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.
12. Chicago State Cougars
The Cougars are now an independent program after leaving the WAC and have consistently been one of the worst D-II programs. They did win seven games a year ago, which is an improvement for them. And with the return of double-digit scorers, Bryce Johnson and Jahsean Corbett, along with Dayton transfer and former top-50 prospect, Elijah Weaver, Chicago State have a shot at being at least a threat against lower-level mid-majors.
11. Portland State Vikings
The Vikings had six players who averaged at least 9.8 ppg last season but just one player is back in guard Michael Carter (10.3 ppg and 2.7 apg). They added a number of newcomers, including Montana transfer Cameron Parker and Bobby Harvey from IUPUI. Portland State is the first opponent for Gonzaga Basketball in the PK85 and should be a fairly easy matchup.
10. Northern Illinois Huskies
Although NIU finished near the bottom of the MAC last year, they return one of the best guards in the league in leading scorer Keshawn Williams (16.3 ppg), along with starting point guard Kaleb Thornton. 6’8 forward Anthony Crump was a starter at Middle Tennessee State and Oluwasegun Durosinmi adds needed frontcourt depth but the Huskies will need to find help for Williams in order to be competitive.
9. Montana Grizzlies
The Big Sky program has become an annual contender under head coach Travis DeCuire and returns one of the best players in the conference in Josh Bannan, who led the team with 15.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg last season. A couple of key players did leave but double-digit scoring guard Brandon Whitney is back, along with Colorado State transfer center Dischon Thomas. Montana will have a formidable frontcourt but needs the guards to play well enough to put a scare on some bigger schools.
8. North Florida Ospreys
All five starters are back from last season’s team, including returning leading scorers, Jose Placer. and Carter Hendricksen. It’s a team that has plenty of size and depth but after finishing 11-20 overall, North Florida needs improvements everywhere to be more competitive. One thing they will do is take a lot of three-pointers, ranking in the top-20 in both attempts and makes, although percentage-wise, they were in the middle-of-the-pack. But if the Ospreys can get hot from deep, they could be a sneaky threat.
7. Kent State Golden Flash
The Flash brings back the reigning MAC Player of the Year guard Sincere Carry, who led the team with 17.9 ppg and 4.8 apg. This is a team that won the regular-season title and also returns key guard Malique Jacobs (12.8 ppg and 7.5 rpg). Kent State also adds Ball State transfer Miryne Thomas and Pitt transfer Chris Payton to the frontcourt as well. This is a loaded roster and will be one of the better mid-major programs in the country. They’re a team that if Gonzaga doesn’t take them seriously, could legit make things interesting when they meet up.
6. Washington Huskies
What’s left of this “rivalry” between the two local programs has a Washington team with a new look, featuring returning guards, Jamal Bey and PJ Fuller, along with Washington State transfer, Noah Williams. The frontcourt has potential, with Kentucky transfer Keion Brooks and former Oregon center Franck Kepnang, both of whom are former five-star prospects. While Gonzaga will be the heavy favorite once again, the Huskies may have a roster capable of making noise both in the Pac-12 and in this game.
5. Michigan State Spartans
This unique matchup will be played on an actual aircraft carrier for the Armed Forces Classic in the first week of the season, which adds unknown factors already. This is a team that doesn’t have anyone over 8.0 ppg returning but there’s some solid depth and experience throughout the roster. The combo guard duo of AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker could beat out Nolan Hickman and Rasir Bolton but if they can’t handle Drew Timme down low, it could be a rough night.
4. Texas Longhorns
Gonzaga handled Texas last season, thanks to a career-high 37 points from Timme. The frontcourt isn’t much different for the Big 12, with Christian Bishop and Timmy Allen back. The backcourt does have some changes, including Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter and five-star freshmen, Arterio Morris and Dillon Mitchell. The Longhorns will try to beat the Bulldogs from the outside and on the wings but they’ll need a new strategy to deal with Timme.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Although they’re not likely to have starting guard Jahvon Quinerly back for this game as he still recovers from injury, the Tide still has plenty of options in the backcourt. Five-star freshman Jaden Bradley is the point guard, while Ohio transfer Mark Sears averaged nearly 20 ppg last season while shooting over 40% from three-point range. Five-star scoring wing Brandon Miller is a star in the making and Charles Bediako returns to anchor the frontcourt on defense. After beating Gonzaga in Washington, the Tide looks to complete the series sweep in Alabama this time around.
2. Baylor Bears
The last time these two programs faced off, the Bears beat the Bulldogs for the 2021 national title. Of the backcourt players that played a part on the team, Adam Flager returns and is set to run the offense. LJ Cryer and five-star freshman Keyonte George give the Bears arguably the best backcourt in the country this season. It’s a big chance for revenge for Gonzaga in what likely will be a top-5 matchup.
1. Kentucky Wildcats
Drew Timme would’ve had the case to make for being the best player in college basketball had Oscar Tshiebwe, last season’s National Player of the Year, not come back. Instead, the star center instantly makes Kentucky a title contender and quality passer Sahvir Wheeler also is back to run the offense.
If five-star freshmen Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston can become All-SEC caliber players, the Wildcats may end up being the team to beat. But the focus will rightfully be on the center position, as Timme vs Tshiebwe will be one of the most anticipated individual matchups in quite some time.