March Madness is one of the most exciting times of year for college basketball fans. Every year, college teams from all over the country compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament – better known as March Madness. The tournament is filled with upsets, Cinderella stories, and intense competition. One team that has consistently been a part of the tournament in recent years is the Gonzaga Bulldogs. But just how far have the Bulldogs gone in the tournament?
Gonzaga’s Tournament History
Gonzaga has been a part of the NCAA Tournament since 1995, and in that time the Bulldogs have steadily increased their success. In the late 1990s, Gonzaga was a consistent mid-major competitor, making it to the Sweet 16 a few times. By the early 2000s, the Bulldogs had started to become a national powerhouse, making it to the Elite Eight in 2001 and the Sweet 16 in 2004.
Gonzaga’s Run to the Final Four
The Bulldogs’ most successful tournament run to date came in 2017, when they made it all the way to the Final Four. It was a Cinderella story from the start, as Gonzaga entered the tournament as a No. 1 seed despite being a mid-major program. The Bulldogs proved their doubters wrong, beating No. 8 Northwestern, No. 4 West Virginia, No. 11 Xavier, and No. 7 South Carolina to reach the Final Four.
Once in the Final Four, Gonzaga faced the North Carolina Tar Heels. In a thrilling game, the Bulldogs were able to keep it close despite the Tar Heels’ size advantage. In the end, the Tar Heels pulled away in the second half and won the game, ending Gonzaga’s tournament run.
Gonzaga’s Continued Success
Since their 2017 Final Four run, Gonzaga has continued to be a force in college basketball. The Bulldogs have made it to the Sweet 16 every year since 2017, and in 2019 they made it to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2015. Gonzaga has also been a consistent top seed in the tournament, and they’re always a threat to make a deep run.
Conclusion
The Gonzaga Bulldogs have been a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament since 1995, and in 2017 they made a historic run to the Final Four. Since then, the Bulldogs have continued to be a national powerhouse, making it to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight on a regular basis. It’s clear that Gonzaga is one of the best teams in college basketball, and they’re always a threat to make a deep run in the tournament.