No. 11 Gonzaga and No. 18 Kentucky will continue a marquee non-conference series for the fourth straight season when they meet Friday night in Nashville, Tenn.
Both programs are looking to rebound from losses.
The Bulldogs (7-1) suffered the worst defeat of coach Mark Few’s tenure (1999 to present), falling 101-61 to then-No. 7 Michigan on Nov. 26 in the Players Era men’s tournament in Las Vegas.
“We got just absolutely throttled,” Few said after the loss. “I’ve never been involved with anything like that. So this is going to be a great challenge and learning experience for me. But that being said, we’ve had an incredible November up to this point prior to two hours ago. We can really draw on that. And we can certainly be humbled when they watch film with me.”
As Few alluded to, Gonzaga had impressive early-season wins over ranked teams Creighton and Alabama. However, against Michigan, Gonzaga fell into an early hole and couldn’t climb out. The Bulldogs shot just 34% from the field and 14% from 3-point range.
It was an uncharacteristic showing all around for Gonzaga. Braden Huff and Tyon Grant-Foster were the lone scorers in double figures with 14 points apiece. Graham Ike, who is averaging 15 points per game, was held to a season-low one point.
“We know we’ve got to be better,” said Huff, who averages a team-high 15.8 ppg. “We’ve got to be more physical. We’ve got to compete better. It’s on us.”
Kentucky (5-3), meanwhile, is coming off a 67-64 home loss to No. 16 North Carolina on Tuesday. The Wildcats also have lost to ranked teams Louisville and Michigan State.
Against North Carolina, Kentucky had a forgettable night from 3-point range, going 1-for-13, and endured a 10-plus-minute field-goal-drought in which it missed 13 consecutive shots in the second half.
The showing that frustrated Kentucky coach Mark Pope the most, though, was the rebounding differential. The Tar Heels outrebounded the Wildcats 41-30, including getting 20 boards on offense.
“We just got crushed on the glass,” Pope said. “It’s very, very disappointing tonight for sure, but I don’t think that’s who we are. I’m really frustrated with the eight (assists) and nine (turnovers). That’s not who we’ve been, either.”
Offensively, Denzel Aberdeen leads the Wildcats in scoring at an average of 13.5 points per game, followed by Otega Oweh (13.4) and Collin Chandler (11.8). Oweh led the team with 16 points against the Tar Heels.
“We need guys to step up and give us great efforts, and I’m excited about the games we have ahead,” Pope said. “Why play if you are not playing great teams? So I’m excited about it.”
Gonzaga has won two of the three games between the teams. Kentucky won last season, rallying for a 90-89 overtime victory in Seattle. The Bulldogs won the first two contests — 88-72 in Spokane, Wash., during the 2022-23 season, and 89-85 in Lexington, Ky., in 2023-24.
