Bracket Projection: Gonzaga
They're big, deep and loaded with scoring; it's Final Four or bust for the Zags
The Gonzaga Bulldogs enter the NCAA tournament as the top-ranked dog in all of the land, according to the polls. Will a team that seems to have kicked the "mid-major" label for good finally live up to the big-time aspirations that come with its ranking? Will the Bulldogs finally be able to break through and make the Final Four or, better yet, cut down the nets in Atlanta?
ESPN Insider has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of Bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams, in order to help you make smart picks in your bracket. Plus, as Lunardi fills out his bracket, he'll give you his prediction on how each team will fare.
Lunardi's Logic
The Bulldogs were one of my preseason Final Four selections, but no one could have anticipated the first No. 1 seed in school history. That lofty status is legitimate, however, and the Zags catch a bit of a break as the Committee paired them with the weakest No. 2 seed (Ohio State). Gonzaga is more than capable of beating every team in its path on the way to Atlanta, and I expect the Zags to do exactly that.
Lunardi's Logic
The Bulldogs were one of my preseason Final Four selections, but no one could have anticipated the first No. 1 seed in school history. That lofty status is legitimate, however, and the Zags catch a bit of a break as the Committee paired them with the weakest No. 2 seed (Ohio State). Gonzaga is more than capable of beating every team in its path on the way to Atlanta and I expect them to do exactly that.
TOURNEY PROFILE
Best wins: West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas State
Worst losses: at Butler (OT), Illinois
To read the complete tournament guide preview for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, and gain access to all of ESPN Insider's NCAA tournament coverage, sign up today.
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Insider Tourney Guide

Joe Lunardi and his team of analysts have broken down every NCAA tournament team's strengths, weaknesses and player tendencies.
EAST REGION
- 1. Indiana vs. 16. LIU or James Madison
- 2. Miami vs. 15. Pacific
- 3. Marquette vs. 14. Davidson
- 4. Syracuse vs. 13. Montana
- 5. UNLV vs. 12. California
- 6. Butler vs. 11. Bucknell
- 7. Illinois vs. 10. Colorado
- 8. North Carolina State vs. 9. Temple
MIDWEST REGION
- 1. Louisville vs. 16. Liberty or NC A&T
- 2. Duke vs. 15. Albany
- 3. Michigan State vs. 14. Valparaiso
- 4. Saint Louis vs. 13. New Mexico State
- 5. Oklahoma State vs. 12. Oregon
- 6. Memphis vs. 11. MTSU or St. Mary's
- 7. Creighton vs. 10. Cincinnati
- 8. Colorado State vs. 9. Missouri
SOUTH REGION
- 1. Kansas vs. 16. Western Kentucky
- 2. Georgetown vs. 15. Florida Gulf Coast
- 3. Florida vs. 14. Northwestern State
- 4. Michigan vs. 13. South Dakota State
- 5. VCU vs. 12. Akron
- 6. UCLA vs. 11. Minnesota
- 7. San Diego State vs. 10. Oklahoma
- 8. North Carolina vs. 9. Villanova
WEST REGION
- 1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Southern
- 2. Ohio State vs. 15. Iona
- 3. New Mexico vs. 14. Harvard
- 4. Kansas St. vs. 13. Boise St. or La Salle
- 5. Wisconsin vs. 12. Ole Miss
- 6. Arizona vs. 11. Belmont
- 7. Notre Dame vs. 10. Iowa State
- 8. Pittsburgh vs. 9. Wichita State
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