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Gonzaga is considered one of the most prestigious basketball schools in the country and one of the staple programs of March Madness. The program has appeared in the tournament 24 times, including making it to the Sweet 16 on 10 occasions and reaching the Final Four twice.
In total, they are 41-24 in the tournament play but have yet to secure an NCAA championship. They have been given the No. 3 seed in the West region of this year's bracket.
Gonzaga (28-5) will face off against No. 14 seed Grand Canyon University (24-11) in the opening round on Friday.
Why did Gonzaga make March Madness?
It was another successful season for the Bulldogs as they went 28-5, including 14-2 in the West Coast Conference, and finished the regular season ranked ninth. Critics of the program point towards a weak WCC that paves the way for Gonzaga's success. This is also often brought up as a reason for them not making deep tournament runs in years past.
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There is still plenty of reason for optimism for this Gonzaga team this year. They are led by senior Drew Timme, who has one of the most accomplished resumes across the entire tournament. The two-time WCC Player of the Year and two-time consensus All-American is averaging 20.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season.
The backcourt duo of Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton are also vital to their play and combine for 25 points per night, while forward Anton Wallace adds 11.3 ppg.
During the regular season, Gonzaga was the country's highest-scoring team. The Bulldogs made a strong statement to wrap up conference play by dismantling Saint Mary's, who ended the season ranked 19th, in the conference tournament championship game 77-51. The team also leads the nation in offensive efficiency and ranks in the 97th percentile for 3-point shooting.
The Bulldogs, who have won nine consecutive games, are tied for the seventh-best odds to win the entire tournament. Considering they are a No. 3 seed, these are optimistic odds.
With a true college star in Drew Timme, strong guard play, high-level shooting and an accomplished coach, there are plenty of ingredients for Gonzaga to make a run.
The Bulldogs' opening matchup will tip off on Friday at 4:35 Pacific Time, when they will begin chasing their tournament goals.
