Weekly Zag Briefing

Lots of articles to dive into so don’t waste time up here!

• By now, must of us assumed that Zach Norvell is taking a redshirt this season, but we haven’t heard anything remotely official regarding Norvell’s status since the start of the season back in November. This excellent piece by Jim Meehan focusing on the work Norvell has been doing throughout this season essentially serves as confirmation that Norvell is taking a redshirt as he works his way back from knee surgery.
• Myron Medcalf writes that Gonzaga has nothing left to prove this season, even if it drops a game to the Gaels this weekend. This team is legit.
• Our friends in the SB Nation network did a radio interview with Josh Perkins, and our point guard discussed the undefeated season so far, and how he landed at Gonzaga.
• Jim Boeheim thinks Gonzaga will play in the Final Four this season.
• On the flip side, Pat Forde at Yahoo identifies the Zags as one of the teams on a roll this season, but doesn’t trust them to make the Final Four. Whatever you say, Pat.
• Bleacher Report thinks this is hands down the best Gonzaga team Mark Few has ever coached.
• There are some big rivalry games this week, and NCAA.com highlighted a few of them, including the Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s tilt this weekend.
• Rob Dauster at NBC Sports writes that it doesn’t make sense to discuss anyone else for the #1 ranking because Gonzaga has earned it.
• Some love for Rem Bakamus from his hometown paper, who rightly recognizes his role as being Gonzaga’s top glue guy. There are some good quotes in there from teammates about what Rem brings to the squad.
• Jay Bilas, whose opinion I value above any other college basketball analyst, explains in this video why this is the year the Zags make the Final Four.
• Despite sitting in pole position atop the AP Poll for the last two weeks, Gonzaga finally broke into the top spot of Jeff Goodman’s Power Rankings after winning in Provo and notching a win without Nigel Williams-Goss at home against Santa Clara.