After three of the top four ranked teams in college basketball were upset Tuesday, mid-major powerhouse Gonzaga is poised to move up from No. 3 to become the new No. 1 ranked men’s basketball team in the country.
After No. 1 ranked Villanova lost to Marquette 74-72, No. 2 Kansas lost to No. 18 West Virginia 85-69 and No. 4 Kentucky lost to Tennessee 82-80, Gonzaga was the only team in the top ten to win Tuesday night, defeating Portland 83-64. The Bulldogs will be the fifth different team to reach No. 1 so far this year joining Duke, Kentucky, Villanova (twice) and Baylor.
COLLEGE HOOPS IS CRAZY. pic.twitter.com/ekVaFG3Wns
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) January 25, 2017
At 19-0, Gonzaga is the only undefeated team left in men’s basketball. And barring defeat against San Diego and Pepperdine this week, Gonzaga is going to be the top ranked team in the country.
Many will be quick to point out that Gonzaga hasn’t played anybody but that isn’t really a fair point to make. Sure, because Gonzaga is in the West Coast Conference, their conference schedule is weaker than most teams in the top ten. But Gonzaga has shown that they can defeat whoever comes before them. Gonzaga’s non-conference schedule included victories against Florida, current No. 7 rank Arizona and a Tennessee team who just upset Kentucky.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga’s biggest test will be against No. 21 St. Mary’s, who Gonzaga previously defeated 79-56. Chances are Gonzaga is likely to run the table and if they do, essentially cement a number one seed in the NCAA tournament.
