Seniors look to ‘win out’

As many students are finishing up their travel arrangements and eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring break, the Gonzaga men's basketball team is buckling down in hopes of finalizing their own travel arrangements to the NCAA Tournament.

After a disappointing road trip in which the Bulldogs became the first ranked team Loyola Marymount has beaten since 1990, they return home to the Kennel to close out the remainder of their regular-season slate and potentially wrap up their 10th consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title. 

"We want first place by ourselves," senior Chris Pontarolo-Maag said. "And we need to win out."

"It would be nice to have one name on that trophy rather than have to share it with St. Mary's," senior Will Foster said.

The Bulldogs enter the Kennel just one game ahead of St. Mary's in the conference standings, so each game may determine their fate.  Not only do these games carry a lot of importance, they are also the final games on Gonzaga's campus for seniors Pontarolo-Maag, Foster and Bouldin, each having a different story and a different take on their final days in the Kennel.

Pontarolo-Maag twice attempted to walk-on before finally making the cut. 

"It was perfect [when I heard I made the team]," Pontarolo-Maag said. "It was worth all of the work and I wouldn't have changed it for anything."

Foster was recruited out of high school and came in with big expectations for himself, hoping to grow and develop into a top 25 NBA prospect.

"That's what they told me they were going to help with when they were recruiting me," Foster said. "But it never really happens like you plan it."

Looking back on his four years, Foster considers it a big steppingstone that taught him a lot. But one thing he will remember are the fans.

"I have never had a crowd as supportive as here," Foster said.  "I will miss the ‘W' getting thrown up, I probably won't ever get that anywhere else."

Senior night will be, as he said, a night of mixed emotions.

"I am happy because I start a new chapter but it is sad because basketball won't be the same anywhere else because everyone is playing for different reasons," Foster said. 
Bouldin came in with high expectations for himself and has, for the most part, lived up to them.

"I have higher expectations than everyone," Bouldin said.

Looking forward to his final games in the Kennel, Bouldin is focused on the task at hand, winning basketball games.

"I haven't really thought about it, it hasn't really hit me too hard," Bouldin said.
However, Gonzaga is, he did say, home to him.

"We don't get to go home really for Thanksgiving break, winter break, or spring break, so we really do live here," Bouldin said. "I have loved every moment."

Looking towards the Tuesday senior night matchup against Cal St. Bakersfield, Pontarolo-Maag and Foster each have their own individual views of their final game in the Kennel.

Pontarolo-Maag, who has been soaking up the experience for the past several games, is looking forward to it because it will give him the chance to show the culmination of all the time he has been allowed to be a part of the program.

"I want to be able to remember it forever," Pontarolo-Maag said.

Foster wants to make this senior night better than his high school senior night, when his team lost by 20 points. 

"It's going to be loud," Foster said. "I imagine there will be a lot of Matt Bouldin signs and a few tears. None will be from me though, I can promise you that. He is a great player I know the crowd and the coaches are going to miss him. He's pretty much Coach Few's child."
After senior night, the Bulldogs will head to the WCC tournament in Las Vegas. After that they are projected to make the NCAA tournament, where they are all hoping for a deep run.

"This team is capable of doing anything," Bouldin said.