It’s Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs as Gonzaga and Georgia collide Thursday in Wichita, setting the stage for an intense first-round NCAA Tournament showdown.
A Familiar March Madness Stage
Gonzaga isn’t new to this. The Zags are stepping into their 26th straight NCAA Tournament appearance — the third-longest active streak in the country, trailing only Kansas and Michigan State. Mark Few’s squad has been here before. In fact, they’ve been here a lot. With 43 NCAA Tournament wins under Few’s leadership, Gonzaga ranks fourth among active programs, sitting behind coaching giants like John Calipari, Bill Self, and Tom Izzo.
This year, the Zags enter as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, a spot they’ve held twice before. Wichita, though, is uncharted territory for them in March Madness. Still, history leans their way: Gonzaga holds a 17-2 record in first-round games as a single-digit seed.
Georgia, meanwhile, arrives with a 20-12 record, landing the No. 9 seed. This marks their first tournament appearance since 2015 — and they’ll need to bring their best to upset a Gonzaga team that’s made nine straight Sweet 16 appearances.
Record-Breaking Numbers Define the Zags’ Season
Gonzaga’s offense remains a juggernaut. They rank second nationally in both scoring (86.6 points per game) and field goal percentage (50%). Their free throw shooting is just as lethal — 80.1% from the line puts them third in the country.
Ryan Nembhard has been the driving force behind the Zags’ offensive engine. The junior guard shattered the West Coast Conference’s single-season assist record with 325 dimes, eclipsing the previous mark of 284. He also led the nation with 9.8 assists per game, pairing that with an impressive 4.28 assist-to-turnover ratio — second-best in the country.
Nembhard’s vision isn’t just historic for Gonzaga — it’s NCAA history. He joined an elite group as the 51st player in Division I to surpass 800 career assists, now sitting at 863 and counting.
But he’s not alone. Gonzaga boasts three All-West Coast Conference First Team players: Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, and Graham Ike. Hickman’s emergence as a scoring threat, alongside Ike’s inside dominance (59.6% shooting, second-best in the WCC), makes this one of Few’s most balanced lineups.
Defensive Edge and Consistency
While Gonzaga’s offense draws headlines, their defense has quietly climbed the rankings. Since January 24, the Bart Torvik computer metric pegs the Zags as the eighth-best team in the country — a balance of the 13th-best offense and 14th-best defense.
Few’s Bulldogs have built a reputation for playing their best basketball when it matters most. They’re one of just two programs — Kansas being the other — to win an opening-round game in each of the last 15 tournaments. And when they make it to the Sweet 16? It’s practically a tradition, with the Zags holding the nation’s longest active streak at nine straight appearances.
What’s At Stake?
Thursday’s battle isn’t just about advancing. Gonzaga carries a legacy of postseason dominance, earning more NCAA Tournament “units” — a measure tied to revenue distribution — than any other program in the past seven seasons. For Georgia, a victory would mark a statement return to the national stage under head coach Mike White.
Players to watch:
- Ryan Nembhard: NCAA’s assist leader with 325 and counting.
- Graham Ike: Second in WCC field goal percentage (59.6%).
- Khalif Battle: Third nationally in free throw shooting (92.9%).
Gonzaga’s March Madness résumé speaks for itself — but Georgia’s hungry, scrappy squad won’t make it easy. One thing’s certain: only one set of Bulldogs will survive and advance.
