2024 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Gonzaga falls out of Spokane region after loss to San Diego State

Bulldogs are projected to be a No. 9 seed in latest ESPN Bracketology

Gonzaga men's basketball fans might have to book flight and hotel plans after all if they want to see their team play in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

With the Spokane Arena set to host a pair of first and second-round games this season, the Bulldogs (9-4) entered the season in prime position to start another deep postseason run on what essentially would be their home court away from the McCarthey Athletic Center. Such an opportunity was taken away from the team and the city after the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament, in which the Spokane Arena was also supposed to be a host venue. But after an unusually slow start to the 2023-24 season, locals might have to wait even longer to see their team play postseason basketball in a local arena.

In the latest ESPN Bracketology update from Joe Lunardi, No. 24 Gonzaga dropped down to the No. 9 seed in the West Region, which would mean a trip to Omaha, Nebraska, for the first and second-round games. The Zags were slated to potentially be a No. 5 seed prior to Friday's 84-74 home loss to San Diego State. However, their fourth loss in nonconference play has dropped them considerably in the rankings and polls heading into West Coast Conference action.

Gonzaga dropped to 57th in the NET Rankings — notably behind San Francisco (39th) and Saint Mary's (53rd) — due to an 0-4 record in Quad 1 games. KenPom's rankings are more favorable, though sitting at 28th is the lowest since early into the 2016-17 season. The Associated Press Top 25 poll voters also knocked the Bulldogs down considerably, going from 13th down to 24th after the Aztecs loss.

Men's college basketball rankings: Gonzaga falls to No. 24 in AP Top 25 poll

Along with Gonzaga, the WCC's struggles as a whole could see only one team from the league earn a spot in the Big Dance, which hasn't happened since 2018. Lunardi's latest bracketology notably excluded Saint Mary's and San Francisco. The Bulldogs close out the regular season on the road against the Dons (Feb. 29) and Gaels (March 2), two matchups that are currently slated to be Quad 1 games.

Elsewhere, Lunardi's four No. 1 seeds project as Kansas, Houston, Purdue and UConn, which jumped from the 2-seed line after Arizona's loss to Stanford on Sunday. The Wildcats dropped down a seed line to join Marquette, Tennessee and Clemson on the 2-seed line. San Diego State moved up to the 6-seed line in the East Region.

Lunardi has five teams from the Mountain West Conference in his latest bracketology, more than the ACC and Pac-12. The SEC leads the way with nine teams, followed by the Big Ten (8) and Big 12 (7).

Outside of league play, Gonzaga's next biggest (and most important) game will be on Feb. 10 at Kentucky, which moved up to the 3-seed line in Lunardi's projections. Should the Zags fall at Rupp Arena, there will be a big sense of urgency to win the WCC Tournament to secure a bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Watch: Gonzaga Nation interview with Ryan Nembhard