The Gonzaga Bulldogs opened the season as the No. 14 team according to the AP voters. For much of the fan base, that seemed like the right number—good, but not too good.
There was reason to be tempered about this squad. Teams don’t lose players of the caliber of Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis and just bounce back. Teams also don’t come into the season with so many new faces expected to play key roles throughout the season. Everyone knew the Zags had the potential to be good, but as the 2015-16 season showed, sometimes potential doesn’t always flesh out the way it is supposed to.