Gonzaga Basketball: Early predictions for games against top 2021-22 opponents
UCLA Bruins (Empire Classic)
November 23rd in Las Vegas, Nevada
After the historically good and dramatic Final Four game between them, it’s going to be awesome to see the rematch for Gonzaga vs UCLA. Although the Bulldogs lost a few star players from that game, they’ve reloaded with just as much talent. However, the Bruins not only are bringing back everyone that played in that epic battle but also bring in two additional pieces.
As if the Bruins didn’t already have enough 6’6 versatile guard/forwards, they add five-star freshman Peyton Watson. It’s hard to envision him being a 15 ppg scorer in this rotation but his performance in U19 Team USA showed that he can be a defensive-based role player that can guard just about anyone, at least for this upcoming season.
UCLA became a clear-cut national title contender the moment leading scorer Johnny Juzang opted to return. He had 29 points in the overtime loss to the Bulldogs and is a preseason All-American candidate. Guards Tyger Campbell, Jules Bernard, David Singleton, and top-50 freshman Will McClendon is a great core, while forwards Jaime Jaquez, Jr., Watson, and big men, Cody Riley and Rutgers transfer Myles Johnson provide size down low.
How will this game play out?
Gonzaga may have a little more top-end talent but the Bruins have the chemistry edge in this non-conference battle. And quite frankly, there’s going to be plenty of revenge on their minds heading into this one.
There are very few teams that have the coaching, versatility, depth, experience, and overall talent up and down the roster to be on par with Gonzaga, which is why they’re currently the consensus No. 1 preseason team. Yet one of those “few” is the Bruins, who will prove that last season’s Final Four run wasn’t a fluke.
The fact that they have four talented players at 6’6 such as Juzang, Singleton, Watson, and Jaquez that can guard a Bolton, or a Holmgren puts them in a great position to counter whatever Coach Few throws at them. And Coach Mick Cronin is good enough to come up with a gameplan to keep them within range.
Gonzaga will need Holmgren to take advantage of the size advantage he’ll have against one of 6’6 forwards that’ll be on him since both Johnson and Riley can’t play together on the court in this game. Timme will have his hands full in this one, as with Nembhard versus Campbell. But if Sallis and Holmgren can come through in a big way, the Bulldogs will remain with their dominant run over Pac-12 foes.
Look for another instant classic, but with a different result at the end.
Prediction: UCLA 102, Gonzaga 99 in 2OT
Chet Holmgren: 28 points, 10 rebounds
Rasir Bolton: 20 points, 2 assists
Andrew Nembhard: 14 points, 11 assists
Johnny Juzang: 30 points, 4 rebounds
Jaime Jaquez: 23 points, 8 rebounds
Myles Johnson: 10 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks
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The hypothetical end result in this stretch is a 4-2 record, but with big wins over Duke and Alabama. Assuming Gonzaga handles business against the other non-conference opponents and through the WCC with fewer than two losses, they should be in line for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But that defeat to UCLA could come back to haunt them when it comes to who gets to play in the West Region.