SPOKANE, Wash. — Whether it was dinner on Wednesday night or making a visit to an elementary school on Thursday morning, Bryce Drew and Grand Canyon is receiving what might seem like an oddly warm March Madness reception in the Pacific Northwest.
That’s what happens when Grand Canyon’s opponent is Saint Mary’s, and the game is being played in the hometown of the Gaels’ biggest rival, Gonzaga.
“We’ve definitely felt it. We went out to eat last night and people are saying, ‘Beat Saint Mary’s.’ And we went to an elementary school today and we had the elementary kids as our players are walking in saying, ‘Beat Saint Mary’s,’” said Drew, Grand Canyon’s fourth-year coach. “That rivalry is real out here.”
What normally would be a mundane, neutral-site environment for an NCAA Tournament game may be a little more in favor of the underdog when the No. 5 seed Gaels face No. 12 seed Grand Canyon on Friday night.
There has been no love lost over the years between Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s as the two have battled for dominance of the West Coast Conference. The Gaels took two of three games against the Zags this season, won the regular-season conference title and then beat Gonzaga in the WCC title game in Las Vegas.
After the bracket was released Sunday and seeing that Saint Mary’s would be playing in its hometown, some Gonzaga players suggested — perhaps in jest — that neutral fans showing up to watch the games in Spokane might want to consider wearing purple and throwing their support behind Grand Canyon.
“We love it,” Saint Mary’s Aidan Mahaney said. “That’s all good. We’re excited to go. We like playing on the road, so bring them on.”
Saint Mary’s guard Alex Ducas holds up a piece of net after the team’s win over Gonzaga in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the West Coast Conference men’s tournament Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/Ian Maule
For his part, Gonzaga coach Mark Few said fans…
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