Gonzaga Basketball: Zags open 2020-21 as #1 in AP Poll

Gonzaga basketball
Gonzaga basketball

A new first for Mark Few and the Gonzaga basketball program. The Associated Press has the Zags ranked number one in their preseason poll.

The College basketball writers echoed the sentiments of Zags fans on Monday. They believe this edition of the Gonzaga Basketball team is the best squad in the country. The Associated Press came out with their first basketball poll of the 2020-21 season on Monday, with the Bulldogs in the number one spot.

A preseason number one ranking is another feather in head coach Mark Few’s hat. Under his leadership, the Zags have won the West Coast Conference, earned a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament, and hit a number one ranking several times during the regular season. After this preseason honor, the only thing left on Few’s “to-do list” is to bring a National Championship back to Spokane.

Gonzaga has plenty of opportunities to prove they are the top dogs in college basketball. They open the season at the Fort Myers (Florida) Tip-Off event. First up is number six, Kansas, on November 26. The next night, the Bulldogs face SEC West contender, Auburn.

After the first teat is over, it’s on to the Jimmy V. Classic for a tilt with 12th ranked Tennessee on December 2. The Zags will stick around Indianapolis for a few days for a December 8 match up with number two Baylor. No one can accuse the Gonzaga basketball program of dodging the competition.

The Zags will stick around Indianapolis for a few days for a December 8 match up with number two Baylor. The pre-conference gauntlet ends with Gonzaga playing fifth-ranked Iowa on December 12 in Sioux Falls, SD.

Kispert an All-American

The AP writers must like Gonzaga this year. On Wednesday, Corey Kispert was named to their Preseason All-American team. The 6-7 forward was one of six players selected for the honor. Last year, Kispert averaged 33 minutes, 13.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He declared for the NBA Draft last spring but, on further consideration, decided to come back to Gonzaga for his senior year.

No NBA for Petrusev

Last summer, there was some head-scratching when West Coast Conference Player of the Year Filip Petrusev left Gonzaga for the professional ranks. He signed with a team in his native Serbia and declared himself for the NBA Draft.

Fast forward a few months, and Petrusev is tearing up Serbia’s ABA League. So far, the 6-11 forward averages 21.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game for his team Mega Soccerbet. The numbers were good enough for him to be the league’s Player of the Month for October.

Petrusev must be enjoying himself back home; he withdrew from the NBA Draft on Tuesday.

Are you excited for Gonzaga basketball to start the season? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.

Share: