NCAA Basketball: UConn, Iowa State, Auburn rise in latest top 25 power rankings

19. Gonzaga (25-7)

This hasn’t exactly been a typical season at Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have been regulars in the NCAA Tournament for the last quarter century but there was some doubt before a big push in February and early March. Gonzaga will be in the Big Dance again even though this team is a step beneath what they’ve been in recent years as a national contender.

A few weeks removed from more Quad 1 success, the Bulldogs took care of business in the WCC semifinals, wining 89-77 over San Francisco on Monday. They got their third win of the season over the Dons, getting 20 points from Nolan Hickman and double-digit efforts from all five starters. Despite winning at Saint Mary’s less than two weeks earlier, the Bulldogs fell to the Gaels in the title game, losing 69-60. Anton Watson had 18 points and 7 rebounds but Gonzaga lost to Saint Mary’s for a second time.

There are still reasons for worry if you’re a Gonzaga fan, especially with these losses to the Gaels. Gonzaga’s offense has been overpowering down the stretch, though many of those games came against weak WCC teams. Some recent defensive struggles could lead to an early exit from the Tournament if they aren’t shored up. Could this team actually surprise some people this season?