Already having played two of the most iconic games in NCAA tournament history against one another, Gonzaga and UCLA added yet another chapter to the two programs’ history of clashes in a thrilling 79–76 Bulldogs win. After rallying from 13 down at halftime to take a 10-point lead with under three minutes to go, Gonzaga surrendered the lead in the final seconds before Julian Strawther’s deep three sent the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight.
Longtime Villanova coach Jay Wright may have retired in the offseason, but his fingerprints were all over the game’s defining possession. The play Gonzaga drew up with its season the line was “Wright’s play”, Few said, the same design Villanova had used to get Kris Jenkins the open three he made to win the 2017 national championship. Hunter Sallis was to sprint the ball up the floor with Strawther trailing him, then pitch it back to the junior sharpshooter. In the huddle, the play was called for Strawther to catch and drive towards the rim.
I kind of just asked [Few], like, ‘Can I shoot it? If no one steps up on me do you want me to shoot it?’” Strawther said. “He was like, ‘absolutely.’”
