Gonzaga Fans Cheer On Their #2 Team - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

SPOKANE, Wash – Gonzaga Fever is hitting another high, as the men's basketball team moved up to #2 in the AP top 25 writer's poll – the highest ever rankings for the Bulldogs.

On campus in the heart of Spokane, students told KHQ they're not just celebrating the #2 ranking in town, they're following the team to Las Vegas for the WCC Tournament.

"It's exciting," said Nancy Carl.  "I'm a senior so we've been waiting for this for a really long time, and the fact that we're so high is exciting. You just walk around campus and everyone starts screaming Zags!"

She said she's only missed one game this year, and the spirit surrounding the team is one of the reasons she chose to attend Gonzaga.

Junior Mitchell Beck agrees.

"I'm looking for a tournament victory," he told KHQ.  "I'm going undefeated in conference play, get the automatic bid, potential 1seed for March Madness, it's going to be crazy."

He said he hasn't missed a game all year, and both Carl and Beck are among the load of students who are making the trip to Vegas, hoping to see the Bulldogs clinch more victories.

With the new ranking also comes a spike in sales of GU gear, as fans get ready to hit the road.

"As you get into late February and early March it gets pretty exciting around here with people looking for Gonzaga gear - but it's always more so when they're up there in the top 5," said Keith Wigen, a sales clerk at Sport Town in downtown Spokane.

So the message from the fans:

"Let's go Zags!  Let's go #1, Indiana you're going to lose," Beck cheered.

Sport Town is also counting on future wins – the WCC Tournament Champions shirts for Gonzaga have already been ordered.