The Gonzaga Bulldogs
(also known unofficially as the Zags
) are the athletic teams at Gonzaga University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Gonzaga University is a member of the West Coast Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I. The athletic program comprises 8 women's sports: volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country, track, crew and golf; and 8 men's sports: basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, cross country, track and crew. The school also offers various intramural sports.
At one time, Gonzaga went by the nickname of Fighting Irish in the 1910s to early 1920s. This name was dropped in 1921 favor of the current "Bulldogs" mascot. Although the school's official mascot is the Bulldog, marketing materials, fans and television announcers often use the term "Zags" as a mascot, which puts the school in the unique position of having a mascot sharing a name with the school, hence the "Gonzaga Zags."
Gonzaga was an NAIA school from 1947 to 1957 when they moved to the NCAA and played as an independent school. They were a charter member of the Big Sky Conference in 1963 and moved over to the West Coast Conference in 1980.
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GONZAGA BULLDOGS TICKETS
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Men's basketball
Men's basketball has been the most successful sport for the Bulldogs. Gonzaga home games have been played at the
McCarthey Athletic Center since 2004. The Bulldogs opened the arena with a 38-game win streak, the longest at the time in the NCAA, eventually snapped in February 2007 by the
Santa Clara Broncos.
Despite playing in a
mid-major conference, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are generally considered to be a major program. Gonzaga is one of only nine schools to have reached each of the past ten
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments, and is the only school not from a major conference to do so.
Notable alumni of Gonzaga basketball include
J. P. Batista,
Dan Dickau,
Richie Frahm,
Adam Morrison,
Paul Rogers,
Blake Stepp,
John Stockton,
Ronny Turiaf, and
Austin Daye.
WCC Regular Season Titles - 13
2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1994
WCC Tournament Titles - 10
2009, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1995
WCC Tournament Championship Games - 14
2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1992
2009 is their 12th appearance in the NCAA tournament, in addition they have played in 3 NIT tournaments and 2 NAIA tournaments.