Gonzaga’s latest win didn’t just add another tally to the W column - it sent a message. The Zags took down then-No.
25 UCLA, 82-72, in a high-energy showdown at Climate Pledge Arena, and that victory was enough to nudge them up to No. 7 in the latest AP poll. Notably, this jump came in a week where none of the top 10 teams lost, which tells you just how much weight voters gave to Gonzaga’s performance - and their résumé.
Now sitting at 10-1, Gonzaga leapfrogged Houston, who held a 10-point edge over the Zags in the previous poll. This time around, the Cougars trail by 30 points in the voting, despite both teams winning. That swing is a testament to the strength of Gonzaga’s schedule - and how they’ve handled it.
The win over UCLA marked Gonzaga’s fourth Quad 1 win of the season and their fifth against a ranked opponent at the time of the game. That’s elite company. Only a handful of teams - including Arizona, UConn, Duke, Michigan, and Michigan State - can match that level of high-quality wins.
UCLA, now 7-3, didn’t fall off the radar entirely. The Bruins still received 16 poll points, making them the sixth-highest team outside the top 25. But the bigger takeaway here is how Gonzaga continues to stack meaningful wins - and how that’s shaping their national standing.
The Zags have two non-conference games left before WCC play begins. They’ll host Campbell on Wednesday, then wrap up the non-league slate with a neutral-site matchup against Oregon on Sunday at the Moda Center in Portland. The Ducks, who were flirting with the top 25 in the preseason, have had a rocky stretch but snapped a five-game skid with a statement win over UC Davis, 104-62.
Meanwhile, Arizona - coached by former longtime Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd - continues to look like the team to beat. The Wildcats strengthened their grip on the No. 1 ranking with a 96-75 road win over Alabama. Arizona is now 9-0 and earned 42 of 61 first-place votes from the AP panel.
Alabama, who lost to Gonzaga earlier this season in Las Vegas, dropped four spots to No. 16 after the defeat. It’s worth noting that Gonzaga is now 3-0 against SEC opponents this season, with wins over Alabama, Kentucky, and Oklahoma - a clean sweep that further cements their top-10 status.
Michigan, the only team to hand Gonzaga a loss this season - a lopsided 101-61 result in Vegas - holds the No. 2 spot. They’re followed by Duke, Iowa State, UConn, and Purdue, rounding out the top six ahead of the Zags. Houston, Michigan State, and BYU complete the top 10.
Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga’s familiar WCC rival, took a tough loss to Boise State in Idaho Falls and saw their poll points drop by 26, leaving them with 12. The Gaels, now 0-2 in Quad 1 games, haven’t been able to build the kind of résumé that Gonzaga has.
And they’re not alone - WCC teams not named Gonzaga are a combined 0-12 in Quad 1 opportunities this season. That stat looms large when it comes to NCAA Tournament projections and seeding.
Arizona State, another team that faced Gonzaga earlier this season (a 77-65 loss in Tempe), pulled off a comeback win over Santa Clara in Vegas, erasing a 19-point deficit to win 82-79. It was the kind of gritty performance that keeps them in the conversation, even if they’re still outside the top 25.
From a conference power perspective, the SEC leads the way with seven ranked teams, including No. 13 Vanderbilt.
The Big 12 isn’t far behind, boasting four teams in the top 10 and six overall in the top 25. The Big Ten rounds out the top three with five ranked teams.
The USA Today coaches’ poll mirrors the AP rankings closely, with Gonzaga also sitting at No. 7 there. The top six in that poll are Michigan, Arizona, Duke, Iowa State, UConn, and Purdue - the same group Gonzaga is chasing in the AP poll.
In the NET rankings - one of the key tools the NCAA selection committee uses - Gonzaga climbed to No. 3, just behind Michigan and Duke. Arizona and Iowa State round out the top five. That’s a strong position to be in with March in mind.
Other notable NET rankings include Alabama at No. 14, Saint Mary’s at 23, Kentucky at 27, UCLA at 42, Oklahoma at 50, and Arizona State at 51. Santa Clara and Pacific, two more teams on Gonzaga’s radar, sit at 57 and 84, respectively.
KenPom also paints a favorable picture for the Zags. They’re in the top five overall - alongside Michigan, Iowa State, Duke, and Arizona - and rank sixth in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. That balance is a hallmark of elite teams and a big reason why Gonzaga is being projected as a No. 2 seed in most bracket forecasts.
Bottom line: Gonzaga isn’t just winning - they’re building a résumé that stacks up with the best in the country. With two more non-conference games to go, they’ve got a chance to fine-tune before WCC play begins. And if they keep this up, a top seed in March is well within reach.