Gonzaga University men’s basketball team will enter its season ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press preseason poll, marking the team’s 25th consecutive season being ranked and 16th straight season ranked in the top 25 in the preseason rankings.
Only five college basketball programs have featured in the last 16 preseason AP Top 25 rankings. Four of the schools on that list are among college basketball’s power-conference blue bloods in college basketball — Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina, with GU rounding out as the fifth team.
GU’s strong returners, continued recruitment and perennial legacy have convinced the AP sportswriters and broadcasters of GU’s top 25 credentials.
The Zags welcomed three transfers and four freshmen in an effort to replace graduates Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Khalif Battle, Ben Gregg and Michael Ajayi, as well as the minutes off the bench of Grand Canyon transfer Dusty Stromer.
Versatile guard Jalen Warley started the transfer class last November, joining GU from Virginia for his final year of eligibility. Arizona State guard Adam Miller and GCU forward Tyon Grant-Foster made their moves public during the traditional transfer portal, while freshmen Mario Saint-Supery, Davis Fogle and Parker Jefferson will look to make their marks.
GU will also benefit from the services of projected starting point guard Braeden Smith and three-point specialist Steele Venters, two players sidelined with injuries last year.
The Zags have four duels scheduled against fellow top 25 teams, starting off with a showdown in the Kennel versus No. 23 Creighton on Nov. 11, before taking on No. 15 Alabama in Las Vegas on Nov. 24. GU also has neutral-site matchups scheduled against No. 9 Kentucky and No. 12 UCLA for the second-consecutive year on Dec. 5 and Dec. 13, respectively.
Hoby Miller is a staff writer.