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Oct. 31—It’s apparent No. 6 Gonzaga has a demanding nonconference schedule when two are in the preseason AP top eight, four are in the Top 25, two potential foes are in the poll — including another in the top 10 — and four are receiving votes.
So, barring upsets at the Battle 4 Atlantis, only one of GU’s nine power conference opponents isn’t ranked or receiving votes at the outset of the season.
That would be West Virginia in the opening round in the Bahamas. The Mountaineers are No. 85 in KenPom’s ratings, which roughly translates to a Quad 2 matchup on a neutral floor.
Matching the quality of the team matchups is the top-tier individual talent on Gonzaga’s nonconference slate. There are probable top-five draft picks, fab freshmen, savvy seniors, prized transfers, national champions, All-Americans, a former Zag or two and possibly a former Gael.
It all begins with Monday’s showdown against No. 8 Baylor at the Arena. In order of appearance (or possible appearance) on the Zags’ schedule, here is the best player on the best squads GU will run into before the new calendar year.
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Ah, the age-old debate of the likely one-and-done freshman vs. the ultraproductive senior transfer (or transfers, in Baylor’s case). Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5 freshman, was a five-star recruit and he’s a projected lottery pick that could give Duke’s Cooper Flagg a run for No. 1.
Edgecombe won’t necessarily have to carry the offensive load on a Baylor team with transfers Jeremy Roach (Duke) and Norchad Omier (Miami). All three are on the preseason watch list for Naismith Trophy player of the year.
Edgecombe played for his native Bahamas in FIBA qualifying tournaments last summer with Golden State’s Buddy Hield and Portland’s Deandre Ayton and contributed 16.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
BJ Freeman, Arizona State
The senior guard brings his scorer’s mentality to the Sun Devils after two standout seasons at UW Milwaukee. The 6-6 wing was 17th nationally and led the Horizon…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/superstars-align-sixth-ranked-gonzagas-035900507.html
Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.
Publish date : 2024-11-01 03:59:00
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