Does Gonzaga top ’96 Kentucky, ’90 UNLV as the most prominent NCAA tournament team since 1985?

Gonzaga entered the final four with a 30–0 record and was the first undefeated Division I men’s basketball team after Indiana in 1975–76.

There is more at stake. The Bulldogs positioned themselves as the most prominent tournament team in the extended bracket era in negotiations, which began in 1985, after edging out their first four opponents in the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

If Gonzaga wins all this conversation it will be more interesting.

There are teams that won the national championship after the Big Dance, with 64 teams at the forefront of those debates. UNLV dominated the NCAA tournament over Jerry Turkanian in 1989–90. Kentucky danced through Big Dance with Rick Pitino in 1995–96.

Those two teams are generally considered the norm since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams.

Is this Gonzaga team on hold? The Bulldogs have burnt through the tournament along with All-Americans Corey Kispert, Jaylen Suggs and Drew Taimi. The run continues on Saturday against UCLA in the Final Four.

The Bulldogs have a statistical case that compares this time. Sporting News takes a closer look at those numbers:

More Points: Live Score | Updated bracket | TV schedule

The best NCAA tournament run in Kentucky was

Pitino used a Kentucky roster that had nine future NBA players in the 1995–96 tournament. The Wildcats won their six tournament games at an average of 21.2 points per game, the most difference since 1985.

Here is a close look at the five national champions with the highest odds of victory in the Big Dance.

Gonzaga has beaten his first four opponents by an average of 24 ppg and has a legitimate chance to challenge that record. Just keep in mind that Kentucky defeated its first four opponents at an average of 28.3 ppg. The Bulldogs would have to win the next two matches for that match by an average of 16.5 ppg.

UNLV dominated the last two weekends

Runnin ‘Rebels won the national championship in 1990 with Jerry Tarkanian and a roster featuring three future NBA players Larry Johnson, Stacey Augman and Greg Anthony.

The Rebels were dominant from the Sweet 16 round to the national championship, a run that included a 131–101 win against Loyola-Marymount in the Elite-Eight and a 103–73 victory against Duke in the national championship game.

UNLV won those four games by an average of 17.8 points per game. Here’s a look at the five national champions, with the highest margin of victory from the Sweet 16 to the National Championship:

These are the same five teams. Gonzaga won his Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matches against Creighton and USC at an average of 18.5 ppg respectively. They require an average of 17 ppg to win the next two games. For the Rebels match.

Who was the hardest route?

Fans of those Kentucky and UNLV teams see the winning margin and play with the notion that Gonzaga is in the same sentence.

Kentucky could point to its tournament path in 1995–96. The combined seed of their six opponents was 36, and they passed through Utah with Andre Miller and Keith Van Horn, Wake Forest with Tim Duncan and UMass with Marcus Kemby before defeating Syracuse in the National Championship game.

The Final Four and Championship games were tight, but there was no question that the Wildcats were the best team.

He finished as a national runner-up in 1997 and won the national title again in 1998.

UNLV faced the teams with a combined seed of 54 overall. The Rebels defeated the Jim Jackson-led Ohio State team in the second round and were not your typical double-digit seed with No. 11 Loyola Marymount Bo Kimble. The Rebels defeated Georgia Tech and Duke in the Final Four.

Gonzaga’s combined seed total number 48 is in the final four matchups with UCLA – another team not your typical double digit seed. No. 1 Baylor or No. 2 Houston will be potential national championship matchup opponents.

One thing of the three teams is the top-notch offense. Gonzaga has a Division I-best 91.6 ppg average. UNLV averages 93.5 and Kentucky averages 91.4. For those comparing the stick, however, the Bulldogs would have to win their next two games to maintain those 90 ppg. Number.

Gonzaga’s True Trump Card

Gonzaga is related in another conversation with Kentucky and UNLV, but with different teams. The teams of UNLV 1990–91 and Kentucky 2014–15 are with the undefeated record with the final four teams reaching the final four teams.

UNLV lost to Duke in a 79–77 setback, which helped Bobby Hurley unleash a clutch 3-pointer. The Wildcats lost 71–64 to Wisconsin, led by coach John Calipari.

The trump card can draw Gonzaga if they finish work in Indianapolis.

Kentucky finished 34–2 in 1995–96, and UNLV 35–5 in 1989–90. They dominated the NCAA tournament, but Gonzaga is on pace to compete with the least win margin. The rest is speculation.

Will the Wildcats and Rebels defeat the Bulldogs? It may not be the imaginary flick you think it is, and you can pull the Villanova team in 2016 for the final extended bracket Final Four.

Of course, the Bulldogs must finish the work.

Otherwise, they will join Gonzaga’s 2016–17 team in this conversation.