Gonzaga Basketball: Ranking set non-conference opponents for 2023-24 season
Non-conference schedules are important for every team in cbb but even more for Gonzaga Basketball. Due to them being in the WCC, the opportunities to play top-100 opponents and create a good at-large resume come in the first couple of months of the season.
Historically, the Bulldogs have one of the tougher non-con schedules among the preseason top-25 teams. And this upcoming season is no different, with a 14-game slate officially out. Besides a couple of marquee single-game events, Gonzaga will be participating in the Maui Invitational.
There are 14 games outside of the WCC, with 12 being set since the Maui is a three-game tournament event. The Bulldogs also are playing Eastern Oregon on November 14th, a non-DI program. So that leaves 11 opponents we know Gonzaga will be playing.
Who’s the toughest of the group? Here’s a power ranking of the Bulldogs’ future foes.
11. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
2022-23 season record: 5-27 (4-14 SWAC)
A case can be made that this was the worst team in all of college basketball last season. And after losing multiple key pieces, they might not be much better. 6’6 wing Rayquan Brown (12.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg) is the lone double-digit scorer and they’ll be relying on JUCO transfers to fill in the depth.
10. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
2022-23 season record: 10-12 (6-12 SWAC)
The Lions were also in the bottom-tier of the SWAC last season and will be without star guard, Shaun Doss. But besides returning key starter Kylen Milton, Pine Bluff adds a few good transfers, including Rashad Williams from Saint Louis and former Bethune-Cookman star guard, Joe French.