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) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 18: Conner Avants #32 of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks dribbles the ball while being guarded by Ed Morrow #30 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first half at the Fiserv Forum on December 18, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 18: Conner Avants #32 of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks dribbles the ball while being guarded by Ed Morrow #30 of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the first half at the Fiserv Forum on December 18, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

16. Lewis-Clark State (11/1)

Gonzaga typically plays a non-D1 school early in the schedule, and they will tip-off the 2019-20 campaign against Lewis-Clark State, an NAIA school located in nearby Lewiston, Idaho.

The Zags have played the Warriors twice, in 2010 and 2012. The results, unsurprisingly, have been extremely lopsided in both games – which can be expected again in 2019 even if the Warriors went 30-7 last year.

15. Alabama State (11/5)

Alabama State and Gonzaga have never played, but this one shouldn’t be a hard one for the Zags.

The Hornets went 12-19 last season, finishing sixth in the SWAC. They also lost their best player, guard Reginald Gee, who grad transferred to Austin Peay. They’ll instead be lead by Jacoby Ross, who has averaged 12.5 points in each of the last two seasons.

14. Arkansas Pine-Bluff (11/9)

Arkansas Pine-Bluff finished just one spot ahead of Alabama State in the SWAC last season, going 13-19, with a 10-8 record in conference.

They will likely stay ahead of Alabama State thanks to the return of dynamic scorer Martaveous McKnight, who averaged 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals last season – leading the Golden Lions in all categories.

He alone makes Arkansas Pine-Bluff slightly dangerous, although the Zags shouldn’t have any issues winning this one.

13. North Dakota (11/12)

The Zags have played North Dakota once before, in a thrilling, down to the wire 89-83 victory in 2017 that saw future Zag Geno Crandall absolutely torch Gonzaga in the Kennel.

However, the Fighting Hawks were only 12-18 last season, finishing a distant seventh in the Summit conference, and will have a new coach heading into the 2019-20 season.

This should be another easy one for Mark Few and company – unlike the last time these two teams squared off.

12. Southern Mississippi (Battle 4 Atlantis – 11/27)

Gonzaga’s first game at the epic Battle 4 Atlantis tournament this Thanksgiving will be against Conference USA’s Southern Mississippi.

The Golden Eagles went 20-13 last season, finishing second in the conference behind Ole Miss, but they lost their two leading scorers in Tyree Griffin and Cortez Edwards.

Gonzaga should not have any problem advancing to the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.