Mark Few continues his perfect track record with Gonzaga basketball, earning his 26th consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs have concluded their dominant stint in the WCC by doing the only thing they know how to — raising a banner. They have now tallied 22 WCC Tournament titles, earning the No. 3 seed in the West Region with a 30-3 record.
How they got there:
Gonzaga’s regular season resume made them a virtual lock for a top-five seed in the NCAA Tournament. Other than a November stomping at the hands of Michigan, a strange slip-up at Portland in early February, and a hard-fought loss at Saint Mary’s to end regular season action, the Bulldogs have relentlessly stacked wins for five months.
The WCC Tournament rewards its top two teams with an automatic trip to the semifinals, and the Bulldogs certainly took advantage. An 11-point win against Oregon State, followed by a 9-point victory over Santa Clara, was all Gonzaga basketball needed to cut down the nets once again. The Bulldogs shot nearly 60% from two-point range in those two contests.
General information:
Team: Gonzaga
Location: Spokane, WA
Record: 30-3 (16-2)
Head Coach: Mark Few (27th season overall, all at Gonzaga)
What to know about Gonzaga basketball:
Gonzaga’s identity resides around their defense, which ranks ninth nationally in KenPom efficiency. They allow opponents to shoot just 30.8% from three and 46.2% from inside the arc, which rank 31st and 16th, respectively. Emmanuel Innocenti, a rangy 6-foot-5 wing, is capable of shutting down opposing guards, along with 6-7 guard Tyon Grant-Foster and his elite athleticism.
On the offensive end, everything runs through WCC Player of the Year and four-time all-conference honoree Graham Ike. At 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, the back-to-the-basket big man is a load to handle in the post, where he can go into his deep bag, distribute the rock, and even let a jumper fly if you sag off too much. Ike is averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists this season.
NCAA Tournament prediction for Gonzaga basketball: Sweet 16 Exit
Seed: 3
With five healthy seniors averaging at least 17 minutes per game, the Bulldogs have the necessary experience to win in March. Ike will be a force to handle, and they will be difficult to score on. This will go far against 14-seeded Kennesaw State in the first round and 6-seeded BYU or 11-seeded Texas in the Round of 32.
However, at some point, Gonzaga’s lack of elite guard play and shotmaking will come back to bite them. If we see chalk again, the Bulldogs would line up with 2-seeded Purdue in the Sweet 16. The Boilermakers’ fast pace, playmaking from the soon-to-be all-time assists leader in Braden Smith (not to be confused with Gonzaga guard Braeden Smith), and prolific outside shooting could give the Zags trouble.