Will Gonzaga join Big 12 or Big East? New updates emerge on Bulldogs’ conference realignment 

Gonzaga recently had rumors linking the Bulldogs to a move to either the Big East or the Big 12 quashed. College basketball reporter Matt Norlander on Monday shared on CBS Sports' "Eye on College Basketball" podcast with Gary Parrish some recent developments about the two-time runners-up's future, saying that the program isn't a candidate for the Big 12 or the Big East:

“Gonzaga … it's not a candidate at all for the Big 12, and it remains not a candidate to go to the Big East. So its future still remains an intriguing one moving forward,” Norlander said.

(from 34:50 mark onwards)

The Bulldogs and back-to-back national champions UConn were initially linked to reports of transferring to the Big 12 Conference as part of league commissioner Brett Yormack's grand plan to establish the best men's college basketball conference in Division I.

With the latest development, however, Gonzaga is set to stay put in the West Coast Conference where they have been successful since joining the group in 1979.

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Gonzaga supports WCC expansion

Gonzaga center-forward Graham Ike talks to coach Mark Few (Image Source: IMAGN)

One of the possible reasons for Gonzaga's continued stay with the WCC is the league's expansion plan.

Last December, the WCC announced the addition of Washington State and Oregon State as affiliate members for the next two seasons. League commissioner Stu Jackson disclosed that Gonzaga fully supported the move.

Aside from this, the Bulldogs won't entertain such a move due to its recent success in the WCC. The Mark Few-coached team has appeared in nine straight Sweet 16s and fought for the national championship twice over the last seven years.

The conference is also highly rated on KenPom.com from 2019-2023 despite its challenges concerning the power gap between FBS and non-FBS conferences, the NIL and third-party collectives.

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Gonzaga emerges as one of the top teams in preseason rankings

Gonzaga figures prominently in the way-too-early power rankings for the 2024-25 college basketball season. They are ranked No. 5 on ESPN's list behind Houston, UConn, Alabama and Kansas.

Yardbreaker also ranked the Bulldogs No. 5 in its preseason rankings, with only Kansas, Iowa State, Houston and the highly-touted Duke within its crosshairs.

In terms of betting odds, BetMGM placed Gonzaga in joint sixth with North Carolina at +1800. They are behind Houston (+1600), Alabama (+1200), Duke (+1000), Kansas (+1000) and UConn (+900).

The narrative of Gonzaga being one of the strongest teams in the nation will likely stay for a long time whether they'll stay put in the WCC or move to another conference. The program has been solid for several years under coach Mark Few despite the emergence of various factors that affected the team's composition and dynamics.

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Will Gonzaga surpass its Sweet 16 finish from last season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.