Gonzaga’s early-season résumé is starting to take shape, and the numbers are beginning to tell a compelling story. In the first release of the NCAA’s NET rankings - the system that plays a major role in March Madness seeding - the Zags landed at No. 5, a strong position that reflects both their performance and strength of schedule so far.
Through the first stretch of the season, Mark Few’s squad has gone 1-1 in Quad 1 games and 1-0 in Quad 2, which gives them a solid foundation in the eyes of the selection committee. Those Quad 1 wins are gold come March, and Gonzaga has a chance to add another very soon.
Their showing at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas didn’t go unnoticed. A 2-1 record against quality competition helped them climb a spot in the latest AP Poll, where they now sit at No. 11 with 934 total points - just outside the Top 10. That kind of national recognition is a good sign this early in the season, especially considering the depth of talent across college basketball this year.
Advanced metrics tell a similar story. Gonzaga currently ranks No. 5 in KenPom, with the No. 7 defense and No. 13 offense in the country - a balanced profile that suggests this team can win in multiple ways.
Michigan, who took home the Players Era Festival crown, slid into the top spot in KenPom, nudging the Zags down a peg. But make no mistake: Gonzaga’s efficiency on both ends of the floor is elite.
Other advanced analytics platforms echo that sentiment. Bart Torvik has Gonzaga at No. 9, while EvanMiya slots them at No.
- When you stack all these rankings together, the early consensus is that this is a top-tier team - one that projects as a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament if the current trajectory holds.
Of course, there’s still plenty of basketball to be played, and the next big test is right around the corner. On Friday, Dec. 5, the Zags will face No.
18 Kentucky (5-2) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. That matchup offers another Quad 1 opportunity - and a chance to further solidify their standing as one of the nation’s best.
If Gonzaga can keep stacking wins against high-level opponents, they won’t be sitting just outside the Top 10 for long. This team has the tools, the coaching, and the metrics to make serious noise - both now and when the brackets start to take shape in March.