End of an era: Gonzaga wins one last WCC Tournament title before move to Pac-12

Entering the WCC Tournament, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were the big storyline, as they’ve been for nearly the past 30 years. This was special because it was the program's last tournament before moving to the Pac-12. After beating Oregon State in the semifinals, the Bulldogs took on a Santa Clara that upset Saint Mary’s the night before and had a chance to lock up the autobid and not even have to worry about the bubble.

The Broncos were in control for more than half the game, up 33-29 at the half. But a run by the Bulldogs allowed them to eventually take the lead, one they would never relinquish en route to a 79-68 victory for their last WCC Tournament title. 

Here are some takeaways from the win.

1. Elite night from the freshmen

Mario Saint-Supery was a highly touted international freshman prospect for the Bulldogs. Throughout the season, he’s gone through some ups and downs, but he’s become the clear lead guard on the roster, though his scoring has been inconsistent overall.

After scoring just four points in the semifinals against Oregon State, Saint-Supery went off for a season-high 21 points, making 6/12 from three-point range. Davis Fogle had himself a night as well, chipping in with 13 points, eight rebounds, and six assists off the bench. Gonzaga needed both of them on the night, and they fully came through.

2. Help for Graham Ike

The WCC Player of the Year was held to just two points in the first half on just one field goal attempt. Ike finished with 15 points on 7/7 FG, playing all 40 minutes. But it’s the 64 points scored by the rest of the cast that’s important, since the supporting cast production can be an issue at times. Besides the freshmen, Tyon Grant-Foster had one of his best games in a Bulldogs uniform, scoring 20 points and leading the team on the run to take the lead in the second half. If he plays this way in the Big Dance, the team can make a run.

3. Mark Few completes his domination of the WCC 

Coach Few has been the head coach of Gonzaga for 27 years. And in all 27, he’s been to the finals of the WCC Tournament. With this win, he’s now won 21 of them, including the last one before the program moves to the Pac-12. There are next to no examples of another coach having a comparable run, with maybe Bill Self’s run in the Big 12 for regular-season titles being the closest.

Will Few and Gonzaga dominate the Pac-12 the same way they did the WCC? We’ll have to wait and see. But the WCC chapter closed the same way it opened in the Few era – with a Bulldog victory.