Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga falls, UNC rises in latest AP Top 25

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Norvell Jr.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Norvell Jr. /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts with teammates Josh Perkins #13 and Corey Kispert #24 during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Zach Norvell Jr. #23 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts with teammates Josh Perkins #13 and Corey Kispert #24 during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

1. Big picture for Gonzaga

Let’s talk more about those suddenly struggling Gonzaga Bulldogs.

On the heels of two straight losses, Gonzaga has sank from the top spot in the AP Top 25 all the way to their lowest ranking of the year: No. 8.

Alright, life isn’t too hard in Spokane right now.

The path back to No. 1 this season may already be closed, though.

Gonzaga had three major tests on their non-conference schedule. They aced the first one, a Maui Invitational title game win over Duke. But they faltered against the two other ranked squads on their schedule, Tennessee and North Carolina.

None of their remaining non-conference games are against major conference opponents, so Gonzaga is poised to lose some luster in the coming weeks.

Normally, the West Coast Conference would keep the Zags a little bit relevant, largely due to the presence of Saint Mary’s and BYU.

This season, however, looks like an uncharacteristically down year for the programs that tend to shine well upon the WCC outside of Spokane.

San Francisco is 10-1 and picked up a couple of votes in the latest AP poll. Loyola Marymount is 10-1 as well, although belief in them is limited at the moment.

But BYU and Saint Mary’s are a combined 15-10, an underwhelming mark for two teams that usually round out the top three in the conference.

It seems as if the opportunity for Gonzaga to impress any AP voters may have come and gone. Even if they run through the rest of their schedule for the year, climbing back to the top spot may be too tough an ask.

Week 7 Power Rankings. dark. Next

Mark Few’s squad will rue their missed opportunities of the past couple of weeks.