A New Era, But The Rivalry Remains
December 05, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Gonzaga visits Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday, December 10 for a 5:00 PM (PT) tip with Washington. Limited tickets remain - click here for more information.ย
By Bobby Jonesย
Washington Men's Basketballย (2002-2006)
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When I arrived at the University of Washington, I had no idea what state Gonzaga was located in.ย Being from Compton, I always thought Spokane was located somewhere in Kansas or Iowa.ย But yet, that didn't stop Gonzagaย from luring away some recruitsย from theย Huskies and building a competitive rivalry.ย
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The two schools began theirย seriesย in 1910. ย Apart from a few breaks here and there, they met regularly with Washington winning 28 of the first 34 games. Since then, we have gone 1-10 making the all-time seriesย 29-16.ย Unfortunately,ย the last time we beatย Gonzaga wasย in December 2005.ย I was senior then and itย I was my lastย chance toย finallyย beat them; I was 0-3 until that point.
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While we were ranked modestly - No. 18ย in the nation - Gonzaga entered the game ranked sixth.ย More importantly,ย the Bulldogs had preseason All-American Adam Morrison, who was widelyย was considered one of the best college players that season.ย
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It wasย aย Sunday night atย Hec Ed โ as usualย itย was packedย and noisy.ย I vastly remember seeingย the Dawg Packย greeting Morrison with some clever chants.ย Not sure if that strategyย helpedย or hurtย ourย causeย because he killedย usย forย the entire game,ย scoringย 43 points.
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What was even more frustrating was that I was matched up defensively against him.ย Just so we're clear, he didn't putย allย 43ย pointsย onย me; I accounted for maybe 15.ย But, nobody hasย ever givenย me the business like that in my basketball career.ย I was looking forward to finally shutting this guy down and showing the world it was possible, but it wasn't.ย I can honestly say there was no way to stop him โ he scored in too many variations of ways.ย
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Even as Morrison was having his way with us, we were upย for the majority of game. The Zags made a late run to give Morrison a chanceย to winย the game.ย We were up 97-95 and he receivedย the ball near the sideline with about 15 seconds toย go.ย Adam went upย for a difficult 3-point shotย with my handย literallyย covering his face. He missedย the shot,ย thenย aย Gonzagaย playerย grabbed the offensive rebound, butย missed the easy layupย to tie the game.ย I grabbed the rebound, got fouled andย then sealed the win with two freeย throws.ย
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The thrilling result ended inย ourย 29th consecutive homeย win โ theย nation's-bestย home winningย streakย at that time.ย It was our firstย victory overย Gonzagaย datingย backย toย 1997.ย Beatingย Gonzagaย was aย weight lifted off myย shoulders โ all wasย finallyย right in the world.
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So here we are in 2017. The Hopkins era has begun โ it's a new beginning, but the rivalry will always remain.
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So... Let's go DAWGS!
About the author:ย
Bobby Jones is a Washington men's basketballย four-year letter winner (2002-2006) and was selectedย 37th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is currently slotted 26th on the Dawgs'ย on the all-time scoring list (1,226), 7th in steals (134), and 14thย in career 10-point games (66). During his senior year, Jones was named All-Pac-10 honorable mention, helpingย Washington secure aย 26-7 overall record and a second consecutive Sweet-16 appearance. His professional career, both in the NBA and internationally,ย spans 11 years.
Away from basketball, Jonesย has poured himself into motivational speaking, writing and film production. While playing in Italy, he began working on and ultimatelyย produced aย documentary calledย "Basketball Jones: The Overseas Journey."ย The filmย follows nine American basketball players and investigates why someย have found success abroad, whileย others haveย not.ย
Currently, Jones playsย for U.C. Casalpusterlengo of the Italian Serie A2.
