Bulldogs set another demanding schedule
Gonzaga University didn’t exactly go national in its attempt to schedule a men’s basketball opponent for next season’s dedication of the Bulldogs’ new 6,000-seat home arena.
Instead, the Zags opted for Northwest rival Portland State, a team it has beaten seven straight times, to provide the opposition in its 2004-05 season opener. The Pilots and Bulldogs will meet on Nov. 19 to inaugurate GU’s $21 million McCarthey Athletic Complex, which will serve as the new home for The Kennel.
The Zags will also entertain Montana (Nov. 21) and Idaho (Nov. 24) in their new digs before embarking on another demanding non-conference road schedule that will take them from Indianapolis to Las Vegas — and a couple of points in between.
On Nov. 27, GU will face Big Ten Conference power Illinois in the Wooden Tradition Classic in Indianapolis. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN, as will the Bulldogs’ Dec. 28 encounter with Big 12 bully Oklahoma State in the Touchstone Energy All-College Classic in Oklahoma City.
The Zags will face the University of Massachusetts in the second-annual Battle in Seattle on Dec. 4 and then travel to Pullman on Dec. 7 to take on Washington State. The Vegas trip is set for Dec. 18, when GU and Georgia Tech, another Final Four participant, meet in the second game of the Las Vegas Showdown.
Following their Dec. 28 game against Oklahoma State, the Zags will fly directly to Columbia, Mo., to take on Missouri in a rematch of last year’s inaugural Battle in Seattle before opening West Coast Conference play at Santa Clara on Jan. 6.
Other non-conference home games include a Dec. 1 showdown with Washington, a Dec. 11 matchup against Saint Louis and a Dec. 21 game against Eastern Washington in the Spokane Arena.
In addition, the Bulldogs will entertain Northern Colorado on Jan. 25.
“It’s probably a tougher schedule than we should try,” admitted Bulldogs coach Mark Few, who lost five seniors from last year’s 28-3 team that climbed to No. 3 in the Associated Press’ Top-25 poll before bowing to Nevada in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “Losing five guys and then looking at our perceived inexperience at guard, there’s no doubt it is going to be a real challenge.
“But it’s the type of schedule we’ve been playing and one we need to play to keep the respect we’ve earned nationally.”
The university has finalized the dates for all of its games next season, but is waiting to release its official men’s basketball schedule until television dates and times can be worked out.
The first WCC game in the McCarthey Athletic Complex will be played against Loyola Marymount on Jan. 13.