On Tuesday night, Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs concluded their time in the West Coast Conference by defeating the Santa Clara Broncos to clinch the conference tournament title one last time before transitioning to the Pac-12. While this victory was not essential for securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, it significantly enhances the prospects for their seeding and location in the upcoming tournament.
With Selection Sunday approaching, Gonzaga”s triumph over Santa Clara places them in a favorable position to potentially earn a No. 3 seed in March Madness. This seeding would likely see them competing in the West Region, with their opening games set to take place at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. The Bulldogs, boasting a record of 30 wins and 3 losses, have compiled a résumé worthy of a top three seed. They currently sit at No. 6 in the NET rankings, featuring an impressive 7-2 record in Quad 1 games and an 11-2 mark in both Quad 1 and Quad 2 matchups combined.
Additionally, Gonzaga ranks No. 11 at KenPom and is No. 9 in wins above bubble (WAB), a crucial statistic this year for the Selection Committee. Despite a disappointing road loss to Portland, which stands out as a negative on their record, the quality of their victories and the absence of any additional poor losses should help mitigate this blemish in the committee”s evaluation.
A significant aspect that could influence Gonzaga”s seeding is the health status of star forward Braden Huff. Since mid-January, Huff has been sidelined due to a left knee injury. Initially, the team estimated his recovery timeline at 4 to 8 weeks, with Few suggesting a return closer to the latter estimate—potentially around the start of the NCAA Tournament. Recent reports indicate that Huff is making progress, jogging, taking shots, and has moved beyond crutches, although a definitive timeline for his return has not been established. The committee has historically penalized teams for injuries, and Gonzaga could risk losing a seed if Huff”s absence extends into March Madness.
Furthermore, the performance of other teams competing for 3-4 seed positions in their respective conference tournaments will also play a vital role in Gonzaga”s seeding. Programs such as Virginia, Nebraska, Purdue, Texas Tech, Kansas, Alabama, and Iowa State could adversely affect Gonzaga”s positioning if they perform well in their tournaments. Conversely, if these teams face early exits, it would pave the way for Few”s squad to secure a No. 3 seed, marking the 11th time the program has achieved a seed of three or higher in the NCAA Tournament.
Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 15, 2024, beginning at 3:00 PM PT and will be broadcast live on CBS.
