Gonzaga’s slow climb up the AP men’s college basketball rankings took another step forward Monday. After a three-week stay at fourth, the Zags moved to third in the latest poll following two more decisive wins and Virginia’s second loss to Duke in three weeks. The Blue Devils weren’t able to dislodge Tennessee from the top spot but they did cut into the Volunteers’ lead.

The second-winningest player in Gonzaga history was in attendance for the Bulldogs’ 92-62 thrashing of the San Francisco Dons on Thursday night.

The 2017 Gonzaga Bulldogs had it. The 2019 Zags definitely have it through 25 games. Basketball seasons inevitably bring ups and downs. Part of the Zags’ formula for success is they keep the downs to a minimum.

There are rulebooks, and coin flips to decide who kicks off, and the once-a-game center jump to, well, keep things fair. But in the bigger sense, there’s no fairness doctrine in sports.

There was that point late in the first half when Gonzaga took balanced offense to an extreme.

Key moment, offensive MVP and defensive MVP from Gonzaga’s 94-46 victory over Saint Mary’s at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The way Gonzaga has been playing lately, it was a good thing Sean Farnham was in Spokane to broadcast the Saint Mary’s game for ESPN2.

Brandon Clarke scored 24 points and added three more blocks to his season total as No. 4 Gonzaga thumped rival Saint Mary’s 94-46 on Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane.

Killian Tillie is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season with a partially torn ligament in his right foot.

Gonzaga is projected as the No. 1 seed in the West Region. For now.

Gonzaga has motored through the first nine games of its WCC schedule, compiling a historic winning margin along the way.