It feels weird to even say it. Gonzaga is the biggest name in college hoops that hasn't actually touched the trophy. They’ve been at the top of the mountain for two decades, looking at the peak, but they just can't quite plant the flag. Honestly, if you follow college basketball, you know the deal. Every March, we ask the same question: Is this the year for the Gonzaga basketball NCAA championship run?
The Zags are currently sitting at #9 in the AP Poll as of mid-January 2026. They are 17-1, crushing the WCC again, and Mark Few is still stalking the sidelines with that same focused look. But that "0" in the national title column is the elephant in the room. It’s not for lack of trying.
The Near Misses That Still Sting
You can't talk about the Gonzaga basketball NCAA championship quest without talking about 2017 and 2021. Those weren't just "good years." They were "destiny" years. Or they were supposed to be.
In 2017, they finally broke the Final Four glass ceiling. They faced North Carolina in a game that was, frankly, a bit of a rock fight. Nigel Williams-Goss was playing on one good ankle. Przemek Karnowski was battling in the post. The Zags actually led 35-32 at the half. But the whistles started blowing—everyone was in foul trouble—and UNC just ground them out. 65-71.
Then came 2021. That team was a juggernaut. Jalen Suggs hitting the miracle buzzer-beater against UCLA in the semifinal is arguably the greatest shot in the history of the tournament. Seriously, if you haven't rewatched that bank shot from the logo recently, do it. But after that emotional high, they ran into a Baylor team that looked like they were playing at 1.5x speed. Baylor jumped out to a 10-point lead before most people had finished their first beer. 86-70. Total heartbreak.
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A Program Built on Stability (and Spite)
Mark Few has been the head coach for 27 seasons. That is unheard of. Most guys would have taken the Kentucky or Indiana bag years ago. Few stays in Spokane. He fishes. He wins.
Since 1999, the Zags have:
- Made every single NCAA Tournament (except 2020 when it was canceled).
- Reached the Sweet 16 fourteen times.
- Made the Elite Eight six times.
- Gone to two National Championship games.
They aren't a mid-major anymore. Not really. Next year, in 2026-27, they’re officially heading to the Pac-12. The days of the "Cinderella" tag died back when Adam Morrison was crying on the court in 2006. Now, they're the villains. People love to see them fail because they’re so consistently good.
Why the Gonzaga Basketball NCAA Championship is So Elusive
Critics love to point at the West Coast Conference. They say Gonzaga plays "nobody" for three months and then isn't battle-hardened for the tournament.
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That’s kinda lazy.
Look at their non-conference schedules. They play Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State every year. This season, they’re 17-1 with a 10-game win streak. Graham Ike is playing like a First-Team All-American, and Ryan Nembhard is essentially a pro-level floor general. The talent is there.
The real issue is often just the "single-elimination" chaos. In a seven-game series, Gonzaga probably beats that 2017 UNC team. In one game? Anything happens.
The 2025-26 Outlook: Can They Do It?
Right now, the Bulldogs are the favorites to win the WCC title again. Graham Ike just won Player of the Week for the third time this season. Braden Huff is a beast in the preseason All-WCC picks. They have the depth.
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But there’s a new pressure this year. With the move to the Pac-12 looming, this feels like the "Last Dance" for the WCC era. They want to leave the conference with a ring, not just another "Participant" banner.
- Key Strength: Offensive efficiency. They move the ball better than almost anyone in the country.
- Key Weakness: Perimeter defense against elite, athletic guards (the Baylor problem).
- The X-Factor: Ryan Nembhard’s health and assist-to-turnover ratio. He already broke the WCC assist record last year. If he's elite in March, they're scary.
Actionable Steps for Zags Fans and Bettors
If you're looking at the Gonzaga basketball NCAA championship odds for 2026, keep a few things in mind. Don't just look at the record.
- Watch the Quadrant 1 Games: Their blowout wins against Portland don't tell us anything. Look at how they handle physical teams like Arizona or Iowa State (who are currently #1 and #2).
- Track the "Big Man" Foul Trouble: The Zags rely heavily on Graham Ike. If he gets two quick fouls in a tournament game, the whole system wobbles.
- Ignore the "Mid-Major" Narrative: It’s 2026. This is a blue-blood program in a small-market zip code. Treat them like you’d treat Kansas or Duke when evaluating their ceiling.
They’ve done everything else. They’ve had the National Player of the Year. They’ve had the #1 overall seed. They’ve had the lottery picks like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Suggs. All that's left is that one Monday night in April.
Whether it happens in 2026 or after they move to the Pac-12, the Gonzaga story isn't finished until they get that parade through downtown Spokane. It’s not a matter of "if" anymore—it’s just a very loud "when."
Next Steps:
- Monitor the AP Top 25 weekly to see if Gonzaga climbs back into the Top 5 before the WCC Tournament.
- Check the NET Rankings; Gonzaga currently has six WCC opponents in the Top 120, which helps their seeding more than in previous years.
- Watch the WCC Championship in Las Vegas (March 2026) to see if they can maintain their defensive intensity against a scrappy Saint Mary's squad.