Busting Brackets
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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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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 19: The Arizona Wildcats mascot cheers against the Texas Southern Tigers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 19: The Arizona Wildcats mascot cheers against the Texas Southern Tigers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

6. Texas A&M (11/15)

The Aggies of Texas A&M will be Gonzaga’s first real test of the new campaign, as they’ll take them on in College Station on November 15. It will be Gonzaga’s first game away from Spokane, and their first game against an opponent who has any real chance of defeating them.

The Aggies and Zags met on that exact same date one year ago in Spokane, with Gonzaga prevailing 94-71 to move to 3-0 on the year. They were led by Zack Norvell (22 points) Rui Hachimura (18 points) and Brandon Clarke (14 points, 10 rebounds) – none of whom are still on the team.

A&M had a down year last year, going 14-18 and finishing 11th in the SEC, but they do return their two leading scorers, Savion Flagg and Wendell Mitchell, and they have the 35th ranked recruiting class in the nation – which includes star JuCo transfer guard Quenton Jackson.

This is most definitely a trap game for the Zags, and I expect a close game in what will be a great road test for this young Gonzaga team.

5. Arizona Wildcats (12/14)

The Arizona Wildcats aren’t the team they used to be, and Gonzaga has taken advantage by beating them the last two times they have faced off, moving their overall record against them up to 3-5.

The Zags will have to play them on the road this year, which definitely presents a challenge, but Arizona did lose Brandon Williams for the entire season, a devastating blow for a team that was looking to jump back into the national spotlight this year.

They do still have three former All-Americans – Chase Jeter, Josh Green and Nico Mannion, but it will be an uphill battle for them to get a good seed in the NCAA tournament this year.

A home win against Gonzaga would go a long way for them, but it will be a tall order.

4. Washington (12/8)

The two powerhouse schools in the state of Washington will continue the revival of their non-conference rivalry, with the Zags heading west to Seattle to face off against the PAC-12 foes.

Washington is likely going to be a top-25 team throughout the year and should give Gonzaga some trouble with their zone defense.

However, like the Zags, they will be a very young, inexperienced team following the losses of Matisse Thybulle, Jalen Nowell, Noah Dickerson and David Crisp.

That should give the Zags a slight edge, although both teams have very comparable recruiting classes coming in. The difference is Gonzaga returns big men Filip Petrusev and Killian Tillie, and their ability to shoot the three-pointer and rebound should help break down the 2-3 zone and allow the Zags to prevail.