“I think we’re just so far ahead with these big games and big environments and coming out with the ‘W’ and stuff,” senior forward Ben Gregg said after the game. “I think a lot of guys get down on themselves and aren’t as confident individually and then as a team.”

The Zags came out of the gate against the Colonels in the same way they opened against UConn: lethargic, as Mark Few simply put it afterward. There have been goal failures in each of the last three games, be it in the first half or in regular time. There were also poorly timed defensive errors.

In an alternate reality, the Bulldogs know their three losses could have turned out very differently. They had a 5-point lead in the final 25 seconds against West Virginia, an 18-point lead early in the second half against Kentucky and had the momentum after overcoming a double-digit deficit against a struggling UConn team.

“(We are) just a few balls away from remaining undefeated,” Gonzaga assistant coach Brian Michaelson said. “But we also can’t settle on the other side and say, ‘Oh, we’re really close to being undefeated.’ We have to improve in many areas.”

One area of ​​growth for the Bulldogs compared to non-conference play has been their effort on the defensive line, particularly in crucial moments. The overall stats show that Gonzaga is doing quite well in this regard – it ranks in the top 15 in the country in defensive rebounds per game (29.3) – although that number doesn’t tell the whole story. It especially doesn’t explain how the Huskies, without 6-foot-10 Samson Johnson in the game, were able to capitalize on some key second chances in the second half of a back-and-forth affair.

“We have big guys and I feel like we kind of came out on top against UConn,” Gregg said. “Personally, I felt like I didn’t have my best rebounding performance, which can’t happen.”

Gonzaga’s 6-foot-10 senior looked more like himself than usual against the Colonels, posting his first double-double of the season with a 10-point, 10-rebound performance in 24 minutes off the bench. That’s more boards than he collected against Kentucky (seven) and UConn (two) combined.

“There were a few games like that where I kind of took my foot off the gas when it came to rebounding and trying to get every loose ball,” Gregg said. “So I approach every game with the same passion and desire to get every 50-50 ball… I think the boys have to get back to that too and then we’ll be fine.”

Defensively, mistimed rotations and a lack of communication have exacerbated the problems encountered on offense. Kentucky’s pick-and-roll destroyed Gonzaga throughout the game in Seattle, as the Wildcats went 22-39 from the field after halftime to overcome a double-digit deficit.

The next week, the Huskies’ well-oiled offense hummed against a Bulldogs defense that seemed out of control from the start. Three of UConn’s first four field goals were dunks, including an alley-oop to Johnson on the first play after the opening tipoff. In no time, the Zags were down 13-2 and had to battle from behind all night, only to fall short after failing to make a field goal in the final 3:25 minutes of regulation.

“Coach Few definitely said it: Don’t let our offense dictate our defense,” Gregg said. “If the shots aren’t falling, you shouldn’t shut down the defense after that. Go back and just try to get the ball back and get another good look and the next one goes in.”

After back-to-back losses, Gregg had his own message for the team.

“It wasn’t until yesterday that I really made a point of finding that joy again,” Gregg said. “Have fun and not put too much pressure on yourself…this is a great week to hopefully get back in the ‘W’ column with two games and then come back after the break with UCLA – it’s full steam ahead.”

“(The coaches) just remind us that we could easily be undefeated right now,” Gregg said. “But as the game goes on there are always mental mistakes that lead to us not being able to win in bad situations… so we just stay confident.”

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