Gonzaga’s transfer trio survives South Carolina rally ; UNC defeats Oregon

GONZAGA 77 

SOUTH CAROLINA 73

Phoenix , AZ ~  The Gonzaga Zags, hardly an underdog anymore, fended off a 12-0 run by South Carolina and kept their heads off to defeat the Gamecocks, the 7 seed from the East.

Gonzaga has made 18 consecutive tournaments but have failed to get to the Final Four in all of those except this one. The Zags finally came through in a big game and beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 77-73. Every year Gonzaga has made it far they’ve lost in big game situations but this year was different for the Catholic Jesuit school from Washington.

Gonzaga took the court in Glendale wanting more than just their first Final Four appearence, they wanted a win and a spot in the National Championship Game.

Gonzaga is such a different team from last year too, with 3 transfers, Jonathon Williams III ,  Nigel Williams-Goss, and Jordan Matthews.

Williams became the first player to transfer to Gonzaga out of the trio. Williams led the Missouri Tigers in scoring as a sophomore. Mizzou didn’t have other talent, so Willams III chose Gonzaga.  That wasn’t all, the Zags picked up Nigel Williams-Goss, a 6’3 guard who transfered from Washington. He lead the Huskies as a freshman and sophomore before coming to Gonzaga. Jordan Matthews left Cal to become the transfer that Gonzaga needed, a three-point shooter and great defender.

The trio helped the Zags fend off South Carolina in the Final Four to advance to the National Championship Game vs North Carolina.