Baylor was certainly the better team last night, but I'm not inclined to draw such sweeping conclusions. Gonzaga betting favorite to take title next year
Jim Nantz had a great thought after the game, about how the impact of the Suggs Shot (and it's legacy) was (obviously) impacted by the fact that Gonzaga failed to win the Title. This is paraphrasing (but here is the gist of what Nantz said): Many people forget that after the Miracle on Ice Upset (over the USSR) by the USA Mens Olympic Team in 1980, the USA still had to play Finland (and had they lost to Finland, the Russians would have Won the Gold). The USA needed to Beat (or Tie) Finland to Win the Gold Medal. (The USA Won 4-2). Imagine if the USA Men's Team had lost to Finland and failed to claim the Gold after their historic upset? The impact of beating the Russians in that game would have been exponentially lessened. Baylor was much better than Finland.
Good for Baylor. They played much more aggressively than Gonzaga did. The refs were much kinder to Baylor not calling the multitude of hand check fouls that led to their exaggerated turn over total. Suggs didn't do his team any favors as he show boated and threw up brick after brick. It was kind of painful to watch that ego as it crushed the rest of his team mates.
Gonzaga, UCLA 1-2 in Way-Too-Early Top 25 college basketball rankings for 2021-22 Gonzaga fell short after an epic run, but should have the returning talent to compete for a national championship again next season. 1dJeff Borzello AP Photo/Michael Conroy
After seeing that disgraceful (and embarrassing) display by Gonzaga, I can't possibly see how a school so lacking in pride (led by a coach who can't win the big game) could possibly win it next year. Coach Mark Few is destined to leave Gonzaga without ever winning a title.
Gonzaga was outclassed in every aspect of the game that night. They kept trying to play man to man and kept getting burned for layups at every turn. Baylor was super hot from beyond the arc as well, so even a zone wouldn't've worked.
