So we are in the thick of the NCAA Basketball season and I LOVE this season! The only thing better would be if Kentucky was ranked #1. Which leads me into my interest this week, the NCAA rankings. As I write this article we are in week 13 of the college basketball season and Gonzaga is ranked #1. Which they should be, they are UNDEFEATED! 22-0. I was very tempted to really let myself go off on the writers and voters if they were not number one. I’m a fan of Gonzaga because I think Mark Few is a great coach and quietly built a powerhouse in the Northwest.
Now I know they have not won a National Championship but they have many accolades which have drawn a great class of players to Spokane. Currently they are the only undefeated team left in top 25 but can they continue to run the table and hold on to that top stop for the rest of the year? That remains to be seen. The media hub and most basketball fans east of the Mississippi do not get to see much of the Zags. The start times of their games are usually very late but if you have the ability to watch a game you will be witness to a well coached team who deserves that spot up top.
Since Mark Few took over in 1999 they have made it the round of 32; fifteen times, sweet sixteen; seven times and cruised into the elite eight; two times. Gonzaga is a force to be reckoned with believe it or not and Mark Few is in the conversation of elite coaches. Since he arrived at the school he has a coaching record of 466-111 which all you Mathletes know translates to a .808 winning percentage. If that doesn’t spell elite then I don’t know what does. With 8 games remaining on their schedule they have a very good chance of finishing off the 2016-17 campaign unblemished.
If you want a chance to see what they can do tune into ESPN2 on February 2 at 8pm when they visit BYU(16-7) and 12-1 at home. Gonzaga is averaging 85.2 points per game while giving up 61.4. Their counterpart BYU is averaging 82.6 and giving up a whopping 72.7. I for one will be watching this game because for the remaining schedule of Gonzaga this will be a test they have to ace! Remember, this is my opinion and if I want yours I’ll give it to you.
Twitter: @stroudrounder