When Mark Few took over as the Gonzaga men’s basketball coach in 1999, little did anyone know that it would be the start of an extraordinary run. With the Bulldogs coming off an Elite Eight appearance and a second-ever NCAA tournament appearance, Few stepped into a program that seemed poised for success. Fast forward to today, and Gonzaga has made the NCAA tournament every year under Few's leadership, a remarkable streak of 23 consecutive appearances.
Few finds himself tied with legendary ex-North Carolina coach Dean Smith for the third-most consecutive NCAA tournament appearances with one school. Only Michigan State’s Tom Izzo (25) and former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski (24) have longer streaks. This year, Few has a chance to surpass Smith on that list, although there's uncertainty surrounding Gonzaga's tournament prospects.
Currently unranked, the Bulldogs (18-6) face an uphill battle to secure their spot in the NCAA tournament. Bracket experts Joe Lunardi of ESPN and Jerry Palm of CBS both currently exclude Gonzaga from their projections. However, a recent road victory against Kentucky has injected some hope into the team's campaign. It marked the first time the Wildcats had lost three consecutive games at Rupp Arena and raised questions about Kentucky's defense and the future of coach John Calipari.
In recent years, Gonzaga has become a regular fixture in the NCAA tournament, often receiving a berth even if they falter in their conference tournament. This was evident in 2019 when they lost to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference title game but still earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA West Regional. Overall, Gonzaga has been a No. 1 seed four times in the past six NCAA tournaments.
This season, however, the Bulldogs haven't been as impressive, despite the significant win against Kentucky. The Wildcats, ranked 27th by KenPom, represent Gonzaga's best victory thus far. The second-highest ranked team they have beaten is San Francisco, sitting at 76th in KenPom's rankings. On the flip side, Gonzaga has suffered losses to strong teams like Purdue, Connecticut, and San Diego State.
Analytical rankings still provide some optimism for Gonzaga. They stand at No. 19 in rankings from KenPom and Bart Torvik, and No. 24 in the NCAA's NET ranking. But securing an NCAA tournament bid is far from guaranteed.
With six regular-season games remaining, including a finale against the undefeated Saint Mary's, Gonzaga's fate hangs in the balance. Experts suggest that winning all six games might be necessary to have a shot at an at-large bid should Gonzaga fall short in the WCC tournament.
It would be disappointing for Gonzaga to miss out on the NCAA tournament, considering they began the season ranked 11th in the preseason Associated Press poll. Despite losing three starters, including three-time All-American Drew Timme, the Bulldogs were highly regarded due to the return of two starters and the addition of talented transfers.
Key players like Anton Watson, Nolan Hickman, Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, and Braden Huff have been performing well, but it wasn't until the Kentucky victory that Gonzaga defeated a team projected to make the NCAA tournament. This unfamiliar situation puts pressure on Few, who has turned down numerous high-profile job offers over the years to remain at Gonzaga.
With their streak of 24 consecutive NCAA appearances, Gonzaga has firmly established itself as one of the nation's elite basketball programs. Only Kansas, North Carolina, and Michigan State have longer active streaks. Although the Bulldogs may not currently be ranked or considered national title contenders, their talented roster and Few's leadership give them a good chance of securing an impressive 25th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
As the regular season nears its end, the Bulldogs must rally and perform at their best to secure their spot in the NCAA tournament and continue their remarkable streak. Regardless of the outcome, Gonzaga's sustained success under Few's tenure is a testament to their standing as one of college basketball's powerhouses.
