Tuesday night was a wild night in College Basketball, and the biggest beneficiary was the team that didn’t play. With losses to its 3 neighbors in the AP Top-4, Gonzaga has the inside track to the #1 ranking when the next poll is released on Monday. However, it’s not a lock yet as an impressive showing by Kansas in its big game against Kentucky this weekend could sway the voters to keep them ahead of the Zags. We’ll find out soon enough.
- Myron Medcalf says stop bashing Gonzaga, because this team is for real.
- In his latest NCAA Power Rankings, Mark Titus over at The Ringer, lays out a great argument against the Gonzaga haters. He hit all the right notes in his section regarding the Zags (he has them power ranked 3rd), so if you haven’t read it already, make sure to do so.
- Good article on the basketball transformation Rui Hachimura needed to make at Gonzaga, and the hopes his nation has for him as its prized basketball talent.
- The Zags join the company of 10 other teams since 1992 who achieved a 20-0 record. Unfortunately, none of the 10 previous teams won the national championship, so here’s hoping the Zags buck the trend.
- Because your week just wouldn’t be complete without another “Will the Zags go undefeated” article.
- Matt Brown over at Sports on Earth believes, as many of us do here, that the Zags should no longer be considered a mid-major or “Cinderella” team.
- Last week, Jill Barta earned a spot on NCAA.com’s Starting Five as one of the top women’s basketball players in the country for her performances against Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary’s.
- The Sporting News gives Gonzaga the final #1 seed in its projected bracket over Kentucky, with the Wildcats’ losses to UCLA and Louisville giving the Zags the final top spot.
- After Tuesday night’s shenanigans, Gonzaga rises to #1 in Gary Parrish’s Top 25 rankings for CBS Sports. With 5 wins over KenPom Top-45 teams, which is more than Kentucky, Arizona, UCLA, and Duke can claim, the Zags have earned their ranking.
Next on the schedule:
Men’s Basketball: v. San Diego (1/26 at 6:00pm PT), @Pepperdine (1/28 at 7:00pm PT)
Women’s Basketball: @San Diego (1/26 at 6:00pm PT), v. Pepperdine (1/28 at 2:00pm PT)