Despite the 65-62 loss to UCLA, the Zags are within the Associated Press’s Top 20 at the start of West Coast Conference play.
The Zags (9-4) drop five spots to #19 in the eighth regular season edition of the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Gonzaga received a total of 383 votes.
UCLA (11-2) moved up seven spots to #15 with 571 votes. For the third week in a row, Saint Mary’s (11-3) received 0 votes.
BREAKING: College Basketball AP Poll https://t.co/bxFpYFy0om pic.twitter.com/B22cqFbBaC
— On3 (@On3sports) December 30, 2024
In KenPom, Gonzaga stay put at #6 overall behind #5 Iowa State, #4 Houston, #3 Tennessee, #2 Duke, and #1 Auburn. The Zags have the #4 adjusted offensive efficiency and the #23 adjusted defensive efficiency.
In the NET rankings, Gonzaga places at #6 behind #5 Houston, #4 Florida, #3 Duke, #2 Tennessee, and #1 Auburn. The Zags have a 2-4 record in Quad 1 games and 2-0 in Quad 2 games. Five other West Coast Conference programs rank in the Top 100 with Oregon State (#52), Saint Mary’s (#56), San Francisco (#58), Washington State (#68), and Santa Clara (#78).
As of right now, the remaining Quad 1 opportunities for Gonzaga would be at Oregon State, at Saint Mary’s, and at Washington State. Gonzaga plays Pepperdine in Malibu on Monday, December 30th at 7 PM PT on ESPN+/KHQ.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho