Mike Roth has witnessed nearly every significant moment in Gonzaga men’s basketball history, both as the former athletic director and now as a fan.
Recent highlights include Julian Strawther’s decisive 3-pointers against BYU in the regular season and UCLA in the Sweet 16. Other memorable moments, like Jordan Matthews’ critical 3-pointer against West Virginia in the Sweet 16 that propelled the Bulldogs to their first Final Four, were particularly emotional. The 2021 Final Four run had a bittersweet edge due to the lack of fans in attendance.
Reflecting on the 2023-24 team, Roth emphasized the resilience they displayed amid adversity.
“People wrote us off early,” Roth remarked. “Questions arose about whether we’d even make the tournament. Then we secured our ninth consecutive Sweet 16 or better. No other team has a streak like that.”
After a fifth loss in January, a 77-76 defeat to Santa Clara, some analysts doubted Gonzaga’s NCAA Tournament prospects, especially since the remaining schedule offered few quality opponents. This loss knocked Gonzaga out of the AP Top 25, leading some to dismiss their chances of making the tournament.
However, a lineup change and time to gel helped the Zags accumulate wins in the West Coast Conference. They secured a victory over No. 17 Kentucky at Rupp Arena in February and followed up with road wins over San Francisco and Saint Mary’s, closing the regular season strong.
Winning 14 of their final 16 games before Selection Sunday, Gonzaga turned their season around and earned a No. 5 seed from the selection committee.
Roth shared anecdotes from Mark Few’s early coaching days, what makes Gonzaga and Spokane unique, and more on a new episode of Gonzaga Nation.
