It’s almost hard to believe Gonzaga has now beaten San Francisco 34 straight times. That’s not a typo - thirty-four.
And yet, if you’ve watched these two go at it over the years, it never really feels like a sure thing. The Dons always seem to push the Bulldogs to the brink, but Gonzaga just keeps finding ways to come out on top.
That latest win at the Kennel on January 24 wasn’t just another notch in the streak - it came at a pivotal moment in the national rankings. With Purdue stumbling through a winless week and Houston falling on the road to Texas Tech, the door opened for the Zags to climb.
And climb they did. Voters in the AP poll bumped Gonzaga up two spots to No. 6 - their highest ranking of the season so far.
Now, with 21 wins and an unblemished 9-0 record in WCC play, Gonzaga is building a strong case not just for a top seed in March, but for national relevance in a year where the top of the college basketball landscape feels wide open.
But they’re not the only WCC team making noise. Saint Mary’s - sitting at 19-3 overall and 8-1 in conference - is lurking.
The Gaels picked up three votes in the latest AP poll, and they’ve got their eyes set on a massive showdown with Gonzaga on Saturday, January 31 in Spokane. That one tips at 7:30 p.m.
PT on ESPN, and it’s the kind of game that could swing the momentum of the entire WCC title race.
And while Santa Clara didn’t get any votes this week, don’t sleep on the Broncos. They’re very much in the mix on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
The WCC might not get the national spotlight the Power Five conferences do, but make no mistake - this league has been one of the best mid-major conferences in the country for years now. And this season is no exception.
With Selection Sunday now just 48 days away, Gonzaga is tracking toward a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, though there’s some debate about whether they’re closer to a No. 3. Either way, they’re in a strong spot - and they’ve got the numbers to back it up.
In the NET rankings, the Bulldogs are holding steady at No. 4.
They’ve gone 3-1 in Quad 1 games and a perfect 5-0 in Quad 2. That’s the kind of résumé that tournament committees love to see.
KenPom paints a slightly different picture - Gonzaga sits at No. 9 there, with the No. 19-ranked offense and the No. 8-ranked defense. That defensive efficiency has been a quiet strength for Mark Few’s squad, and it’s what could separate them come March.
Bottom line: Gonzaga’s not just winning - they’re building a case. And with the WCC heating up and a marquee matchup with Saint Mary’s on deck, we’re about to learn a lot more about just how high this team’s ceiling really is.