Gonzaga men’s basketball earned a No. 7 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports/Coaches preseason poll, marking its 12th consecutive year ranked in the top 20. This is also Gonzaga’s 15th consecutive appearance in the coaches’ preseason rankings. Kansas leads the poll and takes the top spot for the second year in a row, while Alabama and UConn follow close behind. Gonzaga will face several tough opponents, including No. 8 Baylor in the season opener and No. 22 UCLA later in December.

Through the numbers

• Gonzaga is ranked No. 7 in the poll with a total of 575 points.
• Kansas, ranked No. 1, received 15 of 31 first-place votes.
• Gonzaga starts the season ranked in the top 20 for the 12th consecutive year.

Yes but

While Gonzaga remains highly ranked, they face a challenging schedule, including several matchups against ranked teams that could impact their ranking early in the season. The matchup between UCLA and Kentucky offers significant tests in highly competitive environments.

state of affairs

• Gonzaga officially opens the regular season against No. 8 Baylor on Nov. 4.
• The Bulldogs will also face No. 22 UCLA and No. 23 Kentucky in high-stakes games.

What’s next?

Gonzaga will look to capitalize on its strong preseason placing by securing wins against its ranked opponents. These games could determine the course of the rest of the season and impact future rankings.

Conclusion

Gonzaga’s solid preseason placing is a testament to their continued competitive success, but their performance against elite teams will be critical to maintaining momentum and positioning in the NCAA landscape.