SALT LAKE CITY – Gonzaga certainly won't catch anyone by surprise this year.
Long ago considered the plucky underdog, the Bulldogs come into this year's NCAA tournament top-seeded in the West and with the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press poll.
Led by 7-foot center Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga (31-2) opens the tournament Thursday against Southern University (23-9), the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Gonzaga is making its 15th straight appearance in March Madness, a streak surpassed only by Kansas, Michigan State and Duke.
Coach Mark Few says the No. 1 seeding won't change his approach for the tournament.
He says Gonzaga needs to come into Thursday's game much the way the Bulldogs of old used to — with a chip on their shoulders.
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