Music City will be the place to be on Friday night when the No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1) take on the No. 18 Kentucky Wildcats (5-3) at Bridgestone Arena. Both teams enter the night after suffering disappointing losses as they both look to bounce back.
Gonzaga was blown out by Michigan in the Players Era Championship title game 101-61, which was a learning lesson for Mark Few’s team. In the loss, the Zags shot an abysmal 33.8 percent from the floor and were 3 of 22 from behind the arc.
The Bulldogs finished with two players in double digits in the loss: Tyon Grant-Foster and Braden Huff both finished with 14 points in the game. Gonzaga had no answers defensively against Michigan as the Wolverines shot 60 percent from the floor. The Bulldogs will be well-rested and prepared, having not played since November 26th.
Gonzaga on the season is led by Braden Huff, who averages 15.8 points per game, and Graham Ike, who averages 15.0 points per game and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game. Tyon Grant-Foster helps to spread the floor for Mark Few and is averaging 12.1 points per game and 6.3 rebounds.
Kentucky has the largest NIL deal in the country at approximately $22 million, but early in the season, the Wildcats have shown that money doesn’t buy wins.
The Wildcats suffered their third loss of the season Tuesday night, falling 67-64 to North Carolina. In the loss, Kentucky struggled from behind the arc, finishing 1 of 13 from downtown, and lost the battle on the glass 41-30. The Cats were led by Otega Oweh with 16 points, Collin Chandler had 12 points, and Denzel Aberdeen added 10 in the loss.
Friday’s game will be Kentucky’s fourth game against a ranked opponent, with the Wildcats losing the previous three. The Wildcats have five players averaging double digits on the season, with Denzel Aberdeen leading the way with 14.5 points per game; Otega Oweh is right behind him with 13.4. Collin Chandler (11.8 ppg), Mo Dioubate (11.6 ppg), and freshman Malachi Moreno (10.3 points per game) round out the five.
For Gonzaga, their top two scorers on the season are both paint players, and the absence of Jayden Quaintance for the Cats will be a big challenge for freshman Malachi Moreno. Moreno, early in the season, has shown at 7’0, 250 pounds that he has the size and ability to match up with the nation’s best Bigs. But as a freshman, look for the Zags to attack him early and often.
The Zags head on the road with a chance to get their second win of the season against a ranked opponent. Meanwhile, the Cats hope to end a three-game losing skid to ranked opponents.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
More college basketball news:
- Boozer and Evans lead Duke to big win
- Todd Golden reacts to Florida loss
- ACC SEC proves a big problem for one conference
- UCONN prepping for another title run