WICHITA, Kan. – Robust. Physical. Intense. Aggressive.
These terms aptly describe the top-seeded Houston team that Gonzaga, seeded eighth, will face in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 at Intrust Bank Arena.
Another comparison that Gonzaga supporters might understand?
“Saint Mary’s on a different level.”
“The cornerstone of their program is defense,” said Gonzaga guard Nolan Hickman. “They emphasize defense and it’s somewhat akin to what Saint Mary’s does. They try to disrupt the pace of the game, slow it down, and grab second-chance points with aggressive offensive rebounding.”
“Yeah, I think they are quite similar, for sure.”
Familiar Challenge
Gonzaga is well-acquainted with the Gaels, so they shouldn’t be caught off guard by Houston’s strategies in Saturday’s contest, which pits the West Coast Conference champions against the Big 12’s tournament and regular-season champions.
Saint Mary’s has historically been recognized as one of the nation’s premier defensive teams, ranking seventh in adjusted defensive efficiency this season under veteran coach Randy Bennett.
Heightened Defense
Houston’s coach, Kelvin Sampson, has cultivated similar defensive benchmarks since he took charge in 2014-15. The Cougars likely boast more NBA caliber players and athleticism than Saint Mary’s, holding a five-spot edge in defensive efficiency, trailing only St. John’s.
When asked about resemblances between the two teams, Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard said, “To some extent, yes.”
Understanding the Style
“Their pace, trying to force a slower, lower-scoring affair, feels familiar, but Saint Mary’s is far more disciplined and conservative,” he explained. “Houston, on the other hand, plays much more aggressively, attempts to trap, and forces you into uncomfortable situations, which is quite different from Saint Mary’s. However, we can learn from both of them.”
The Zags managed to overcome Saint Mary’s in their third encounter, winning the WCC title game 58-51 after losing both earlier matches.
Defensive Prowess
Houston leads the nation in scoring defense, permitting just 57.9 points per game, while Saint Mary’s is close behind, limiting opponents to 60.7 points per game and recently winning its first-round NCAA Tournament game against Vanderbilt.
“There’s only one Saint Mary’s,” said GU forward Graham Ike, “but Houston plays with tremendous energy and effort. They are exceedingly physical on both ends of the court, making them similar. However, each team is unique in its own right.”
Pronunciation Matters
Since Gonzaga’s rise to national prominence over two decades ago, fans have been frustrated by incorrect pronunciations of the school’s name.
Kelvin Sampson, Houston’s coach and a former local resident, is among those bothered by it. During a press question on Friday, he interrupted a reporter referencing “Gon-zah-ga” to correct him, stating, “It’s Gon-zag-a. It always irritates me when people say it that way.”
A Respectful Rivalry
Gonzaga’s Mark Few still receives an annual Christmas card from Sampson, who will be trying to end Few’s streak of consecutive Sweet 16 appearances on Saturday.
“He’s a remarkable asset to our profession and so much fun,” Few remarked about Sampson. “He guided me when I was just starting out on those earlier Nike trips.”
Few admires Sampson’s journey to success, noting the challenges he overcame, while Sampson reciprocated the respect, calling Few a Hall of Fame figure in coaching and beyond.
Gifts for Teammates
Hickman surprised his Gonzaga teammates with a special welcome at Intrust Bank Arena, gifting each of them a pair of headphones through an NIL partnership with JLab technology.
“We can jam out,” Hickman shared in a video on Gonzaga’s Instagram account. “Enjoy some good music.”
“Thanks, Nolan Hickman for this generous gift,” said senior guard Khalif Battle.
“Much appreciated, ‘Nol,’” added sophomore forward Emmanuel Innocenti. “These are awesome!”
