WCC Power Rankings, February 4th
By Josh Horton
Jan 29, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; The Gonzaga Bulldogs bench reacts after guard Gary Bell, Jr. (not pictured) made a three point shot during the second half of the game against the Santa Clara Broncos at Leavey Center. The Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 54-52. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
1. Gonzaga
Last Week: 3
Record: 20-3 (10-1)
RPI: 21
KenPom: 26
Place in Conference Standings: 1
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are starting to pull away in the WCC standings. With back-to-back victories over Santa Clara and San Francisco, the Bulldogs have asserted themselves as the overall frontrunner in the WCC, especially with Saint Mary’s and BYU struggling the way they are.
Defeating the Broncos was not an easy task like most would assume it would be. It took a Sam Dower 3-point jumper with 1.9 seconds left to propel the Bulldogs over Santa Clara and avoid an upset.
The Zags’ fared much better against the Dons. Gonzaga claimed a lead in the early stages of the game, and although they got close, San Francisco could not snatch that away from them and the Bulldogs ended up winning by a score of 75 to 65.
The Bulldogs have a huge week coming up. The Zags’ host the Portland Pilots, which claim the Bulldogs only loss during conference play this season, as well as a rare February non-conference game against the Memphis Tigers at the Fedex Forum.