Houston coach emphasizes correct pronunciation of Gonzaga

Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson is known for being particular about names. This became clear when he corrected a reporter who mispronounced Gonzaga ahead of their upcoming game in March Madness 2025. During a press conference, a reporter mentioned Gonzaga but said it incorrectly as “Gun-zah-ga.” Sampson quickly interrupted him and clarified, "It's Gon-zaa-ga." He expressed that mispronunciations are something that frustrate him. He compared it to people calling him "Kevin" instead of "Kelvin," which is his correct name. Sampson shared how his mother taught him the importance of getting names right. He emphasized the correct pronunciation of both Gonzaga and Spokane, saying that they had been neighbors. The Cougars, a No. 1 seed, recently won their first game against SIU Edwardsville, with a score of 78-40. Players Milos Uzan and L.J. Cryer were key contributors, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively. Sampson praised the team's defense and rebounding skills. Meanwhile, Gonzaga, the No. 8 seed, also had a strong performance, defeating Georgia 89-68. Khalif Battle led Gonzaga with 24 points in that game. The highly anticipated matchup is set for Saturday, with a broadcast team from TNT ready to cover it. Fans hope they will pronounce everything correctly.