If you’ve been paying attention to the college hoops world lately, you know the vibes in Spokane are a little different this year. It’s January 2026. The snow is piling up outside the McCarthey Athletic Center, and once again, the national conversation is revolving around whether Mark Few’s squad is "actually" as good as the numbers suggest.
Honestly, the Gonzaga men's basketball ranking has become a sort of Rorschach test for college basketball fans. Some see a perennial juggernaut that refuses to go away. Others see a team inflated by a conference they’re about to leave behind.
But let’s look at the cold, hard numbers for a second.
As of the January 12, 2026, AP Poll update, Gonzaga sits at No. 9 in the country. They actually slipped a spot from No. 8 last week, mostly because Nebraska and Vanderbilt are currently on absolute tears, both remaining undefeated deep into the winter. But being the 9th best team in America with a 17-1 record? That’s not exactly a "down year."
The NET Ranking vs. The Eye Test
Here is where it gets interesting. While the human voters in the AP Poll have the Zags at 9, the computers—specifically the NCAA’s Evaluation Tool (NET)—are even more in love with them.
The Gonzaga men's basketball ranking in the NET is currently No. 6.
Why the discrepancy? Basically, the NET doesn’t care about "momentum" or "storylines." It cares about efficiency. Gonzaga is currently:
- Killing teams on the glass (rebound margin of +10.8).
- Shooting the lights out (top 10 nationally in three-point percentage).
- Boasting a 3-1 record in Quad 1 games.
That 101-61 loss to Michigan back in November at the MGM Grand Garden Arena? That was ugly. Real ugly. It’s the kind of loss that makes voters hesitant to put them in the top five. But since then, they’ve ripped off 10 straight wins, including a dominant 94-59 dismantling of Kentucky in Nashville.
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You can’t just ignore a 35-point win over a blue blood, even if Kentucky is having a weird year.
What the AP Poll is Saying (Jan 12, 2026)
To give you some context on where they stand among the elite, here’s how the top of the board looks right now:
- Arizona (16-0)
- Iowa State (16-0)
- UConn (16-1)
- Michigan (14-1)
- Purdue (15-1)
... - Nebraska (16-0)
9. Gonzaga (17-1) - Vanderbilt (16-0)
It’s a crowded house at the top. You've got four undefeated teams still standing, which is rare for mid-January. The fact that Gonzaga is sandwiched between Nebraska and Vanderbilt—two teams having historic, "once-in-a-generation" seasons—tells you how high the floor is in Spokane.
The Graham Ike Factor
You can't talk about the Zags' success this season without talking about Graham Ike. The man is a walking double-double.
Most people around the West Coast Conference (WCC) think he’s the frontrunner for Player of the Year. He’s currently averaging nearly 20 points a game and doing it with an efficiency that makes opposing coaches lose sleep. Paired with Braden Huff, Gonzaga has a frontcourt duo that can basically bully anyone not named Arizona or Houston.
There was some talk early in the season about whether Emmanuel Innocenti or Ryan Nembhard would be the focal point, but it’s clear: this team goes as Ike goes. When he’s in foul trouble, the Zags look mortal. When he’s on the floor, the Gonzaga men's basketball ranking looks like it should be even higher.
The "Final Season" Narrative
This isn't just another year. This is the swan song.
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Gonzaga is officially heading to the Pac-12 (along with Washington State and Oregon State) starting in the 2026-27 season. Because of that, every WCC game feels like a "last hurrah."
They are currently 5-0 in conference play. Saint Mary's is also 5-0.
We’ve seen this movie before. Randy Bennett and Mark Few staring each other down for the regular-season title. But this time, it feels more permanent. If Saint Mary’s can knock them off in their final year, it’s a bragging rights victory that will last a lifetime. On the flip side, the Zags want to ride off into the sunset with one more trophy to pack in the moving truck.
Is the Ranking Sustainable?
The biggest criticism of the Gonzaga men's basketball ranking is always the schedule. "They don't play anyone in January," the haters say.
And look, there's some truth to that. When you play Pepperdine (who is 0-6 in the WCC) or San Diego, your NET ranking can actually drop even if you win, simply because the strength of schedule takes a hit.
However, the Zags have some tricky hurdles left:
- At Washington State (Jan 15): The Cougars are moving to the Pac-12 too. They’d love nothing more than to wreck GU’s top-10 standing in front of a rowdy Pullman crowd.
- Saint Mary's (Jan 31): The first of two meetings. This is basically a playoff game for seeding.
- The "Trap" Games: Santa Clara (NET 51) and San Francisco (NET 103) are actually decent this year. If Gonzaga sleepwalks through a Thursday night road game, they’ll tumble out of the top 10 faster than you can say "bracketology."
Mark Few’s Milestone Year
Lost in the shuffle of poll movements is the fact that Mark Few just hit 750 career wins. He did it back in December.
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Only Adolph Rupp reached that mark faster.
Think about that for a second. We are watching one of the greatest coaching runs in the history of the sport, and we kind of just take it for granted because the Zags are "always" ranked. But maintaining a top-10 Gonzaga men's basketball ranking for 27 years isn't normal. It's a statistical anomaly.
What’s Next for the Zags?
If you're looking for actionable insights on where this team is going, keep an eye on the "Quad" wins. Right now, Gonzaga is 3-1 in Quad 1. They need at least two more of those to secure a 2-seed in the Big Dance. Joe Lunardi and the Bracketmatrix folks currently have them as a 2-seed (the 8th overall seed in the tournament), but that can change in a heartbeat.
Your Move:
If you're a fan or a bettor, watch the injury report on Ryan Nembhard. His steady hand at the point is what allows Ike to dominate the paint. If Nembhard is healthy, this team is a Final Four contender. If he's banged up, they struggle against pressure—as we saw in that Michigan blowout.
The next two weeks are huge. Between the road trip to Pullman and the looming showdown with Saint Mary’s, we’re about to find out if this No. 9 ranking is a placeholder or a launching pad.
Stay tuned to the Monday AP Poll releases. In 2026, the margin for error is thinner than ever, but as long as Mark Few is on the sidelines and Graham Ike is in the paint, the Zags aren't going anywhere.