Gonzaga reaches No. 5 in AP, No. 4 in USA Today

Gonzaga’s methodical march up the rankings continued Monday when the Zags reached No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and No. 4 in the USA Today poll.

Gonzaga climbed up two spots in both polls after defeating Pepperdine and Pacific. The Zags passed bluebloods Duke and Louisville in the AP poll. The Blue Devils and Cardinals dropped ACC games. Five top 10 teams suffered conference losses last week.

The Zags (14-0) moved past UCLA and Duke in the coaches’ poll.

Gonzaga, No. 1 Villanova and No. 2 Baylor are the lone unbeatens left in Division I. The Wildcats have been AP No. 1 for five straight weeks. No. 3 Kansas and No. 4 UCLA, which absorbed its first loss last week to Oregon, round out the top five.

The USA Today’s top five: Villanova, Kansas, Baylor, Gonzaga and UCLA.

Saint Mary’s (12-1), Gonzaga’s WCC rival, remained No. 19. Arizona, which lost to Gonzaga in Los Angeles in early December, moved up one spot to No. 17. Florida, a 77-72 loser to Gonzaga in the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando in late November, is No. 24 in both polls.