Gonzaga Bulldogs Earn No. 3 Seed in March Madness

Zags face Kennesaw State in first round, potential matchup with BYU or Texas looms

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:50pm

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The Gonzaga Bulldogs have earned a No. 3 seed in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, where they will face No. 14 Kennesaw State in the first round in Portland, Oregon. The Zags have faced significant injuries this season, including the loss of star forward Braden Huff, but still managed to win 30+ games for the ninth time in program history. Gonzaga's path to the Final Four in the West Region includes potential matchups with BYU, Texas, and Purdue.

Why it matters

Gonzaga has become a March Madness mainstay under head coach Mark Few, making the tournament for the 27th consecutive season. Despite key injuries, the Bulldogs are once again among the top contenders to reach the Final Four, which would be their eighth appearance in program history.

The details

Gonzaga (30-3, 16-2) will face Kennesaw State (21-13, 10-10 in Conference USA) in the first round. The Owls play at a fast pace and are strong defensively, but lack size to match up with Gonzaga's Graham Ike. If the Zags advance, they could face either BYU, Texas, or NC State in the second round. BYU features potential No. 1 NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa, while Texas and NC State are both top-20 offensive efficiency teams. Gonzaga's path could also include a potential Elite Eight matchup with No. 2 seed Purdue, a team they have faced twice previously in the NCAA Tournament.

  • The first round game between Gonzaga and Kennesaw State will take place on Thursday, March 19 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
  • The second round game for Gonzaga would be on Saturday, March 21 at the Moda Center in Portland.

The players

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who has led the program to 27 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.

Braden Huff

A star forward for Gonzaga who suffered a knee injury in mid-January and is considered doubtful to play in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Graham Ike

Gonzaga's starting center, who will look to take advantage of Kennesaw State's lack of size in the paint.

Jalen Warley

The Gonzaga wing who replaced Braden Huff in the starting lineup and will be tasked with defending potential NBA lottery pick AJ Dybantsa of BYU if the teams meet.

AJ Dybantsa

The star forward for BYU who is projected as a potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, posing a major matchup challenge for Gonzaga.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

If Gonzaga advances past Kennesaw State, they will play the winner of BYU/Texas/NC State on Saturday, March 21 in Portland.

The takeaway

Gonzaga has overcome significant injuries this season to earn another high seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting up potential March Madness showdowns with longtime rival BYU and perennial powerhouse Purdue as the Bulldogs look to reach their eighth Final Four under coach Mark Few.