updated 5:07 a.m. ET March 19, 2006

SALT LAKE CITY - Mike Davis wearily said goodbye to Indiana basketball, thanking his players as much for their effort over the last month as for their final game for the coach.

Gonzaga knocked Indiana out of the Oakland Regional on Saturday night, beating the Hoosiers 90-80 in the second round and making the resignation Davis announced a month ago official.

Davis didn’t show any emotion when the game ended. He just walked to meet Gonzaga coach Mark Few for a warm handshake and hug, then headed back to the Hoosiers’ locker room trying to look straight ahead.

“I can’t explain it. We’ve been through a lot together. I’m just proud of those guys,” Davis said quietly during his postgame news conference.

In six seasons, Indiana went 115-78 under Davis, who was promoted after Bob Knight’s tumultuous departure in 2000.

The Hoosiers had rallied six years ago for Davis to be hired and this year’s team supported the coach again, making the tournament with a late run in the Big Ten Conference and winning a first-round thriller over San Diego State.

“I feel more sadness for them than anything because they’ve fought hard,” Davis said.

The strain of Indiana fans who never wanted Knight to go and their scrutiny of Davis’ every move got to the coach this winter. He announced last month that this season would be his last at Indiana.

And the Hoosiers responded by winning six of their last eight.

“I feel like he really helped me grow up. I came here young, fresh out of high school and he really tested me,” guard Marshall Strickland said.

MEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT RESULTS Saturday’s games ATLANTA REGIONAL Duke 74, George Washington 61 LSU 58, Texas A&M 57 Wichita State 80, Tennessee 73 MINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL Boston College 69, Montana 56 Florida 82, UW-Milwaukee 60 OAKLAND REGIONAL Gonzaga 90, Indiana 80 UCLA 62, Alabama 59 WASHINGTON D.C. REGIONAL Washington 67, Illinois 64

The comments from Strickland and Robert Vaden, who said Davis had been a “father figure,” finally brought out the emotions in Davis, who lowered his head and tried not to break down.

Davis said his farewell in the locker room was basically for the Hoosiers to be proud of the season and to keep up with their school work. He wasn’t sure about what is next for him, only that he still wants to coach. He planned to return to Bloomington, spend a week with his family and then see what jobs are open.

“I’m hoping I get an opportunity. I’m not going to sit here and campaign for any job,” he said. “My future will take care of itself.”

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