Gonzaga men ranked 13th in first coaches poll

Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team was ranked 13th in the preseason USA Today coaches poll released Thursday.

Kentucky checks in at No. 1 with 24 first-place votes, followed by Arizona. GU and Arizona will face off in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 6. The Zags will also play SMU, who enters the season ranked No. 22, on Nov. 17 at home.

The highest preseason ranking for Gonzaga was 12th in the 2010-11 season.

The Zags return three starters and seven lettermen from last year’s squad that finished 29-7. Senior guards Kevin Pangos (14.4 points a game last season) and Gary Bell Jr. (11.0) return along with center Przemek Karnowski (10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds).

Gonzaga opens the season with an exhibition against Thompson River College on Nov. 1 at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised on KHQ. The first regular-season game is at home against Sacramento State on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. and is also on KHQ.

• The Gonzaga women’s basketball team will hold its annual fan fest on Saturday in the McCarthey Athletic Center. Doors open at 3 p.m. and admission is free.

The team will hold an intrasquad scrimmage, a 3-point contest and schedule time for fans to interact with players.