The Gonzaga Bulldogs currently sit at 8-0 and beat four top-16 teams so far, becoming the first team to ever do so. In fact, three of their first four wins were over top-11 opponents. To sum it up, Gonzaga is rolling. At this point, they do not have a single ranked team left on their schedule and it seems unlikely that will change. The one scenario left is to reschedule the game against Baylor that was canceled which all fans would love! However, Gonzaga is staring an undefeated season in the face.
Time to Talk Undefeated Season for Gonzaga Bulldogs
This team is absolutely stacked. It is quite possible they have three first-team All Americans which would be a feat in itself. Corey Kispert, Drew Timme, and Jalen Suggs are playing better than anyone in the nation at this point. Beyond these three, Gonzaga has tons of depth and several players that could start all over the country.
Talent Everywhere
Starting with the frontcourt, Timme and Anton Watson make up a dynamic duo that can play and score all over the court. Timme is averaging 21.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while being a matchup nightmare. His ability to stretch the court and also take bigs off the bounce is a major reason he is scoring at will.
Kispert is another player that deserves a ton of praise. He might just be the best shooter in the country but he has shown an improved ability to put the ball on the deck and get to the hoop. The athleticism is popping off the charts this year so far. He is averaging 22.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Most notably, he just dropped 32 on nine threes against Virginia.
In the backcourt, Gonzaga is certainly its deepest. Obviously, it starts with Suggs. He has been the most impressive freshman thus far. Suggs is averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists and will absolutely have a triple-double before the season ends. His ability to break down defenses and get to the hoop makes this team impossible to guard. He has also shot lights out recently.
Beyond Suggs, Gonzaga has Joel Ayayi and Andrew Nembhard who bring a lot of consistency and playmaking. The veteran presence from these two is going to play a key role in March. They can rebound too which is really important for this team because their guards might be the best rebounders on the team.
Gonzaga Can’t Be Stopped
Right now, Gonzaga is averaging 95.1 points per game. When taking into account the schedule they have played, that number is remarkable. Virginia, who was only giving up 55 points per game, just gave up 98 to Gonzaga who didn’t even have their best stuff in that game. Against the Cavaliers, Gonzaga averaged an obscene 1.42 points per possession. The pace the Bulldogs play with, paired with their ridiculous talent means they will always score above 80 points. Somehow, their turnover numbers are also very low at 12.9 per game. If they play fast, score a lot, and don’t turn it over, how do you beat them?
The one concern for Gonzaga has been their defense. They allow 76.7 points per game, but honestly, that is not bad. In the four games against ranked teams (Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa, and Virginia), Gonzaga is only allowing 1.05 points per possession which would be slightly above average in the nation. So, the opponents may score a lot, but that is because of the fast pace the Bulldogs play with. If Gonzaga plays an 80 possession game and outscores their opponent by 0.5 points each possession, you can see how games get out of hand quickly!
Can Gonzaga Finish Undefeated?
Gonzaga is more likely to finish the season undefeated than not. They will likely be double-digit favorites in 95 percent of their remaining games. The toughest games they will play are at San Francisco (who is akin to Virginia) and at BYU. Assuming Gonzaga stays healthy all year, they will not lose a game in the regular season.
When tournament time rolls around, Gonzaga will be the overall number one seed and be the odds-on favorite to cut down the nets. That is a feat that has eluded Mark Few. At this point in the season, it would be shocking to see anyone but Gonzaga win the National Championship. Baylor is really talented and the clear-cut second-best team in the nation. No disrespect to them, but they are not Gonzaga.
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