Gonzaga Basketball: Why Bulldogs can reach the Final Four in 2019

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 25: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs cuts down the net after their 83 to 59 win over the Xavier Musketeers during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at SAP Center on March 25, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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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) /

Another NCAA Tournament, another appearance for Gonzaga Basketball. The Bulldogs will aim to extend the nation’s longest active Sweet 16 appearance streak, and go beyond it, as they grabbed the No. 1 seed in the West regional.

For the third time in program history, and the third time in six seasons, the Gonzaga Bulldogs have been awarded a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs finished the season 30-3 and notched important wins over Duke, Washington and Saint Mary’s (twice) along the way to its 21st straight NCAA Tournament Appearance. Mark Few’s team will return to the court for the first time since losing by 13 to Saint Mary’s in the WCC Tournament Final, as they take on Fairleigh Dickinson Thursday at 7:27 p.m. ET.

Two years ago, the Zags finally broke through to the Final Four as a No. 1 seed, and this year seems as good as any for Gonzaga to repeat this task and finally cut down the nets as National Champions. That season, the Bulldogs finished as the No. 1 team in Kenpom’s final rankings, with the No. 16 adjusted offensive ranking and No. 1 adjusted defensive ranking. This year, the Zags enter the Big Dance as the No. 2 team in Kenpom (just like UNC was in 2017), with, ironically, the No. 1 offense and the No. 16 defense. Like the Bulldogs of 2017, the Zags have nationally recognized players in nearly every position.

Running the floor for Gonzaga then was Nigel Williams Goss, while the Zags have fifth-year Josh Perkins taking the reign this year, with great confidence. As for the menacing frontcourt of the national runners-up two years, Few relied on Johnathan Williams, now a two-way player in the NBA, and Przemek Karnowski, the seven-foot, 300-pound behemoth. Again, the parallel exists, as the Bulldogs are anchored by the exciting Rui Hachimura and the menacing, defensive presence that is Brandon Clarke. Here are three keys for the Bulldogs to reach Minneapolis and potentially win the national title in a few weeks.