A potential nonconference meeting between Gonzaga and Baylor, both preseason top-10 teams, is gaining momentum as the 2024-25 college basketball season nears.
As of Thursday, the teams that faced off in the 2021 national championship aim to schedule a game early in the season. Reports indicate they are considering playing in Las Vegas or potentially in Mexico City. Rocco Miller from Bracketeer.org mentioned that the proposed matchup could occur on November 6, during the early season, which would be Gonzaga’s opener.
Currently, major TV networks aren’t interested in broadcasting the game in Mexico City, but it may be available on FloSports. If Mexico City doesn’t work out, both teams are still open to a neutral-site game, likely in Las Vegas.
The Big 12 Conference had plans to hold events in Mexico in 2024, including a men’s basketball game, but they’ve postponed them to 2025.
Gonzaga, under Coach Mark Few, follows an “anybody, anywhere” scheduling philosophy, competing against top programs in various locations. The Bulldogs have previously played abroad, including a 2015 game in Okinawa, Japan.
With Mexico City’s elevation posing potential challenges, the region has yet to host high-level college basketball but has seen NBA games. Gonzaga and Baylor’s rivalry includes a memorable national championship encounter where Baylor won 86-70, ending Gonzaga’s undefeated season, and a closely contested game in 2022.
Regardless of Baylor’s involvement, Gonzaga’s nonconference schedule appears robust, featuring key matchups against Arizona State, San Diego State, Kentucky, UConn, and UCLA, alongside participation in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
Gonzaga Set to Host Long Beach State
Earlier this week, Gonzaga’s fourth home game for the nonconference schedule was announced. The Bulldogs will host Long Beach State on November 20 at the McCarthey Athletic Center, as confirmed by LBSU’s official schedule released on Wednesday.
Long Beach State recently made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012, but they will start the season under new leadership with first-year coach Chris Acker, previously an assistant at SDSU, following the dismissal of Dan Monson.
Monson, who coached for 12 years at Gonzaga, including three as head coach, was notified he wouldn’t return to LBSU for the 2024-25 season but was allowed to lead the team through the Big West Tournament. During that tournament, Monson guided LBSU to victory, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost in the first round to Tommy Lloyd and Arizona.
Gonzaga’s coach, Mark Few, has typically avoided scheduling nonconference games against former colleagues. The matchup with LBSU in November will mark the first encounter between the two programs since 2002, with Gonzaga holding a 2-1 series lead.
In addition to LBSU, Gonzaga is also set to host Arizona State, Nicholls State, and Bucknell in their nonconference slate.
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