Gonzaga Basketball: Key storylines for 2019-20 battle against Washington

By Andy Patton | Dec 7, 2019

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs gives instructions to his players during a practice session ahead of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

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SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 09: Martynas Arlauskas #5 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga Basketball begins a tough three game stretch of non-conference games by traveling to Seattle to take on their in-state rival, the Washington Huskies.

The 9-1 Gonzaga Basketball squad are about to begin the toughest stretch of their non-conference schedule, with an away game against the University of Washington Huskies followed by home dates with the University of Arizona and the biggest game to ever come to Spokane, a date with the Tar Heels of North Carolina.

Going 3-0 out of this stretch of games will be extremely difficult for the Bulldogs, especially if the team remains without backup forward Anton Watson, who has missed most of the last four games with an ankle injury.

Graduate transfer Admon Gilder is banged up as well, and this team’s eight-man rotation is rapidly dwindling at a crucial time in the season.

Washington Huskies

Meanwhile, for the Huskies, a win over Gonzaga would give them a crucial non-conference, quadrant one victory to hang their hat on before they head into conference play. Their season-opening win against Baylor was big, but a loss to Tennessee and a relatively tame non-conference game otherwise makes this a critical game for them – not to mention the simple fact that they have only beaten the Zags once since 1998.

Here are four key storylines for fans of either side to watch for as these two teams set to square off again, this time at Hec Ed in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.