The Gonzaga Bulldogs begin the 2017-18 season with a home matchup against the Texas Southern Tigers. Will the defending SWAC Champions give the Zags an early challenge?
TV Schedule: Friday, November 10, 9:00 p.m. ET, ROOT
Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
Seven months removed from their 2017 National Championship Game loss, the new look Gonzaga Bulldogs enter the 2017-18 season with a lot of new talent and tempered expectations.
Without star players Nigel Williams-Goss and Przemek Karnowski as well as Jordan Mathews and Zach Collins, Head Coach Mark Few will need new players to step up and lead this team. Returning starters Josh Perkins and Johnathan Williams will need to establish themselves as leaders, and freshmen Zach Norvell, Corey Kispert, and Jacob Larsen must have an immediate impact.
Despite finishing with just two losses last season, a home loss to BYU, and the loss to UNC in college basketball’s final game, the Zags huge losses led many to believe they will take a huge step back.
The Zags enter the season as the No. 18 team in the country and were picked to finish second in the WCC Preseason Poll. Many Gonzaga fans feel the team is not getting the respect it deserves, but luckily the Bulldogs will have a chance to prove they belong among the top teams in the country.
Related Story: Gonzaga Season Preview
The first opportunity for the Zags to show what they can do will come Friday, against the 2016-17 SWAC Champions Texas Southern Tigers.
The Tigers had an impressive SWAC conference run, losing just two road games on their way to the title. They did struggle in regular season games against high-major teams, however, losing all six games by eight points or more. Interestingly enough, Texas Southern was the victim of UNC’s first-round victory last season.
Like the Zags, Texas Southern also suffers some heavy losses, including top scorer Zach Lofton, but still appear to be the favorite to win a weak SWAC conference.
When it comes to Friday’s game, the Tigers do not have the frontcourt depth to compete with Gonzaga, and they will rely heavily on their backcourt, as well as 7’2” Auburn transfer Trayvon Reed.
The Zags, on the other hand, have balanced attack that features a large frontcourt, athletic wings, and experienced guard play. Williams and Perkins were both named to the All-WCC Preseason Men’s Basketball Team, and their play will set the tone for how well Gonzaga will perform. As was the case last season, Mark Few can be confident that any player he puts on the floor has the ability to compete at a high level.
Next: Top Five Mid-Major Questions
While Gonzaga will definitely face many tough challenges this season and lose a few games on their road to March, this game is not one of those challenges. Gonzaga will dominate the paint, defend the perimeter will, and outclass Texas Southern for their first win of the season.
Prediction: Gonzaga 87, Texas Southern 65