As Selection Sunday looms, Gonzaga fans have plenty to feel optimistic about. The Zags are on the cusp of their 27th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, and the buzz around their potential seeding is palpable. While the official bracket won’t be unveiled until after 3 p.m. on Sunday, the consensus among mock brackets is that Gonzaga will kick off their tournament journey at the Moda Center in Portland.
The past couple of years saw Gonzaga navigating the tournament from less favorable positions, including a tough No. 8 seed in 2025 that pitted them against No. 1 seed Houston early on. This year, however, projections are more promising.
Most bracketologists have Gonzaga pegged as a No. 3 seed, with a few suggesting a No. 4.
Bracket Matrix, which aggregates over 130 bracket predictions, leans towards a No. 3 seed, giving them a 3.14 average.
Interestingly, there’s chatter about a potential first-round showdown with Idaho, a team making its first tournament appearance since 1990. Idaho’s unexpected run through the Big Sky Conference Tournament as a No. 7 seed has set the stage for this intriguing matchup. With a 14.88 average on Bracket Metrix, the Vandals are teetering between a No. 14 and No. 15 seed, aiming to avoid the First Four games in Dayton.
Conference tournaments wrapping up on Saturday night have added a layer of complexity to the seeding puzzle. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi initially slotted Gonzaga as a No. 3 seed, only to later drop them to a No. 4, elevating Virginia instead. This was before Virginia’s narrow loss to Duke in the ACC championship, a result that wasn’t reflected in Lunardi’s last update.
The competition for a No. 3 seed is fierce, with Gonzaga vying against teams like Virginia, Illinois, Purdue, Nebraska, and Vanderbilt. Purdue has one more shot to bolster their case in the Big Ten championship against a formidable Michigan team, which handed Gonzaga a heavy defeat earlier in the season and might claim the No. 1 overall seed.
Gonzaga’s regular-season schedule has prepared them well, featuring matchups against seven teams likely headed to the tournament, including West Coast Conference rivals Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara. The Broncos, fresh off a key WCC Tournament win over Saint Mary’s, are poised for their first NCAA appearance since 1996.
As the clock ticks down to Selection Sunday, Gonzaga’s path in March Madness is becoming clearer. With a strong seed and a potential home-court advantage in Portland, the Zags are well-positioned to make a deep run.
Fans are ready, and so is the team. Let the madness begin!