Gonzaga Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Bulldogs

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) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – MARCH 23: Cheerleaders for the Bulldogs perform. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Schedule overview

Considering Gonzaga’s youth, it will be interesting to watch how they perform in the opening months of the season this year. There will definitely be growing pains with the inexperienced roster but Coach Few should have the time prepared to succeed right away. Additionally, the Bulldogs have set their non-conference schedule up in a way where they will have three “cupcake” matchups before diving into more difficult challenges.

These opening contests will come against Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and North Dakota before they travel to College Station to take on Texas A&M. That will be a tough true road game for the team and it will also be a “welcome home” of sorts for Gonzaga’s “Lone Star” backcourt of Woolridge/Gilder. Both players grew up in Texas and Gilder actually played three years with the Aggies.

The Bulldogs will then continue their non-conference schedule by returning home for back-to-back games before leaving Spokane for the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. The B4A field features the likes of this season and Gonzaga will be definitely be challenged off the mainland as a result.

But that is just the beginning of the team’s brutal schedule. Their remaining contests in the opening months of the season include matchups against Washington (A), Arizona (A), and North Carolina (H), as well as three other mid-major home games.

Once Gonzaga reaches conference play, the team should be battle-tested and ready to dominate the WCC once again. BYU and St. Mary’s could both be strong teams this year but it will be tough to catch the Bulldogs atop their pedestal as the conference’s powerhouse. Another WCC regular-season title should be the expectation.