Busting Brackets
Fansided

Gonzaga Basketball: Ranking Bulldogs 2019-20 non-conference opponents

By Andy Patton

SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 21: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs cheer for their team in the game against the Pepperdine Waves at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 21, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 92-64. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WA - FEBRUARY 21: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs cheer for their team in the game against the Pepperdine Waves at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 21, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Pepperdine 92-64. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during their game against the Baylor Bears in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during their game against the Baylor Bears in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga Basketball once again has a rigorous non-conference schedule, punctuated by tough games in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

Gonzaga Basketball suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 3 seed Texas Tech in the elite eight last year, with many believing that loss will haunt the Zags for years to come.

After all, the loss was the final game in a Gonzaga uniform for four of the team’s five starters: point guard Josh Perkins, shooting guard Zach Norvell, Jr., and forwards Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke. Factor in the losses of senior backups Geno Crandall and Jeremy Jones, as well as transfer guard Greg Foster, and you have a very different looking roster for the Zags heading into the 2019-2020 season.

But the team is returning starter Corey Kispert and two potentially elite big men in Killian Tillie and Filip Petrusev – along with the No. 12 ranked recruiting class in the nation.

The Zags have historically developed their freshmen slowly, with guys like Kelly Olynyk, Pryzemek Karnowski and Rui Hachimura not reaching their peak until a few years into their college career.

That can’t be the case for this team if they want to succeed right away, as they’ll need a handful of their freshman to step up right way. The additions of grad transfer guards Admon Gilder and Ryan Wooldridge will help, but it’ll be a big year for Gonzaga’s 2019 recruiting class.

The Schedule

Fortunately, the Zags have a nice mix of easy games that will allow the freshmen to get their feet wet, and extremely tough games that will challenge them early on and prepare them for the NCAA tournament.

Here is a look at all 16 of Gonzaga’s non-conference games, ranked from least intimidating to most intimidating, for the 2019-20 season.