A Look at Gonzaga’s Non-Conference Schedule: Part 4

A Look at Gonzaga’s Non-Conference Schedule: Part 4

Gonzaga wraps up its nonconference schedule with two of the most exciting and highly anticipated games they will play all season: UConn and UCLA. Both of these opponents have seen some significant changes to their roster since last season and both will offer an opportunity to test the Zags prior to the commencement of conference play.

UConn – Saturday, December 14 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

Back-to-back national champions, the UConn Huskies, will face off against Gonzaga in December, once again. Although UConn had a legendarily strong season last year (and the year before that, for that matter), this match-up remains difficult to predict. The Bulldogs are 0-2 against UConn in the last couple years and narratives surrounding both teams have been intriguing this offseason but for completely different reasons.

UConn is returning a grand total of one starter this year, Alex Karaban. Gonzaga is bringing back all of last year’s starters minus Anton Watson. Gonzaga ranks 6th in the nation for “returning minutes” from last season, and Gonzaga is the only team in the top 10 for returning minutes who also finished last season in the AP top 25 (Houston and Marquette also appear on the list but are ranked 12th and 19th in returning minutes, respectively).

UConn did what it could in the transfer portal, adding Aidan Mahaney (St. Mary’s) and Tarris Reed (Michigan), but whether these additions can compensate for the loss of Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer, and Donovan Clingan remains to be seen. It’s also incredibly fun to consider that with the addition of Mahaney, the Huskies have picked up one of the biggest thorns in Gonzaga’s sides from last year and have pulled him from their greatest rival. In the UConn / Gonzaga match-up Mahaney will likely be out for blood, eager to prove how deadly he can be within a system more aligned to his personal strengths (shooting recklessly from deep and driving recklessly off the dribble). As fans know, when Mahaney’s on fire, he’s really on fire, so here’s hoping it’ll take more than just standout point guard play to take down the Zags this December.

Despite the lofty predictions of NCAA basketball preseason prognosticators, the Huskies will be in the midst of a full rebuild and with a brand new point guard this year. Historically, this isn’t a recipe for immediate success, but if any team can pull it off, it’s UConn.

UCLA – Saturday, December 28 – Intuit Dome – Inglewood, CA

I don’t care what anyone says: the greatest rivalry in college basketball over the past five years is that of UCLA and Gonzaga. The differences between the two programs are stark. UCLA is a giant state school located in a major city. It boasts 11 national championships—more than any other team in the NCAA. It’s undergrad enrollment is more than 6 times that of Gonzaga. Gonzaga, on the other hand, is a very small school in a pretty small city (a city so unrecognized that it’s become a running joke on late night tv). Most importantly, Gonzaga has just slightly fewer than 11 national championships so far. No school’s basketball legacy is as ironclad as UCLA’s, and no school’s basketball program has enjoyed as much consistent success over the last 25 years than Gonzaga.

Although since 1999 Gonzaga is 7-2 against UCLA, these games still consistently produce unforgettable moments for college basketball fans. Gonzaga faithful will always remember the image of Adam Morrison weeping at half court after the Zags’ tough loss to UCLA in 2006. Bruins fans will always remember Jalen Suggs’ half-court buzzer-beater in 2021 (nor, for that matter, Julian Strawther’s emphatic death-glare after hitting a deep three to end their season the following year).

No such drama materialized between the two teams this past year. UCLA had a rough go of it, finishing 16-17 and failing to make the NCAA tournament after a nail biting loss to Oregon in the Pac12 conference tournament. Although my cardiovascular health was grateful for a year without any UCLA/Gonzaga drama, it was still bittersweet to end a season without getting to see Mick Cronin do Mick Cronin things on the sideline (my own thoughts/feelings on Cronin are probably not suitable for print, but a safe-for-work version will likely appear as we get closer to game day). After three years of near-greatness, UCLA just fell apart last year.

Despite the tough ending to last season, the Bruins will return eight players, including 7’3” big man Aday Mara, who will replace Adem Bona (now with the 76ers) in the low post. They will also return Brandon Williams, a 6’7” forward who provided vital minutes off the bench last year and whose experience within Cronin’s “system” will likely be invaluable.

From the transfer portal, the Bruins have added guard Kobe Johnson (from rival USC), known for his tough, physical defensive play, as well as guard Skyy Clark, who had a solid season last year despite playing for the absolute trainwreck that was Louisville. Additionally, former Zag Dominic Harris has transferred from Loyola Marymount and will look to establish himself as one of the most potent deep-threat guards in the nation.

I’m rooting for the Bruins to improve this year. The UCLA/Gonzaga rivalry is one of the best in college sports, and I’d love to see it return to its former glory. My heart, however, may be grateful for another year off.