Gonzaga’s Anton Watson on hearing the doubters this season: ‘We all blocked it out at some point’

Bulldogs overcame a lot of adversity during the 2023-24 season

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Anton Watson (22) / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Even with a new-look roster and roles, the Gonzaga Bulldogs were subject to high expectations heading into the 2023-24 season.

Prognosticators and fans expected what was on paper to immediately translate to success on the court, when in reality it took time for the coveted transfers to gel with the returners who were taking on new roles and responsibilities. Add in a rigorous nonconference schedule and it resulted in the Zags sitting at 11-5 in early January, when they fell out of the AP Top 25 poll and were viewed as a team that might not be dancing in March by some so-called experts.

The doubters were in full force - but Mark Few’s program rose to the occasion once again. Gonzaga won 14 of its final 16 games heading into Selection Sunday and went from out of the postseason picture to earning a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament. When it was all said and done, the Bulldogs had reached another Sweet 16, the program’s ninth straight, and performed like a top-10 team to end the season.

“It was pretty difficult at first … hearing all the fans, even the analysts saying that we’re not the same team and we suck,” Anton Watson said on Gonzaga Nation. “There's a point in the season where you hear it, and you kind of pay attention to it, and then you just got to block it out.”

Watson discussed how the Bulldogs handled the noise from the outside, and much more, on a new episode of Gonzaga Nation.

Watch Anton Watson's full interview on Gonzaga Nation's YouTube channel.

Produced by Thomas Gallagher.

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