‘Snacks’ Norvell fires up low-key Gonzaga

Zach Norvell Jr. earned the nickname “Snacks” for his affinity for candy and chocolate. Gonzaga’s coaches picked up on it when Norvell’s father used the moniker during a visit, so Snacks followed the shooting guard to Spokane.

Now Norvell is gobbling up opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

Gregarious and confident, Norvell has provided the fire the low-key Zags have needed and has them in position to make another Final Four run.

“He’s got a persona that we really need in our program right now, quite frankly,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “I call him our spiritual leader.”

Norvell has the Zags in a position few outside Spokane thought they would be: Two wins from a return trip to the Final Four.

Gonzaga reached the Final Four for the first time last season, losing to North Carolina in the title game. The Bulldogs lost key players from that team: Przemek Karnowski, Jordan Mathews, Zach Collins and Nigel Williams-Goss.

Gonzaga was picked to finish second in the West Coast Conference, but swept the regular-season and tournament titles to reach the NCAA Tournament for the 20th straight year.

Once the Zags reached the field of 68, Norvell took over.

The redshirt freshman averaged 12.3 points during the regular season, but has upped his game under college basketball’s brightest spotlight.

Norvell overcome a rough shooting night to hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 20.8 seconds left in Gonzaga’s opening-round, 68-64 win over UNCGreensboro. He followed that up by scoring 28 points, hitting six 3-pointers and grabbing 12 rebounds in a second-round win over Ohio State. The win over the Buckeyes sent Gonzaga to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season and a match-up with Florida State on Thursday in Los Angeles.

“I’m a really confident guy and the coaching staff and all the guys around me put the confidence in me,” Norvell said.

Norvell Jr.