Any list of memorable NCAA Tournament games from the first quarter of the century undoubtedly includes multiple Gonzaga entries, both against UCLA:

— The Sweet 16 thriller in 2006, when the Bruins rallied from 12 points down in the final seven minutes, overcame Adam Morrison’s 24 points and converted the winner with 10 seconds remaining.

— The 2021 semifinal, one of the greatest Final Four games ever played, in which the Zags survived in overtime on Jalen Suggs’ 40-foot buzzer beater.

Gonzaga’s opponent Saturday is not the Bruins. It’s Houston.

It’s not the Final Four or even the Sweet 16. It’s the second round.

And the Zags, who thumped Georgia in the first round, were not a pre-tournament favorite. They were seeded eighth, a member of the working class assigned long odds and a rugged path.

But don’t be distracted by the pedestrian trappings. The 5:40 p.m. tipoff (TNT) in Wichita possesses all the ingredients necessary for a thriller.

We would not be surprised if it’s the game of the tournament.

On one bench, the Cougars: