There have been a few moments over the past 15 years when you've probably said to yourself, "Wow, I never thought Gonzaga basketball could get this big." Maybe it was when Adam Morrison was on the cover of
Sports Illustrated. Or when the Zags went to No. 1 in the polls and got a No. 1 seed back in 2013. Or when Kyle Witljer was named the pre-season Player of the Year before this season began.
Or, perhaps, it's today when you realize that Gonzaga is the subject of a five-part series called
Gonzaga: The March to Madness debuting February 16 on HBO. Yeah, HBO. That is pretty big-time. You may have heard rumblings about this or seen the extra camera crews on hand during home games this season, but it's pretty remarkable that this is an actual series
“We are always looking for fascinating stories that will appeal to our subscribers, and this project will shine a spotlight on one of the most successful basketball programs in America,” says Rick Bernstein, the executive producer of HBO Sports. “Gonzaga University has built a tremendous program, but so many of its accomplishments and backstories are largely unknown.”
Well, around here, at least, people hopefully know something about
the backstory of Gonzaga basketball. But to have this sort of inside look is going to be fascinating, considering most press access to the team is tightly regulated. Maybe we'll get to see some more
Mark Few dance moves.
Seriously though, it will also be interesting to see how the series handles the Zags' struggles in high-profile games earlier this season, including the losses to UCLA and Arizona at home.
In other Zag news, Gonzaga takes on BYU on Thursday night here in Spokane. The students are back and the place should be loud for what is going to be a tough contest against a good Cougars team that can get up and down the court.