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Gonzaga vs Portland State: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Holden Walter-Warner

Nov 20, 2022; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) shoots the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin (0) in the first half at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2022; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Drew Timme (2) shoots the ball against Kentucky Wildcats forward Jacob Toppin (0) in the first half at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Gonzaga Bulldogs open the PK85 Invitational against the Portland State Vikings, a local entry to the tournament.

TV Schedule: Thursday, November 25, 12:30 AM ET, ESPN

Location: Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR

The PK85 Invitational is going to be a special tournament in the Pacific Northwest, named in honor of Nike legend Phil Knight. The first evening of games ends with a game between two schools from the region, the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Portland State Vikings.

The former is in this event because of pedigree. The latter is in this because of location.

East Coast college basketball fans shouldn’t feel a need to stay up to watch this game after Thanksgiving and before Black Friday. The odds of this game being competitive are little, unless the Mark Few’s Bulldogs start looking ahead.

Gonzaga enters this game as the No. 6 team in the country with just a single loss. The team has been through a gauntlet so far, with games against Michigan State, Texas, and Kentucky. Portland State will be more in line with their punching bag opener, North Florida, but the rest of the event should bring more challenges.

Portland State lost its first two games of the season at the hands of Portland and Seattle. But the Vikings have surged back to .500, a stretch that includes a 13-point win at Oregon State, the program’s first win against the Beavers.

The Vikings’ core revolves around a group of transfers, all averaging double figures in the early going. Jorell Saterfield, Hunter Woods, and Cameron Parker are all experienced upperclassmen who have made their bones elsewhere. This is the first season for all three at Portland State, which could make real noise in the Big Sky.

Gonzaga is largely Drew Timme and crew, but the depth is the Bulldogs’ greatest asset. Efton Reid III, for instance, is hardly playing after starting every game as a freshman at LSU. That just shows how deep the roster is this season.

The Bulldogs have struggled with turnovers at times, but they still have one of the best adjusted efficiency rates on both offense and defense this season, according to Bart Torvik. It’s a combination Portland State won’t be able to do much about.

The Vikings, meanwhile, have one of the worst rates at getting to the free throw line and have one of the worst adjusted defensive efficiency in the countries. This isn’t opposites attracting – it’s opposites pulling in distinct directions at the same time.

After this game, presuming they win, Gonzaga will either face West Virginia or Purdue, both of which promise to provide a stiffer test to the Bulldogs. There’s a solid chance the Bulldogs will meet Duke in the tournament’s title game, a potential preview of a Final Four matchup down the line.

Next. Week 2 takeaways. dark

Those all have the potential to be intriguing games for the Bulldogs. But the way Few has set up his team’s schedule this season, having some bunnies during the non-conference slate should be a relief, and this should be one of them.

Prediction: Gonzaga 98, Portland State 66