MCLEAN, Va. – Gonzaga's men's basketball team will begin the season ranked 13th in the Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, released today.
Gonzaga's 13th-place ranking marks the highest preseason rank for the team in the Coaches Poll since entering the 2010-11 season ranked 12th. The Zags entered the season 14th in 2013-14, 22nd in 2012-13 and 23rd in 2011-12. Kentucky checks in at No. 1 to start the season with 24 first-place votes, followed by Arizona in the No. 2 spot. GU and Arizona will face off in Tucson, Ariz., on Dec. 6 this season. The Zags will also face SMU, who enters the season ranked No. 22, on Nov. 17 at home.
Gonzaga finished last season unranked (receiving votes) in the Coaches Poll after knocking off ninth-seeded Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament Second Round and falling to top-seeded Arizona two days later.
The Zags return three starters and seven lettermen from last year's squad that finished 29-7. A healthy Kevin Pangos is back and brings a streak of 103 consecutive starts after battling injuries last season while still putting up 14.4 points per game. GU also returns starters Gary Bell Jr. and Przemek Karnowski. Bell, who missed six games due to injury, averaged 11.0 ppg, and Karnowski turned in 10.4 ppg, 7.1 rebounds per game and a team-leading 1.72 blocks per game.
Gonzaga also welcomes a heralded set of transfers and freshmen. Junior Kyle Wiltjer (Kentucky), senior Byron Wesley (USC) and junior Eric McClellan (Vanderbilt) will all suit up this season for the Zags. GU's freshman class of Josh Perkins, Domantas Sabonis, Silas Melson and Bryan Alberts are also looking to contribute right away.
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. The first regular season game kicks off four consecutive home games and is on Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. against Sacramento State.
Complete Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll
RANK TEAM RECORD POINTS #1 Votes
1 Kentucky 29-11 785 24
2 Arizona 33-5 746 3
3 Duke 26-9 715 2
4 Wisconsin 30-8 706 3
5 Kansas 25-10 654 0
6 North Carolina 24-10 598 0
7 Florida 36-3 568 0
8 Virginia 30-7 519 0
9 Louisville 31-6 507 0
10 Texas 24-11 479 0
11 Wichita State 35-1 471 0
12 Villanova 29-5 439 0
13 Gonzaga 29-7 423 0
14 Iowa St. 28-8 323 0
15 Connecticut 32-8 292 0
16 VCU 26-9 259 0
17 San Diego St. 31-5 251 0
18 Michigan State 29-9 241 0
19 Oklahoma 23-10 237 0
20 Ohio State 25-10 223 0
21 Nebraska 19-13 156 0
22 SMU 27-10 149 0
23 Michigan 28-9 139 0
24 Syracuse 28-6 128 0
25 Iowa 20-13 56 0
