Weekly Zag Briefing

The Zags are still undefeated and national interest is sky-high. There should be enough here to keep you all busy until Selection Sunday!

• The Denver Post profiles Josh Perkins and his role on the nation’s #1 team.
• Jim Meehan writes that the growth of Silas Melson’s game can be tied to the growth of his confidence.
• Przemek Karnowski is one of ten finalists for the 2016-17 Senior CLAAS award given to the student-athlete who uses their platform to make a positive impact in their community. Fans can vote on this award, so let’s stuff the ballot for Przemek who from my own personal experience is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.
• While you’re in the voting mood, make sure to cast a vote for Mark Few who is representing the Community Cancer Fund in the Coaches Challenge.
• Gonzaga’s naysayers aren’t going to get to Nigel Williams-Goss and the rest of the team.
• Seth Davis wonders whether everyone is sleeping on Gonzaga, as they are the only team in the country that checks all the boxes.
• Emerald City Swagger takes a look at how far this Gonzaga team could go this spring.
• 24/7 Sports examines which teams could give Gonzaga problems in the tournament.
• Sporting News thinks this is the year Gonzaga proves all the doubters wrong.
• On his podcast, Gary Parrish advocates for the Zags to get better than the fourth overall 1-seed. He also wrote about the Zags passing their final eye test over the weekend in the win against Saint Mary’s. And finally, Parrish released his most-recent Top 25 Rankings, with the Zags holding down the top spot ahead of Villanova.
• Jeff Borzello at ESPN includes Zach Collins in his list of breakout players who could leave their programs early and how their unexpected departures may be addressed on the teams they leave behind. Hopefully, Collins sticks around beyond this season.
• Mark Few is on ESPN’s short list for Coach of the Year candidates.
• The Zags have moved up 4 spots in ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) Rankings.
• Joe Lunardi’s most recent bracketology update is fairly consistent with the Committee’s Top-16, and has the Zags as the #1 seed in the West region. Lunardi also wrote that the Zags should be a little disappointed that the Committee only gave them the fourth-overall #1 seed.
• Looking for tickets to a game at the Kennel? Good luck!