Busting Brackets
Fansided

Gonzaga Basketball: Ranking non-conference opponents for 2022-23 season

By Tristan Freeman

Feb 26, 2022; Moraga, California, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few during the first half against the Saint Mary's Gaels at University Credit Union Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2022; Moraga, California, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few during the first half against the Saint Mary's Gaels at University Credit Union Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Gonzaga Basketball Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Gonzaga Basketball Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

It was another banner regular season for Gonzaga Basketball last year, finishing with a 28-4 record and nearly going unbeaten in WCC play. The program also went 11-2 in the non-conference campaign, which is typically tough and filled with multiple top-25 opponents. Last season, the team beat a pair of top-5 programs in UCLA and Texas, while also losing to Duke and Alabama.

The Bulldogs once again have an elite non-conference schedule, featuring a ton of quality matchups for the 2022-23 campaign. And that’s just from the confirmed 13 matchups, as the team will take part in the PK85 Invitational in Oregon, arguable the top non-conference tournament. The first opponent is Portland State, before taking on the winner of Purdue vs West Virginia in the second round. And on the other side of the bracket includes potentially Duke, Florida, or Xavier for the third game, all of whom are NCAA Tournament contenders.

It’s a unique schedule overall, with a non-conference matchup against Chicago State set to play at the end of the regular season, before the start of the WCC Tournament. There’s also a game against NAIA program, Eastern Oregon towards the end of December as well. And for those looking for an early look at the team, Gonzaga will play Tennessee in an exhibition matchup on October 28th, with the proceeds from the pay-per-view event going to the McLendon Foundation.

Excluding Eastern Oregon and the two PK85 games to be determined there are 12 confirmed D-II matchups for the Bulldogs outside of WCC play. Here’s how I would rank them in terms of strength of the opponent.