GONZAGA

Gonzaga drops out of AP men’s hoops poll after nightmare week

Jan 20, 2025, 10:48 AM

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have found themselves in an unfamiliar position: unranked.

After losing back-to-back games in West Coast Conference play, the Zags did not make the cut in Monday’s new Associated Press top 25 men’s basketball poll.

See this week’s full AP top 25 rankings

Gonzaga sits at 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the WCC this season following a 97-89 overtime loss at Oregon State last Thursday and a stunning 103-99 defeat in Spokane at the hands of Santa Clara on Saturday. It marked the first time since 2014 that the Zags lost two straight in conference play.

The Bulldogs received 34 points in the voting for Monday’s poll, making them the fourth team outside of the top 25. It’s a huge fall, as Gonzaga was No. 16 in the previous week’s rankings.

Calmese has another big game in WSU Cougars’ rout Portland 92-70

Gonzaga entered the season as the No. 6 team in the nation and even had a two-week stay at No. 3 early on, boosted by a 101-63 blowout over then-No. 8 Baylor to open the campaign. But it’s been a struggle ever since the Zags were upset over the Thanksgiving holiday break in the Bahamas by West Virginia. Besides Baylor, the only win over a ranked opponent for Gonzaga this season came on Nov. 28 over then-No. 14 Indiana. Neither Baylor nor Indiana are currently ranked. The Zags also lost back-to-back games in December to Kentucky (currently No. 9) and UConn (No. 19), and then fell again to UCLA (No. 22 at the time, now unranked) on Dec. 28.

Gonzaga will look to bounce back at 5 p.m. Saturday on the road against Portland, then will welcome Oregon State to The Kennel for a rematch at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The Zags have rarely been unranked since head coach Mark Few took over in 1999, though they did have a stretch outside of the AP poll during the 2023-24 season. Gonzaga was able to climb back into the rankings by the end of the regular season and ultimately reached its 25th consecutive  the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament for the ninth straight time.

For more on the new men’s basketball AP poll, click here.

UW Huskies retire hoops legend Kelsey Plum’s No. 10 jersey

Gonzaga

Gonzaga Bulldogs Khalif Battle...

The Associated Press

Battle’s 24 points lead Gonzaga past Loyola Marymount 73-53

Ryan Nembhard added 15 points and nine assists as the Gonzaga Bulldogs snapped the Lions' five-game win streak.

1 day ago

Gonzaga Bulldogs Mark Few...

The Associated Press

Gonzaga drops another WCC game, falls 62-59 to Saint Mary’s

Harry Wessels hit two free throws in the final minute to seal the Gonzaga Bulldogs' loss.

6 days ago

Mountain West football...

The Associated Press

Mountain West commits to remaining viable after 5 leave for Pac-12

Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez issued a statement reiterating the conference’s commitment to remaining viable when five members leave for a rebuilt Pac-12 next year.

7 days ago

Gonzaga Bulldogs Khalif Battle...

The Associated Press

Zags avenge loss, thump Oregon State 98-60

Khalif Battle scored 23 points off the bench to lift the Gonzaga Bulldogs to a West Coast Conference win.

10 days ago

AP top 25 men's basketball Auburn...

Dave Skretta

AP Top 25: Auburn, Duke top poll; UConn tumbles to No. 25

Auburn keeps winning games that come down to the wire. It’s kept them on top of the AP Top 25, too.

11 days ago

Gonzaga Bulldogs Ben Gregg...

The Associated Press

Zags bounce back from rare skid with 105-62 romp over Portland

The Gonzaga Bulldogs bounced back from two straight losses in WCC play and throttled Portland.

13 days ago

Gonzaga drops out of AP men’s hoops poll after nightmare week