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Gonzaga Rises in Updated Bracketology Projection Ahead of Selection Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Patton | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 2:30 PM ET

The Gonzaga Bulldogs have not played since Tuesday night when they defeated Saint Mary's, 58-51, in the WCC championship.

The win secured Gonzaga's spot in the NCAA Tournament and put the Zags in a position to potentially avoid a No. 8 or No. 9 seed. Being on the 8/9 line significantly alters the team's chances of extending their Sweet 16 steak to ten seasons, as they would likely have to face one of the No. 1 seeds in the second round.

Some bracketologists still have Gonzaga as an eight seed, most project them as a seven seed, and still others think Mark Few's team could even climb all the way to a No. 6 seed.

The latter category includes Rocco Miller, who revealed his updated projections on Field of 68 Friday, which has the Zags as a No. 6 seed in Milwaukee facing the play-in winner between (11)Xavier and (11)North Carolina.

Both Xavier and North Carolina lost in their respective conference tournaments, with the Musketeers falling by two to Marquette on Thursday while North Carolina lost an absolute heartbreaker to Duke on Friday, with a lane violation on a free throw costing the Tar Heels a chance to tie the game in the final seconds.

A No. 6 seed against a play-in opponent is an ideal draw for Gonzaga, pitting the well-rested Zags against a team that likely played 2-3 games in the week leading up to the matchup. It also gives Gonzaga a clear path to the Sweet 16, in this case with the Zags facing a banged up Iowa State team that did not have star guards Tamin Lipsey or Keshon Gilbert in their loss to BYU in the Big 12 Tournament.

Saint Mary's is also projected as a No. 6 seed in Miller's updated bracket, taking on No. 11 seed San Diego State in Denver.

Kentucky (2), UCLA (5), UConn (8), and Baylor (10) are also projected in the field, with both West Virginia and Indiana playing each other on the bubble to earn a 12 seed.

Selection Sunday and the official reveal of the NCAA Tournament bracket will begin on Sunday, March 16 at 3:00 PM PT on CBS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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