Gonzaga

[silentsaregolden2.0]

First game for both, but they have the advantage of seeing us play 4 games already. Unless they have a similar overseas schedule I don't know about. Anybody know what their roster looks like? I know Timme is back, and they lost Holmgren, but that is all I know.

 

[BigCat241]

Very strong backcourt with the rotation of Malchai Smith, Hickman, Sallis, and Bolton. Have a guy in Strawther who can play the 3 or the 4 who I think has star potential and is pretty much like a Toppin with a better jumpshot. I know some here arent high on them next year but I think they are going to be really really good.

 

[Smashcat]

Very strong backcourt with the rotation of Malchai Smith, Hickman, Sallis, and Bolton. Have a guy in Strawther who can play the 3 or the 4 who I think has star potential and is pretty much like a Toppin with a better jumpshot. I know some here arent high on them next year but I think they are going to be really really good.

They will be good. They will probably be favored over us but they were favored over a very meh Alabama team last year and Bama took them to the woodshed.

 

[BigCat241]

They will be good. They will probably be favored over us but they were favored over a very meh Alabama team last year and Bama took them to the woodshed.

Yeah they will be favored over us but its still more of a 50/50 type game that we can definitely win.

 

[silentsaregolden2.0]

Now that I think of it, it won't be our first game, which is MSU.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

They dont want none. Trust me.

 

[jgodek]

That game is on November 20th. Both teams will have already played a couple weeks worth of games already

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Our first game is with Michigan State. Gonzaga is our second game.

 

[BlueBomb]

40-0…right?

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Now that I think of it, it won't be our first game, which is MSU.

I don’t think MSU will be our first game either, the champions classic got delayed a week because of elections, so Kentucky may have a game or 2 before then

 

[caneintally]

Yeah MSU will be game 2 or 3 . Gonzaga game 5 or so. Gonzaga will be the 3rd best team in the country behind UK and UNC. I think we win all our Non con games minus this one . Though UK will be the better team but going to Spokane is a tough ask for any team.

 

[MdWIldcat55]

First game for both, but they have the advantage of seeing us play 4 games already. Unless they have a similar overseas schedule I don't know about.

I think actually playing four games together - getting a feel for your teammates’ abilities and how you all fit and react in different situations - is more of an advantage than watching a future opponent play four games

 

[Fox2monk]

I don’t think MSU will be our first game either, the champions classic got delayed a week because of elections, so Kentucky may have a game or 2 before then

We will definitely have a couple pre season games.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

We will definitely have a couple pre season games.

I was thinking one and two regular season games as well they used to do this when the champions league first started

 

[Fox2monk]

I was thinking one and two regular season games as well they used to do this when the champions league first started

I do believe it is actually the first game this year like the last couple. It should go BBM, Blue/White, 2 or 3 pre-season games, Champions Classic. Last year we played Kentucky Wesleyan and Miles College before the Duke game.

 

[Smashcat]

Gonzaga basketball roster: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, depth outlook for 2022-23 season

The Bulldogs are poised to be a national contender yet again in the 2022-23 season

www.cbssports.com

 

[ukfan2410]

I do believe it is actually the first game this year like the last couple. It should go BBM, Blue/White, 2 or 3 pre-season games, Champions Classic. Last year we played Kentucky Wesleyan and Miles College before the Duke game.

You can only play 2 exh games

 

[J-Ryan]

Gonzaga basketball roster: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, depth outlook for 2022-23 season

The Bulldogs are poised to be a national contender yet again in the 2022-23 season

www.cbssports.com

I may be 100% wrong but I just don’t think that line up is as good as ours…

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Timme is good the SF STRAWTHER is good the guard play is suspect

 

[Fox2monk]

You can only play 2 exh games

Thanks. I knew it was something like that.

 

[Montana81]

I may be 100% wrong but I just don’t think that line up is as good as ours…

I agree. Toppin, Collins, Livingston, Reeves and Wallace are all really difficult matchups for them.

 

[SECCountry75]

They will be good. They will probably be favored over us but they were favored over a very meh Alabama team last year and Bama took them to the woodshed.

Gonzaga will be favored because they will be at home. Kentucky should win this game. I respect Gonzaga, but Kentucky is very long and I think that will bother the Zags early in the season.

 

[Aike]

Should be a blast. Run up and down the court. Can’t wait.

 

[Fox2monk]

Should be a blast. Run up and down the court. Can’t wait.

Yeah at least Few doesn’t seem scared to play a fast game.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

I may be 100% wrong but I just don’t think that line up is as good as ours…

A very reasonable statement.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

First game for both, but they have the advantage of seeing us play 4 games already. Unless they have a similar overseas schedule I don't know about. Anybody know what their roster looks like? I know Timme is back, and they lost Holmgren, but that is all I know.

I'd think us actually PLAYING those 4 games is a better advantage as them getting to SEE us play those 4 games.

Their guards are young and unproven. They don't have much size outside of Timme, and their last two years of success was helped by having top5 NBA talent on their team that made the WCC a cakewalk. They no longer have a Chet Holmgren or a Jalen Suggs.

Just think we're too long fast and athletic. I don't see Timme doing much to stop Oscar/Ware/Collins/Toppin... and I don't see Hickman and Salis being good enough to stop Wheeler and Cason.. But on the flipside, I do think our guys can make life hell for theirs.

One thing is for sure, Gonzaga will never be in any sort of foul trouble for the entire 40 min. The game will be a blowout if someone like Timme has to sit with foul trouble.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Gonzaga might want to go all in on small-ball against us. Keep Timme with part of his time on the outside where he can hit the 3, good perimeter ball movement, slowing it down.. and hope that it's enough to take us out of our game. Trying to play up to Kentucky's size and speed will get them killed.

 

[gossie21]

I may be 100% wrong but I just don’t think that line up is as good as ours…

Even if it isn't as good we could still lose. They have experience and the home crowd on their side.

I don't think Gonzaga gets enough credit from our fans. They have been really good the past 6 seasons which includes 2 title game appearances.

 

[gossie21]

Gonzaga might want to go all in on small-ball against us. Keep Timme with part of his time on the outside where he can hit the 3, good perimeter ball movement, slowing it down.. and hope that it's enough to take us out of our game. Trying to play up to Kentucky's size and speed will get them killed.

Counter point. Calipari does not like to play fast, which will negate our advantage with size and speed.

All things considered I expect the game to be close. I love how we played and how we looked in the Bahamas. But this is a considerable step up in competition from those teams we played down there.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Counter point. Calipari does not like to play fast, which will negate our advantage with size and speed.

All things considered I expect the game to be close. I love how we played and how we looked in the Bahamas. But this is a considerable step up in competition from those teams we played down there.

But we still have ultra fast and athletic types. So while he may not run a totally uptempo style of offense.. just the natural speed of our team will be hard to contain.

We for sure can lose this game, I wouldn't be surprised at all. But I think Few and Gonzaga's nice stretch at the top is over, and they will more be like who they were pre 2017.. a great team but not an elite team.

 

[Kybluedude]

Counter point. Calipari does not like to play fast, which will negate our advantage with size and speed.

All things considered I expect the game to be close. I love how we played and how we looked in the Bahamas. But this is a considerable step up in competition from those teams we played down there.

This team was playing faster than any UK team of recent memory. Looks like that’s what Cal wants this season. Has the pieces and depth. Took 30 3s the last game. Defensively pressure and traps.

 

[Fox2monk]

But we still have ultra fast and athletic types. So while he may not run a totally uptempo style of offense.. just the natural speed of our team will be hard to contain.

We for sure can lose this game, I wouldn't be surprised at all. But I think Few and Gonzaga's nice stretch at the top is over, and they will more be like who they were pre 2017.. a great team but not an elite team.

They are still pulling in more talent on average than they were pre 2017 but I agree their best teams are better than this coming up year. Doesn’t matter though because it’s all relative to the competition year to year as well.