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Gonzaga Projected for No. 3 Seed Ahead of Saint Mary's Showdown
Bulldogs look to secure WCC regular season title with win over rival Gaels
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
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Gonzaga has secured the No. 1 seed in the WCC Tournament, but will look to win the conference outright on Saturday night with a road game against Saint Mary's. The Bulldogs are currently trending toward a No. 3 seed in the West region of the NCAA Tournament, which would put them in Portland for the early rounds. Gonzaga has a 6-1 record in Quad 1 games this season and will face a potential second-round matchup against either BYU or San Diego State if they advance.
Why it matters
Gonzaga is firmly in the conversation for a top 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and Saturday's game against rival Saint Mary's is a chance for the Bulldogs to add another Quad 1 win to their resume. The location of the West regional in Portland is an ideal scenario for Gonzaga, as it would allow their fans to easily travel to support the team in the early rounds.
The details
ESPN's Joe Lunardi has projected Gonzaga as the No. 3 seed in the West, facing off against No. 14 seed UC Irvine in the first round. The Bulldogs' potential second-round matchup would be against either No. 6 BYU or No. 11 San Diego State, two longtime rivals from the Mountain West Conference. Gonzaga has a long history of battles with both programs, including BYU handing them their only regular season loss in 2016-17 and an epic Julian Strawther game-winner in Provo in 2022-23.
- Gonzaga has secured the No. 1 seed in the WCC Tournament.
- Gonzaga will play Saint Mary's on Saturday, February 27, 2026 to try and win the WCC regular season title outright.
- Gonzaga's first game in the WCC Tournament will be on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The players
Mark Few
The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team.
Julian Strawther
A guard for the Gonzaga Bulldogs who hit a game-winning shot against BYU in 2022-23.
Russ Turner
The head coach of the UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team, Gonzaga's projected first-round opponent.
Kawhi Leonard
A former star player for the San Diego State Aztecs, who beat Gonzaga in Spokane in 2010.
What’s next
Gonzaga will get a triple-bye into the semifinals of the WCC Tournament, with their first matchup on Monday, March 9 against an opponent to be determined. The championship game will likely be against either Saint Mary's or Santa Clara, another Quad 1 opportunity for the Zags to bolster their resume even more before Selection Sunday.
The takeaway
Gonzaga's projected No. 3 seed in the West region would put them in an ideal location for the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament, just a few hundred miles away in Portland. However, the Bulldogs still have work to do, including a crucial regular season finale against rival Saint Mary's, to secure that favorable seeding and positioning.
