Gonzaga's Drew Timme, left, celebrate's Julian Strawther late game basket in the final minutes of the Kentucky-Gonzaga showdown game at the Spokane Arena Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme celebrates a win over Kentucky at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga Bulldogs' Drew Timme goes for a layup against the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 at the Spokane Arena. Gonzaga won the game 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Kentucky coach John Calipari and Gonzaga coach Mark Few shake hands after a game on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 at the Spokane Arena. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Malachi Smith drives against the Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 at the Spokane Arena. Gonzaga won the game 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga coach Mark Few hugs Kentucky coach John Calipari after a game at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga’s Anton Watson guards Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe during Sunday’s game at the Arena. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme goes for a dunk during a game against Kentucky at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme puts up a shot over Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe during a game at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga’s Anton Watson takes the court ahead of a college basketball game against Kentucky at the Spokane Arena on Sunday. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Anton Watson goes up for a shot Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe during a game at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga’s Anton Watson goes up for a layup against Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe during a game at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Kentucky’s Carson Wallace (22) puts up a shot against Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman at the Spokane Arena on Sunday. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Rasir Bolton drives against Kentucky's Lance Ware during a game at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Rasir Bolton goes up for a layup against Kentucky's Lance Ware during a game at the Spokane Arena on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gonzaga won 88-72. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme splits the defenders in the paint for a lay-in in the Kentucky-Gonzaga showdown game at the Spokane Arena Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme splits the defenders in the paint for a lay-in in the Kentucky-Gonzaga showdown game at the Spokane Arena Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Gonzaga's Drew Timme repeatedly attacks the basket against defender Lance Ware (55) in the final minutes of the Kentucky-Gonzaga showdown game at the Spokane Arena Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. (Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Fourth-ranked Kentucky was doomed from the start of Sunday’s game against second-ranked Gonzaga and possibly much earlier than that. The Wildcats were in the unenviable position of being the next team on the Bulldogs’ schedule following a 19-point loss at Texas four days earlier. On the rare occasion Gonzaga lost, history hasn’t been kind to the team waiting in the on-deck circle.