No. 1 Gonzaga Will Steal the Show and Win the Championship
As the No. 1 team in the country with seven straight WCC regular season titles under their belt, it is evident that no other team than Gonzaga will win the championship this year.
Gonzaga has proven their ability to win the championship multiple times throughout the season with their steady numbers and consistent players. As a team, the Zags currently lead the West Coast Conference in 14 different categories with four Bulldogs named to the All-WCC First Team, which is only the third time in league history a team had four WCC first team selections. With a perfect 16–0 record in the conference, the Bulldogs are the first team since the 2012–13 season with an undefeated conference season within the WCC.
For the fourth time in program history and second time this season, the Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 overall, which was decided in the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches’ Top 25 polls as of March 4. With a field-goal percentage of 53.4 and averaging 89.9 points per game, the Zags lead the nation in these respective categories.
Rui Hachimura has undoubtedly been a key component in leading Gonzaga on both sides of the court. Hachimura is ranked third in the WCC averaging 20.6 points per game and has scored in double-digits in each of the Zags’ 31 games this season. The Japan native ranks sixth in the league for shooting 61.3 percent from the field and ranks eighth with 6.6 rebounds per game.
Along with the outstanding numbers, Hachimura was titled the All-WCC Player of the Year this year. Throughout the year, Hachimura recorded multiple WCC accolades including being named WCC Player of the Week three different times.
Brandon Clarke is another important asset to the Bulldogs that will help advance Gonzaga to winning the championship. Clarke tops the nation shooting 68.8 from the field, which is on its way to setting the new WCC record. Clarke has tallied 99 blocks just this season, which has broken the GU single-season record and is second-most in the country (15 blocks away from the record).
The redshirt junior leads the conference and is ninth in the country for making 70.5 percent of his shots inside-the-arc. Ranking eighth in the WCC, Clarke is averaging 16.6 per game and has recorded 47 dunks this season. In addition to these accolades, Clarke was named Defender and Newcomer of the Year by league officials.
Both Hachimura and Clarke are seemingly the dynamic duo that will help push Gonzaga to the trophy, along with the rest of the talented roster. The Gonzaga men’s basketball team has the power to take down any other team in the championship and ultimately bring the prized trophy home.
