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Gonzaga rolling in final WCC season, takes top-three KenPom ranking
The Gonzaga Bulldogs aren't just winning; they're putting on a clinic, a 122-50 demolition of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds that felt less like a college basketball game and more like a highlight reel from a video game on the easiest setting. In what’s being billed as their victory lap through the West Coast Conference before their 2026-27 jump to the Pac-12, Mark Few’s squad is playing with a kind of swagger and depth that has the entire college basketball world watching.Let’s break it down like we’re dissecting the latest episode of a must-watch drama. The stats from Monday night are just silly: 68% shooting from the field, forcing 23 turnovers.But the real story, the one that has the Zags' group chats blowing up, was the coming-out party for freshman guard Mario Saint-Supery. In his first collegiate start, the kid dropped 16 points, dished out 7 dimes, and snagged 6 steals, looking less like a rookie and more like a seasoned vet who stole the controller.And it wasn't just a one-man show—ten of the eleven players who stepped on the court scored, which speaks to a bench depth that’s the envy of every program in the nation. This isn't just a team; it's a well-oiled machine with multiple weapons, the kind of roster construction that makes you think Few has been playing a long game of NBA 2K franchise mode, stacking talent for this exact moment.The result of this utter dominance? A meteoric rise to the No. 3 spot in the notoriously nerdy and respected KenPom rankings this week.For a program that has been the king of the WCC for what feels like forever, this is a massive statement. It’s the equivalent of a mid-major finally getting the respect it deserves on the national stage, but with the added pressure of knowing the clock is ticking on their time in this conference.Coach Few, with three regular-season WCC crowns already gleaming, has been vocal about the mission: leave an indelible mark on the league on their way out. With a roster that leans more on experienced veterans than raw, returning talent this year, the vibe around the program is that this is a final, focused push for glory before the landscape changes entirely.But let's not start planning the Pac-12 welcome party just yet. The schedule, as it always does in college hoops, is about to get real.The Zags are staring down a gauntlet that would make any coach sweat. First up is a showdown with No.11 Alabama, a team known for its pace and physicality. Then, after a brief breather, it's a back-to-back of Maryland and the blue-blooded powerhouse, No.12 Kentucky. These next three games are the true litmus test.Are the Zags just a big fish in a small WCC pond, or are they legitimate national title contenders ready to brawl with the SEC's best? It’s the kind of high-stakes, early-season drama that makes college basketball the best reality show on television. The narrative is perfect: the beloved, consistently excellent program on the cusp of a new era, trying to prove its mettle against the traditional giants one last time before joining their ranks. The entire sport will be watching to see if this KenPom ranking is a fleeting moment or a prophecy of a deep March run.
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