Fansided

Please stop calling Gonzaga basketball a mid-major

By Chad Kutzke

Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) shoots as South Carolina Gamecocks forward Maik Kotsar (21) guards during the first half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Zach Collins (32) shoots as South Carolina Gamecocks forward Maik Kotsar (21) guards during the first half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Please stop referring to the Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball program as a mid-major because Mark Few has built an elite program.

Everyone loves the Cinderella stories in the NCAA Tournament, but Gonzaga is not one of them. Not only has Gonzaga recorded spectacular 37-1 record this year, but their success over Mark Few’s 16-year tenure has been unprecedented.

Few’s team currently has made 19 straight NCAA tournament appearances, which is the sixth longest streak all time and fourth longest active streak. The three schools with higher active streaks are Kansas (29), Duke (22) and Michigan State (20). This puts the Bulldogs in the exclusive company of some college basketball blue bloods. Throughout the 19-year streak, they have reached the Sweet Sixteen seven times, the Elite Eight three times and the first Final Four this year.

The Bulldogs have been ranked near the top of the polls all season long and are by no means an underdog in tonight’s final. According to KenPom.com, a site that tracks adjusted efficiency, Gonzaga is ranked first and is the favorite to cut down the nets. Dating back to the start of KenPom’s rankings in 2002, coincidentally the start of Few’s career with the team, the Bulldogs average KenPom ranking comes out to 23.4 overall.

So, it’s time to tone down the Gonzaga is a mid-major talk. They are an elite program who just happen to play in a conference with mid-majors. According to FiveThirtyEight, Gonzaga has a 62 percent chance to defeat North Carolina.

We should be in store for a thrilling championship game tonight.  Gordon Hayward and Butler fell a few inches short to Duke in 2010. Let’s see if they can take one home for the “mid-majors” tonight. To add icing on top of the cake, with a win tonight Gonzaga would tie the record for most wins in a single season.

Next: 3 keys to victory for Gonzaga

Will they make history and prove they are the nation’s top team? Tune to CBS at 9:20 EST to watch the action unfold as the Bulldogs look to take down the Tar Heels.

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