NOTES

So, will Gonzaga return to the national stage any time soon?

Don’t count on it.

The Bulldogs are losing three important seniors from this team--guard Quentin Hall, center Jeremy Eaton, and forward Mike Leasure.

Those players combined to score 36 of Gonzaga’s 62 points in Saturday’s 67-62 loss to Connecticut in the West Regional final.

“I told them after the game you’ve only got one thing to feel bad about and that is you don’t get to play together again,” Gonzaga Coach Dan Monson said. “This was a special group.”

The players agreed.

“That’s the hardest part about all this, saying goodbye to people who really made this team go,” guard Mike Nilson said.

Connecticut faces the loss of two key starters, junior star Richard Hamilton and senior guard Ricky Moore.

*

Connecticut has not played Ohio State this season, but it has had recent luck with other Big Ten powers.

On Dec. 5, it defeated Big Ten champion Michigan State, 82-68.

Last season it defeated Indiana in the second round of the NCAA tournament, 78-68.