Heading into March Madness, Wichita State had defeated three Top 50 teams and eight from Nos. 51 to 100. Kentucky had beaten 11 and 11. Despite a shortened season, Gonzaga has tallied nine and five. Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa and Virginia are all projected top-four seeds, per Bracket Matrix.

Wichita State, ironically, fell to Kentucky in the 2014 tournament. That team underperformed expectations, and five key players joined star freshmen Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker on Kentucky's 2015 undefeated team. Even with Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker and Cleanthony Early, you can forgive Wichita State for a two-point loss to UK's talent.

The following year, Kentucky rode its defense to the Final Four. However, the Wildcats lost to a top-seeded Wisconsin team, long considered the perfectly bad matchup, in the national semifinals.

On paper, Gonzaga's outlook is a mix of those situations.

While a few matchups may be challenging (Loyola-Chicago, for example), there is no 2014 Kentucky-like roster that can out-talent Gonzaga in early rounds. Conversely, the Zags can find their 2015 Wisconsin in Baylor, Michigan or even Illinois, depending on who you ask.

Yes, the randomness of a single-elimination tournament has bitten more undefeated teams than not. That part is basic, understandable math. Nevertheless, this is an incredible offensive team with a strong list of regular-season wins.

No matter what happens in March Madness, Gonzaga has sealed its place in history. Step 2, however, offers a unique feel compared to the latest pursuits of a perfect season.

Statistics courtesy of KenPom.com or Sports Reference, unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

Gonzaga became the 16th school in NCAA Division I men's basketball history to enter the NCAA tournament with an undefeated record after defeating BYU 88-78 to win the West Coast Conference tournament championship on Tuesday.

The 26-0 Bulldogs are the 20th team overall to achieve the feat. UCLA has done it four times, and Indiana did so twice.

The last team to achieve the accomplishment was the 2015 Kentucky Wildcats, who eventually lost to Wisconsin in the Final Four. Wichita State went undefeated the year before but fell to UK in the Round of 32.

The teams who entered the NCAA tournament undefeated and stayed that way include the 1956 San Francisco Dons, the 1957 UNC Tar Heels, the 1964, 1967, 1972 and 1973 UCLA Bruins and the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers.

Gonzaga will look to join that esteemed group. The Bulldogs averaged 92.1 points per game and allowed just 69.1 per contest. The Zags are also ranked first in offensive efficiency and seventh in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.com.

Gonzaga has also faced some of the game's current Top 25 teams and taken them down, including No. 11 Kansas (102-90), No. 10 West Virginia (87-82), No. 5 Iowa (99-88) and No. 16 Virginia (98-75).

The Bulldogs will open the NCAA tournament against a to-be-determined opponent on either Thursday, March 18 or Friday, March 19. They're a lock to earn the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, but their potential path will be revealed Sunday after the NCAA Selection Show begins at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.