Nolan Hickman on the pressure Gonzaga faces to make the NCAA Tournament: 'Now we have that fire'

Bulldogs have a small margin of error heading into the thick of West Coast Conference play

Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, Nolan Hickman was very familiar with the legacy of the Gonzaga men's basketball program long before he dawned a Bulldogs uniform as a freshman in 2021. 

The storied West Coast hoops powerhouse has qualified for every NCAA Tournament since 1999 and has made it to at least the Sweet 16 round in the last eight postseasons. The 143 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 poll was the longest active streak in the country and tied for 10th longest all-time. Some of Gonzaga's head-to-head winning streaks against the rest of the WCC go as far back as the early 2000s.

Decades worth of excellence can place a bit of pressure on the shoulders of those who are responsible for keeping the legacy alive. But for Nolan Hickman, sometimes that's necessary to light the fire at just the right time.

"I definitely feel like there's some type of pressure and I feel like that's needed in any sport," Hickman said. "But you know, they usually see us around the No. 1 spot and it's kind of the norm. But now, we're not really that. And I'm glad to have it earlier than later. So now we have that fire."

Here's what Hickman had to say ahead of the Bulldogs' home game against San Francisco:

On what he's seen from Dusty Stromer over the last two games:

"I'm really proud of Dusty, man. He's been overcoming a lot of challenges. He knows what is best for the team and with [Ben Gregg] starting now. If it benefits the team, then that's how we were going about it. So I applaud him for that. A lot of other players wouldn't be able to do that. So salute to my bro."

On having Gonzaga students back in attendance:

"Honestly, it's not too bad without students, I'm not going to lie. We've actually had a really good crowd without students. [Fans] get rowdy the same way some of the students do. But of course I'm not going to put that past the students, the students got it. The students in The Kennel, they're always going to have my heart. And I feel like everyone as a whole, I wouldn't just want to put them in categories. I feel like the fan base, they bring it every single game."

On Ryan Nembhard's last two games:

"He's been causing mayhem in the WCC for sure. It's just been what we've been working on all season. We've been really trying to work, you know, grind and everything. I feel like all the work is coming to light. The way he's distributing the ball is at its highest right now. I feel like that's something we'll need going forward as we try to make this run for March Madness."

On the pressure that comes with playing at Gonzaga:

"There's for sure pressure. I don't really like steering away from the fact that 'pressure's not a thing' or anything like that. I definitely feel like there's some type of pressure and I feel like that's needed in any sport. Just to have that urge or that want, that fire to win more than you usually feel like in other games. But you know, they usually see us around the No. 1 spot and that's kind of the norm. But now, we're not really that. And I'm glad to have it earlier than later. So now we have that fire."

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