Gonzaga and Western Kentucky are two programs outside of the power conferences that have had a profound influence on the NCAA tournament and college basketball. Appropriately, and as it turned out dramatically, the two schools finally met.
The Zags have become one of the marquee mid-major programs, thanks in large part to their tournament success. Western Kentucky has been the launching pad for many coaches, including Gene Keady, Clem Haskins, and last year, Darrin Horn.
Ultimately, this showdown went to Gonzaga in the final seconds, but not without a bit of controversy.
Gonzaga held a two-point lead with under 25 seconds left. The Hilltoppers ran a play that freed Orlando Mendez-Valdez for a three-point look. The shot was off, but Steffphon Pettigrew was there for a put-back to tie the game with 7.2 seconds left.
Gonzaga did not waste any time, though, on the inbounds. The Bulldogs took the ball and gave it to freshman Demetri Goodson, who took off down the length of the court. Western Kentucky could not get anyone in place to even foul Goodson before he laid it in for the lead with 0.9 seconds left.
As soon as the ball dropped in, Western Kentucky coach Ken McDonald started signaling for a timeout. The problem was the officials never looked back or heard him as the Rose Garden went crazy.
Western Kentucky inbounded the ball and heaved a shot well short as time expired. You could see McDonald running to the officials, still making the timeout signal as the Gonzaga players celebrated. It was too late, of course. McDonald. in an interview after the game, did say that the officials should have looked back at him. At the same time, he conceded that his players inbounded the ball too quickly and never looked at him or called the timeout on their own.
It is tough to believe that it would have made a difference. Setting up an inbound play and tossing up a prayer with 0.9 seconds left is not exactly a high-percentage play. It always has a chance, so it stinks that Western Kentucky did not get a chance to try.
Stunning Tournament Finishes
Thanks to Demetri Goodson, the Bulldogs are moving on to the Sweet 16. Goodson streaks the length of the court and drains a running bank shot with 0.9 seconds left to lift Gonzaga over Western Kentucky in the second round. Click through to see more incredible finishes from past NCAA tournaments.
Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images
2008 Ty Rogers, Western Kentucky - The Hilltoppers blew a big lead in the second half to fifth-seeded Drake, but Rogers made that a footnote when he drilled a 26-foot 3-pointer in between three defenders for the 101-99 overtime win. Watch the Play
John Raoux, AP
1990 Tate George, Connecticut - As time expired, George's jump shot slipped through the rim to give Connecticut a 71-70 victory over the Clemson, moving them to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1964. Watch the Play
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2000 Mike Miller, Florida - Miller scored the game-winning leaner in overtime to send an upset-minded Butler home. Watch the Play
Chuck Burton, AP
1990 Christian Laettner, Duke - Laettner made his first of two tournament buzzer-beaters in 1990 when he sunk a final-second shot to sent Connecticut home and Duke to the Final Four. Watch the Play
Susan Ragan, AP
1995 Tyus Edney, UCLA - With only 4.8 seconds left in the game, Edney takes the ball the length of the court and makes the game-winning layup as the Bruins top Missouri 75-74. Watch the Play
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1981 U.S. Reed, Arkansas - Reed hit a 49-foot halfcourt shot to send Louisville, the defending champions, home in the second round. Watch the Play
James D. Smith, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
1998 Bryce Drew, Valparaiso - In perhaps the ultimate father-son team-up, Homer Drew draws up the final shot for his son, Bryce Drew. Bryce hit the game-winning three-point shot to stun Mississippi 70-69 in the first round. Watch the Play
John Gaps III, AP
1983 Lorenzo Charles, North Carolina State - Charles collected an airball and dunked it as time expired to give N.C. State a 54-52 win over heavily-favored Houston. Watch the Play
AP
1992 Christian Laettner, Duke - Just two years after his previous buzzer-beater, Laettner shoots another one. Laettner dribbled once, turned and hit a jumper as time expired for the 104-103 win. Watch the Play
Charles Arbogast, AP
