Texas basketball no 'Cinderella' in NCAA Tournament, insists Gonzaga coach Mark Few

PORTLAND, Ore. — When it comes to hoops, Gonzaga brings a lot more clout than Texas basketball . After all, the Zags boast the second-longest active NCAA Tournament streak at 27 consecutive appearances and have won 29 tournament games over the past 10 years, which is more than any other squad in the country.

In comparison, Texas has reached six consecutive NCAA Tournaments and has won six tournament games over the past decade, including Thursday’s 79-71 first-round triumph over BYU. But don’t tell head coach Mark Few his No. 3 Zags (31-3) are favorites over 11th-seeded Texas (20-14) when the teams meet Saturday in a second-round contest in Portland's Moda Center.

“I mean, it's Texas, man,” Few said after his team’s Friday practice. “I mean, Texas has everything, usually: The resources, the student population. I wouldn't exactly classify this as some sort of Cinderella or anything here.

” MORE: Texas basketball in March Madness: Best photos of 2026 NCAA Tournament Texas guard Chendall Weaver (2) and forward Dailyn Swain react during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against BYU, Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (Amanda Loman/Associated Press) But the facts say otherwise. Gonzaga had reached nine consecutive Sweet 16s before last year’s loss to top-seeded Houston in the second round.