9. Gonzaga (15-1)
Unlike nearly every other team in these rankings, Gonzaga doesn’t have a tough road ahead during conference play. The Bulldogs had to build their resume early before diving into WCC play, taking advantage with wins over Alabama, Kentucky, and a few other notable programs. You won’t find many chances for Gonzaga to build on that resume ahead but that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs won’t be challenged either.
An eventful week started with ease, as Gonzaga coasted to a 96-56 win at Pepperdine while getting 18 points from Tyon Grant-Foster off the bench. Tuesday’s game suddenly became a closer call, but the Bulldogs held on for a 99-93 win at San Diego. Jalen Warley came off the bench for 22 points and 14 rebounds in that win. Friday was the most shocking result of all, as Gonzaga actually trailed at the half and needed overtime to win 80-72 at home over Seattle, a newcomer to the league. Gonzaga survived thanks to 28 points from Braden Huff and 24 points from Graham Ike.
After a dominant victory and two surprisingly close calls, Gonzaga still sits at 3-0 in their conference but let’s not act like everything’s perfect. The defense hasn’t been ideal and the Bulldogs are certainly susceptible in this league. They can’t afford to play like that against Saint Mary’s in a few weeks. Still, the Bulldogs can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on the next matchups, featuring home dates with Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara.