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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga No. 1 in Andy Katz’s power rankings

Gonzaga wing Zach Norvell Jr. (23) drives to the basket against Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament round-of-32 game against Ohio State. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

Add Andy Katz to the growing list of college basketball observers that think Gonzaga is in store for a big 2018-19 season.

The Zags are No. 1 in Katz’s pre preseason Power 36, followed by Kansas, Virginia, Tennessee and Nevada. Defending national champion Villanova is No. 10.

Katz, a former ESPN reporter who is a correspondent for NCAA.com, cites the Zags’ experience and the fact that they came through the early-entry NBA Draft process unscathed. Rui Hachimura, Killian Tillie and Zach Norvell Jr. declined to enter their names in the draft.