Among men’s college basketball’s blue bloods and new bloods, where does Gonzaga rank?
As Gonzaga prepares to face Kentucky this weekend in Seattle, the game offers an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable men’s basketball program head coach Mark Few has built at the small Catholic school in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga, despite being in a mid-major conference, has become a dominant force in college basketball, with a strong claim to being one of the top programs of the 21st century. The Bulldogs have consistently reached the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the past nine years, a feat unmatched by any other program, including traditional powerhouses like UConn, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, and Kentucky. Additionally, Gonzaga leads all Division I programs with 24 NCAA tournament victories since 2016.
Though they play in the West Coast Conference, Gonzaga has a strong record against power conference teams, boasting a 32-14 record against them in the current decade. Against some of the most historically successful programs, including Duke, Kansas, and Kentucky, the Bulldogs are 10-1 in head-to-head matchups since 2019-20.
Despite their dominance, Gonzaga has yet to secure an NCAA championship, and their inability to reach the Final Four more than twice (with two runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2021) keeps them from claiming the title of the top program of the 21st century. Other schools like UConn, with five NCAA titles since 2000, have a stronger claim to that title.
As the Zags prepare for their game against Kentucky, the Wildcats are looking to recover from a recent upset loss to Clemson. Kentucky’s coach Mark Pope, who has faced Gonzaga’s program multiple times with Utah Valley and BYU, is well aware of the strength of Few’s team. Despite all the success, Gonzaga’s ultimate goal remains to win the NCAA Tournament and complete their legacy as a true college basketball titan.
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