Gonzaga Prepares for Tough NCAA Tournament Matchup Against Texas

Bulldogs head coach Mark Few breaks down the challenge of facing the surging Longhorns in the second round

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:08am

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Gonzaga is set to take on Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. Bulldogs head coach Mark Few discussed the tough matchup, including the challenge of slowing down Texas' physical big man Matas Vokietaitis and the advantage of playing in front of a mostly pro-Gonzaga crowd at the Moda Center in Portland.

Why it matters

This is a crucial second-round matchup between two talented teams looking to advance in the tournament. Gonzaga, the No. 1 seed in the West region, will face a tough test against a Texas squad that has been playing its best basketball of the season and is led by a physical interior presence in Vokietaitis.

The details

Few acknowledged that Texas, despite its 20-14 record, is a formidable opponent that has great players and is well-coached by Shaka Smart. He said slowing down the 6-foot-10 Vokietaitis will be a major challenge, as the big man has drawn more fouls than anyone in the country this season. Few also praised the work ethic of Gonzaga forward Graham Ike, who has taken excellent care of his body and preparation to be ready for the long tournament grind.

  • The Gonzaga-Texas game is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. PT.

The players

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team.

Matas Vokietaitis

The 6-foot-10 starting center for the Texas Longhorns, known for his physical play and ability to draw fouls.

Graham Ike

A key forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, praised by Few for his strong work ethic and preparation.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to be a really, really tough task. The staff brought up that I think he has drawn more fouls maybe than anybody in the country this year. He flops around in there and makes it look more forceful than it is. It works, but he's a big body, skilled body.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs

“He's driven in a lot of areas, and he takes fabulous care of his body, his preparation with how he eats, with how important sleep is, with just everything he does off the floor to get ready. He had an injury earlier in his career in Wyoming, I think that really kicked in how important it is to do all the right things and get your body right for practicing and playing in the long season like this. So he's very much all about preparation, and takes a lot of time.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs

What’s next

The winner of the Gonzaga-Texas matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This second-round clash between Gonzaga and Texas features two talented teams with contrasting styles. Gonzaga's challenge will be to slow down the physical presence of Texas' Matas Vokietaitis, while the Longhorns will need to find a way to contain Gonzaga's balanced offensive attack. The game should provide an exciting tournament showdown between two programs looking to make a deep March Madness run.