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Bracketology 2023: 5 key matchups to watch on opening week

By Jason Burgess

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: Exterior picture of the JW Marriott Hotel which has the entire bracket of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament hanging on its building on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: Exterior picture of the JW Marriott Hotel which has the entire bracket of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament hanging on its building on April 03, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme Julian Strawther James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Gonzaga vs. Michigan State, Nov. 11, 6:30 pm ET, ESPN, 

The opening week gets off to a slow start, but one could say Friday rights the ship beginning with Gonzaga and Michigan State doing battle on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the US armed forces classic. For Mark Few’s Zags it’s another season of being a national title contender, but can they break through? Gone are Chet Holmgren and Andrew Nembhard, but in walk Efton Reid from LSU and Malachi Smith from Chattanooga to help replace them. One of the best players in the country, Drew Timme is back as is Julian Strawther to help Gonzaga grab that elusive title.

For Michigan State, they enter the year with some question marks. Will they be able to rebound and bang inside the way Tom Izzo teams have always done and is the talent on the roster enough to compete in the big ten? The backcourt shouldn’t be an issue for the Spartans with AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker handling those duties. Joey Hauser and malik hall are solid players but upside-wise they may have reached their peaks. The rest of the roster has some talent, like sophomore Jaden Akins but they don’t have a ton of game experience.

The first couple of months are about building a resume and this is where the road to a no. 1 seed begins for Gonzaga. For Michigan State, this game is about starting to figure out who they are, and they do so with a chance to knock off one of, if not the best teams in the country.

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