"Never underestimate the 'Zags"

Conversation last night between Gonzaga basketball fans after 82-74 win over No. 2 North Carolina:

Fan No. 1: "Um, Adam Morrison, you remember him?"
Fan No. 2: "Yeah, vaguely, pretty good player. Remember he sported a famous mustache."
Fan No. 1: "Oh, yeah, that's right. I think he could shoot too, but really don't recall much about his game."
Fan No. 2: "It seems like he was here such a long time ago. Or maybe my memory's fading..."

Yes, Gonzaga fans are no longer mourning the departure of Morrison for the NBA draft last spring (Morrison, by the way, scored 26 points last night in a Charlotte Bobcats victory). After the 23rd-ranked 'Zags shocking (but not so shocking) win over the Tar Heels, all is well in Bulldogs' land.

And, really, it's quite amazing. You - definitely - can no longer calle Gonzaga a mid-major school. Sure, it competes in the West Coast Conference. But that's about the only thing that could classify Gonzaga as a mid-major anymore.

The 'Zags even have a new arena - completed in 2004 - called the McCarthey Athletic Center that is similar to those of top-notch programs in bigger conferences.

But, mostly, the Bulldogs have eclipsed mid-major status because every time we - the media - think they're going to have a down year, every time we believe they're going to take off the proverbial glass slipper, every time they lose their best
player(s)... they don't miss a step.

But, surely, this has to be the year. I mean, they lost Adam Morrison, one of the two best players in the country last year. He was Gonzaga last season. They rode his coattails to victory and they rode his missed jumped shots to defeat.

There's no doubt Duke isn't the same team it was last year after losing the nation's other best player - J.J. Redick - to the NBA. They already have a loss.

But not 5-0 Gonzaga. Last night they hampered Tyler Hansbrough, one of the best players in the country. They swarmed him, holding him to just one field goal and seven points - well below his 22.3 ppg. average. These 'Zags were far from flustered after falling behind 10-0 to the mighty Heels.

They stormed back, led by senior point guard Derek Raivio - the only name on this year's squad I recall from a year ago - who led them with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Four 'Zags scored in double figures. Everyone contributed.

The Bulldogs led by double figures for much of the second half before allowing a brief UNC comeback that made the game's final moments tense. But this was the 'Zags game, their annual chance to prove that, yes, they're back, that, yes, they're not going anywhere.

The average basketball fan would have trouble naming a single player onthis Gonzaga team. The average basketball fan may not even know exactly where on the west coast Gonzaga is located (in Spokane, Wash.).

Well, they better learn soon. Because Gonzaga is on the big-time basketball map to stay.