Gonzaga climbs back into the AP Poll, up to 18th in Coaches

by Zach Bell on Jan 4, 2010 9:51 AM PST Comment 5 comments

Gonzaga's pair of holiday season BCS victories have netted them some great results in this weeks Associated Press and Coaches Poll. After dropping out of the AP Poll last week due to some late Duke reactions, the Zags have vaulted up to 19th as we enter conference play.

For their efforts, the Bulldogs have also crept up in the Coaches Poll from 22nd to 18th.

I really have no qualms with where GU is ranked this week. I do expect there to be quite a bit of variance when I do my weekly Rushing the Polls piece as I'm sure many voters are still a bit wary of this team after the Duke game and nearly blowing a 21 point advantage against Illinois. That being said, I'm sure many were impressed with the team's resolve as they stormed back to outlast Illinois in overtime in front of a very intense Illinois crowd at the United Center.

Gonzaga's best chance to further impress the voters might be this weekend/next week as they'll take on their biggest competition in the conference on the road as they travel to Portland and St. Mary's. The Gaels are still receiving some votes in the Coaches Poll and everyone is aware of Portland's veteran-heavy roster.

Gonzaga's only remaining big nonconference opponent is Memphis and after a loss to Tennessee, they are no longer receiving votes in either poll.

Former Gonzaga opponents Duke (5th in AP), Michigan State (10th), and Wisconsin (17th) are still solidly in both polls and Cincinnati and Wake Forest are still receiving votes in each poll.

0 recs | Comment 5 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

UW still ranked

Anyone as disappointed as I am of where UW is still ranked in the polls – WAY TOO HIGH in my opinion…very frustrated!

by AlwaysaZag on Jan 4, 2010 10:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Meh

Not really disappointed. No way they belong in the Top 25 after that Oregon game but a majority of the voters didn’t see how they lost which is why it takes teams from the Pac-10 a bit longer to fall out of the rankings.

Rest assured, they’ll be out soon. Two studs in Pondexter and IT can only carry them so far. I guess we can still call Gaddy’s performance thus far a “slump” but I was always under the impression that a slump required some sort of positive play beforehand to warrant the term.

The Slipper Still Fits - SB Nation's home for the Gonzaga Bulldogs!

by Zach Bell on Jan 4, 2010 12:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

UW ranking is just wishful thinking by AP

In the year of the PAC-00, some writers have to keep their hope alive…

Agreed…as I believe that the Cougs can beat UW and most likely will do so during conference play.

by ZagDat on Jan 4, 2010 12:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great Ranking

This is about where I assumed the Zags would be ranked after the last 3 victories.

Even though we do not play any other teams currently ranked above us the rest of the season, If the Zags just keep winning our ranking will slowly go up and up.

Same pattern every year. Teams above us lose, we keep stomping lowly W.C.C. teams, and we rise in the polls.

St. Mary’s concerns me. A mighty powerful offense and Sam"HAM" is a load. We shall see if they are all they are cracked out to be soon enough…

by gaz-tastic on Jan 4, 2010 1:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs