1983–84_Gonzaga_Bulldogs_men's_basketball_team
1983–84 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team
American college basketball season
The 1983–84 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, in the 1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by third-year head coach Jay Hillock, the Bulldogs managed a 17–11 (.607) overall record (6–6 in WCAC, 4th),[3][4][5][6] and played their home games on campus at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion.
Without a conference tournament, Gonzaga's season was not quite enough to qualify for the 53-team NCAA tournament, the WCAC berth went to champion San Diego (9–3).[5] In earlier non-conference games, Gonzaga met Inland Empire rival Washington State of the Pac-10 at the Spokane Coliseum in December and the Cougars made a late basket and won by a point.[7][8][9][10] Two weeks later, Gonzaga outscored WSU by a point in overtime at the Far West Classic in Portland to halt their losing streak to the Cougars at eleven games.[11][12] A week later, Gonzaga broke a four-game losing streak to the other Palouse rival, the Idaho Vandals.[13][14]
Two key senior scorers were lost to injury early in the season: swingman Bryce McPhee played in only six games due to a broken leg (right fibula),[15] and forward Jason Van Nort was sidelined in early January with ongoing issues after knee surgeries.[14] Both redshirted and returned as fifth-year seniors in the following season.
With the active roster depleted to eight players, the coaching staff dipped into the intramural ranks for help and added sophomore Gino Cerchai to the Zags' bench.[16] The 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) guard saw action in two home games and made both of his free throw attempts, met with great appreciation from the student section.[2][17]
This Gonzaga team is largely remembered for Spokane native John Stockton; the senior point guard from Gonzaga Prep was a three-year starter and the team leader throughout the season,[1] and was the conference player of the year. Despite flying well below the national radar for the majority of his collegiate career, Stockton was selected 16th overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz,[18][19][20][21] where he played nineteen seasons. He was named to the NBA All-Star Game ten times, made two appearances in the NBA Finals, and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
