Hoops royalty Andrew Gaze reflects on his Seton Hall success as two Aussies look to continue the proud NCAA tradition

Australian basketball royalty Andrew Gaze set the NCAA March Madness tournament alight back in 1989. Now, 35 years on, two young Aussie stars are set to make their mark.

When Aussie hoops royalty Andrew Gaze set the NCAA March Madness tournament alight for Seton Hall in 1989 there was no internet and mobile phones.

Gaze – as a rare “foreigner” in a historically American dominated competition – starred to steer Seton Hall to the NCAA final.

The Pirates weren’t a powerhouse school, so their rise on the back of a sharpshooting Aussie captured the imagination of America.

Gaze was even plastered on the front cover of Sports Illustrated after being named the West Regional MVP.

His Seton Hall success was also big news in Australia – with Channel 7 broadcasting the Final Four Games and iconic anchor Derryn Hinch doing a live cross to ‘Gazey’ after the final.

Andrew Gaze launches a Seton Hall attack . . . soon he and the other Melbourne Tigers may be playing against his former college team.

Sadly for Gaze, the Pirates lost the national championship game to Michigan in controversial circumstances in overtime.

Seton Hall led by one point with three seconds left when a contentious foul was called to send Michigan to the line to seal a one-point win.

The result still hurts Gaze to this day, but he also appreciates how his role in the NCAA’s pinnacle game helped to put Aussie hoops on the map.

36 years on, two Australians in guard Tyrese Proctor (Duke) and forward Alex Condon (Florida) will compete in the March Madness Final Four on Sunday in front of a global audience.

And then there were TWO Aussie men into the #FinalFour in the 2025 NCAA Tournament!😤

🇦🇺Alex Condon / Florida🐊
🇦🇺Tyrese Proctor / Duke🔵👿#AussieHoops#MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/w63fb9Byh6

— The Pick and Roll 🇦🇺🏀 (@PickandRollAU) March 30, 2025

Proctor and Condon are on opposite sides of the draw, but could face off in the national championship final.

The sight of two Aussies on the big NCAA stage prompts an emotional response from Gaze.

“It is an exciting time and these two Aussies are going to have an incredible experience that will live with them for the rest of their lives,” Gaze told Code Sports.

“There have been other Aussies come and go who have experienced a Final Four, but in US sports the NCAA tournament is regarded as one of the pinnacles.

“It is much loved and much watched and the revenue it generates is right up there with the biggest sports in America.

“It is one of those events that captures the attention of the entire country – it has definitely evolved into that.

“It is an event in itself and to get there isn’t easy.”

Tyrese Proctor is among the most highly touted Australian prospects. Picture: Getty

Gaze should know. His Seton Hall weren’t expected to defy the odds to reach the National Championship Game.

Yet through hard work – and a bit of luck – the Pirates went on to shock the basketball world.

Gaze has achieved so much in a stellar career – including championships, an NBA call-up and representing his beloved Boomers – but his stint with Seton Hall holds a special place in his heart.

“It was a long time ago, but for me it was one of the more memorable experiences that I’ve had,” he said.

“It was a little different in my set of circumstances because back then there wasn’t a lot of international players at the college level.

“So, it was kind of a novelty. There had been foreigners before, but not necessarily through to the final four.

Alex Condon has made an impact for the Florida Gators. Picture: getty

“The combination of that and Seton Hall being a very small school and over-achieving, brought a lot of attention onto the school and me being a foreigner I that environment meant I got more exposure than you normally would.

“It also came during a time when the sport was growing rapidly here and because it was unusual in America it started to get some attention.”

Gaze couldn’t be happier Sydney-born Proctor and Perth-raised Condon to reach the NCAA Final Four.

Both players have had significant impacts on Duke and Florida’s path to the penultimate games of the NCAA season.

Proctor dropped 17 points to help the Blue Devils beat Alabama in the East Region Elite 8 game, while Condon had seven points and seven rebounds in Gator’s corresponding West Region Elite 8 victory over Texas.

Gaze urged both young Aussies to enjoy the Final Four occasion, especially with NCAA hoops now broadcast on a world-stage.

“Now you can consume the NCAA in so many ways, so it is not like we are debrided of it now,” he said.

“The coverage that college basketball gets – if you want to watch it – is quite extensive these days.

“I think for Australians it is very significant because there are so many Aussies playing at the college level in both men and women.”

Originally published as Hoops royalty Andrew Gaze reflects on his Seton Hall success as two Aussies look to continue the proud NCAA tradition