Arkansas stuns No. 1 seed Gonzaga
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For most of the season, Gonzaga could depend on a run practically any time it desired a person.
On Thursday it did not appear. A vexing Arkansas protection flummoxed the substantial-octane Bulldogs en route to a 74-68 stunner to send the No. 1 overall seed residence from the NCAA tournament. The fourth-seeded Razorbacks, meanwhile, progress to the Elite 8, where by they’ll confront a next-seeded Duke crew that beat Texas Tech afterwards Thursday.
The initial 50 % finished ominously for Gonzaga, which experienced a 4:48 scoring drought that permitted Arkansas to enter halftime on a 13-2 operate with a 32-29 lead. The next 50 percent brought extra of the exact as the Bulldogs frequently struggled to change on offense.
When Chet Holmgren fouled out with 3:29 remaining, Gonzaga’s fate was sealed. The Razorbacks held on to a direct they sustained for the total half to reduce the NCAA tournament favored.
Controversial fouls in game’s ultimate minutes
The game’s remaining minutes were not devoid of controversy. Holmgren picked up his fourth foul on a debatable blocking simply call in the submit with 8:36 remaining.
He was whistled for his fifth right after leaping vertically to problem a shot by JD Notae.
But Arkansas controlled the video game with or without Holmgren on the floor en route to its very first-at any time event get over a No. 1 seed. The Razorbacks constrained the Bulldogs to 37.5% capturing from the floor and forced a staff that averaged seven turnovers by the initial two rounds of tournament participate in into 15 giveaways. Gonzaga fell approximately 20 points quick of its season regular of 87.2 factors for every sport. Holmgren, a projected leading-a few select in the NBA draft, did not rating in the first half.
Arkansas entered the sport rated 14th in KenPom’s modified defensive effectiveness metrics and rode that strength to victory. They did so carrying a chip on their collective shoulders.
“Our protection — to keep them to 68 — outstanding protection,” Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman advised CBS soon after the activity. “We believed, and no person else did. We go through everything, I’m telling you. We place it up on or display each and every one food. Thank you to every person that stated we experienced no opportunity.”
On offense, All-SEC guard Notae led the way with 21 factors, six rebounds, six helps and a few steals. His details didn’t come simple, even though. He related on 9-of-29 shots to get there, such as a 2-of-12 work from 3-place length. But it was sufficient to tempo the Razorbacks even though their protection carried the load. Jaylin Williams and Trey Wade extra 15 details each and every for Arkansas.
Williams echoed Musselman’s disrespect card in his postgame reviews.
“I think we have been disrespected the total year,” Williams claimed. “So it really is just a further issue for us. They gave ’em like an 86% possibility to win. So we saw that. We observed almost everything they had been indicating.
“We felt like they had been dancing in advance of the sport. That was disrespect to us. We just arrived into the match playing tricky, with a chip on our shoulder.”
Gonzaga never allow Arkansas lengthen its direct into double digits. But every single time it mounted a problem, Arkansas answered. Andrew Nembhard retained Gonzaga’s hope alive late with a wild 3-point heave to slash Arkansas’ lead to 68-65 with 16.5 seconds remaining.
But Arkansas senior Au’Diese Toney despatched Nembhard’s last-gasp effort and hard work away, swatting a layup endeavor off the backboard with 10 seconds remaining.
The block properly finished the recreation and supplied an proper defensive punctuation to the Arkansas win.
Much more NCAA disappointment for Gonzaga
For Gonzaga, it is really an additional disappointing stop to a operate of NCAA dominance in the latest yrs thats included every little thing but its first championship. Holmgren completed the activity with 11 factors, 14 rebounds and two blocks in advance of fouling out. Drew Timme led the Bulldogs with 25 details to go with 7 rebounds and a few assists. Nemhard struggled on a 2-of-11 capturing night to 7 details, 7 rebounds and three helps.
Gonzaga could end up actively playing up coming time with no all three as it restarts its effort for a nationwide title. Nemhard’s a senior. Holmgren’s nearly selected to enter his name into the NBA draft. Timme, meanwhile, is a borderline prospect as a junior. He’ll have a choice to make this offseason after remaining named WCC Player of the Year.
Head mentor Mark Number of, meanwhile, will enter another offseason of inquiries around irrespective of whether his application will at any time protected a countrywide title. Gonzaga’s arguably been university basketball’s most reliable plan in new a long time, with seven straight Sweet 16 appearances and excursions to the national championship game in 2017 and 2021. But the program’s to start with NCAA championship stays elusive.
