Gonzaga is making a strong late-season push, and the national rankings are starting to reflect it.
After a dominant 2-0 week, the Zags inched up one spot in both the AP Top 25 and the NCAA’s NET rankings. They now sit at No. 11 in the media poll and No. 6 in the NET - a metric that carries serious weight with the NCAA selection committee when it comes to seeding for March Madness.
This climb comes at a time when the top of the rankings is seeing some shakeup. Arizona, led by former Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd, dropped from the No. 1 spot after back-to-back close losses to Kansas and Texas Tech.
The Wildcats had held the top spot for nine straight weeks but now sit at No. 4.
Michigan, which handed Gonzaga its worst loss of the season - a 101-61 rout back in November - has surged to No. 1 for the first time in over a decade. Houston and Duke follow at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
UConn rounds out the top five, followed by Iowa State, Purdue, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois. Gonzaga trails Illinois by just 35 points and holds a slim lead over No. 12 Florida by eight points.
The Zags have a résumé that’s quietly building momentum. They’ve notched four wins over teams that were ranked at the time of the matchup, including a 95-85 victory over Alabama in November - a win that looks even better now that the Crimson Tide are back in the rankings at No.
- Kentucky, which Gonzaga dismantled 94-59 in December, has since dropped out of the Top 25 but still received some votes.
Meanwhile, Saint Mary’s - a key WCC rival - picked up a few points as well.
Gonzaga’s recent performances have also tightened their grip on the West Coast Conference race. A commanding 83-53 win over Washington State at home followed by a gritty 94-86 road win at Santa Clara pushed the Zags to 25-2 overall and 13-1 in conference play. That puts them just ahead of Santa Clara (22-6, 13-2) and Saint Mary’s (23-4, 12-2) in what’s shaping up to be a tight three-way battle for the regular-season crown.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga faces San Francisco on Wednesday at the Chase Center - a neutral-site matchup with a bit of flair - before returning home to host Pacific on Saturday. Saint Mary’s, meanwhile, hits the road for games against Seattle U and Washington State before closing the season at home with marquee matchups against Santa Clara and Gonzaga.
From a metrics standpoint, Gonzaga continues to impress. They’re 6-1 in Quad 1 games and a perfect 4-0 in Quad 2 - a combination that speaks volumes to the selection committee.
Saint Mary’s is still searching for a Quad 1 win (0-3) but has been solid in Quad 2 (5-1). Santa Clara has had a tougher time in Quad 1 (1-4) but also boasts a 6-1 record in Quad 2.
Bracket projections are starting to coalesce around the idea that Gonzaga is in the three-to-four seed range. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, On3.com, and ClutchPoints all have the Zags as a three-seed, while CBS Sports, BracketMatrix.com, and Jerry Palm slot them in as a four. Either way, Gonzaga is firmly in the mix, and their stock is trending upward.
Michigan has taken over as the projected top overall seed, with Arizona sliding down a bit after its recent stumbles. Santa Clara is flirting with the bubble - Lunardi lists the Broncos among the last four teams in, while Palm has them as a 10-seed. Saint Mary’s, meanwhile, is hovering as a projected nine.
Notably, Gonzaga holds a 5-1 record against teams currently projected to make the tournament in Palm’s bracket - a stat that could help bolster their case for a higher seed come Selection Sunday.
And in the USA Today coaches’ poll? Gonzaga made another jump, moving from 11th to eighth. Saint Mary’s received two points there as well - a small nod, but a sign that voters are keeping an eye on the Gaels.
With just a few weeks left before the postseason, Gonzaga is rounding into form. The rankings are catching up, the résumé is solidifying, and the Zags look like a team no one will want to see in March.