Gonzaga Bulldogs | 30-2
Season: 2013 West Coast Conference Tournament Champions | Ranked No. 1 In West Regional
If there’s any team that’s a favorite from the writers (not the fans) to win the 2013 National Championship, go no further than the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Although they don’t have the best players, Gonzaga’s been playing the best all-around team basketball from any of their competition throughout the whole season. The Bulldogs even achieved their first number one ranking in the school’s history yesterday getting the top seed for the West Regional in Los Angeles, as well as finishing the season as the overall 1 seed in college rankings.
Gonzaga hasn’t seen success of this level since their 2006 season which Adam Morrison led their team to a Sweet 16 appearance. We’re expecting the Bulldogs to meet the no. 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes at the West final in Staples Center and we hope they don’t get too comfortable with the lack of “sexy teams” other regionals might have to avoid being upset. Last year Gonzaga lost to Ohio St. last year’s third round and this time around they’ll no longer be a Cinderella story, as all eyes will be on them starting Tuesday.
With Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris running the show in the front court (probably the best tandem in all of college basketball), the Bulldogs have flexibility at all positions which is why they’ve only lost twice this season going 31-2. Thirteen was their unlucky number as both of their loses came to teams ranked 13 in Illinois and the one-point heartbreaker loss to Butler in January. It’s very difficult for teams to beat Gonzaga, as we’ve seen their dominance on the West Coast Conference over the weekend. Don’t let their competition in that conference or lack of until Ohio St. fool you. This team is a legit threat to win the national championship and everyone’s biggest fear to play in the tournament.
The only thing that lacks on coach Mark Few’s Bulldogs is their rebounding, which he feels they can be unstoppable if they pick up in that department along with this being his ever assembled defensive team. The ‘Zags can make the Final Four, but we’re curious how they’ll react when the whole world has eyes on them. It should be an interesting next 3 weeks which is always our favorite time of the year next to the World Series week.