Zags’ Strawther may jump to NBA after sad ending in Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two nights after JulianStrawther exuberantly stormed through the tunnel at T-Mobile Arenafollowing his 3-pointer from the March Madness logo that liftedGonzaga past UCLA, his walk to the locker room Saturday night wassomber.

Strawther and Drew Timme embraced one another, with towelsdraping their heads while tears welled their eyes, after thethird-seeded Bulldogs were throttled by No. 4 seed Connecticut82-54 in the West Region final.

It wasn’t the ending the pair envisioned to their final gametogether with the Zags.

“We love each other,” said Strawther, who finished with 11points and six rebounds. “We had a lot of great moments on thecourt together and we were able to share this jersey. Being thatit’s his last game in a Gonzaga jersey and that it’s the last timewe share the court together, it was obviously a sour feeling.”

Strawther didn’t discuss his own future, but there’s a chancethe Las Vegas native’s college career also came to an end in hishometown.

Strawther considered leaving for the NBA last season, but afterattending the draft combine and doing private workouts for severalteams, he announced he was returning to Gonzaga.

Now, after a stellar junior campaign that saw him average 15.2points and 6.2 rebounds, Strawther is sure to be on the NBA radaragain.

“I’ll definitely be thinking about that at a future time. It’sin the back of my mind right now,” said Strawther, who has beenrepresented by the Los Angeles-based Wasserman agency since lastsummer. “It’s the last thing I’m thinking about. I’m just thinkingabout sharing this moment with me and my team.

“Just knowing that that specific group of guys will never sharethe court again, it’s just the worst feeling coming into thislocker room and it’s dead silence. We’ve just been through so muchtogether. We’ve been going at it since the summertime and justbuilding up for these moments and when it all comes to an end soabruptly, it’s so quick. It just hurts.”

The athletic 6-foot-7 swingman has been projected as a latefirst-round or second-round pick in the draft.

“Unbelievably proud of him and his journey,” said Strawther’sfather, Lee. “Three Sweet 16s, two Elite 8s, one Final Four and onechampionship game — not too many players get to say that. Proved heis a real player and an even better young man. He has a greatfuture ahead of him and I’m proud to be his father.”