INDIANAPOLIS -- Gonzaga was 40 minutes from cementing itself among college basketball's all-time great teams. The first undefeated team in 45 years, the first national championship in program history, just two games all season decided by single digits. Potentially a generational team.
It was all within reach at 9:20 ET on Monday night. By 9:30, it was out the window.
Under a barrage of Baylor 3-pointers and offensive rebounds in the first five minutes, everything was suddenly out of reach. The Bears were up by 10 at the first media timeout and led by double figures for all but 90 seconds the rest of the way en route to an 86-70 win in the final game of the 2021 NCAA men's basketball tournament.