A hallmark of Mark Few's Gonzaga program has been that the Zags will play anybody, anytime, anywhere. This has meant trips to the Maui Classic and made-for-TV matchups at Madison Square Garden on a regular basis.
Looking mighty strong despite losing their entire backcourt to graduation, Gonzaga is now testing the limits of Few's take-on-the-world philosophy. Here's a look at the top teams the Zags, armed with the frontcourt trifecta of Kyle Wiltjer, Domantas Sabonis and Przemek Karnowski, will play, and where they'll play them.
Pittsburgh
Fri, Nov. 13 at 4 pm, ESPN
Okinawa, Japan (5,929 miles from Spokane)
Apparently, the Zags will go anywhere, even if they have to cross the Pacific. Pitt is down this season, picked to finish 10th in the tough ACC, but as this Armed Forces Classic matchup is this season's first game that counts, played after an eight-hour flight, who knows what could happen?
Washington
Wed, Nov. 25 at 9 am, ESPN
Paradise Island, Bahamas (2,676 miles from Spokane)
The Zags got the invitation to this year's Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, as did UW, meaning that these in-state foes will renew their rivalry on foreign soil rather than just making the easy drive. Whatever. We'll take it. If Gonzaga continues winning in the tournament, they could face No. 24 UConn, as well as Texas, Texas A&M and Michigan, all just outside the Top 25.
Arizona
Sat, Dec. 5 at 12:15 pm, ESPN
McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane
The West Coast's premier teams are finally coming to the Kennel. With the Wildcats currently ranked 10th in the nation, this will make for a blockbuster matchup, one of the biggest games ever played on the Gonzaga campus. Arizona lost Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson and T.J. McConnell to the NBA, but still has 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski down low.
UCLA
Sat, Dec. 12 at 7 pm, ESPN2
McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane
In their third Pac-12 game in a span of 11 days (they visit WSU on Dec. 2), Gonzaga plays UCLA in Spokane in a reprise of last year's Sweet Sixteen game. The Zags went to UCLA's Pauley Pavilion last season, Wiltjer scoring 24 points in an 87-74 victory.
TENNESSEE
Sat, Dec. 19 at 8 pm, ESPNU
Key Arena, Seattle (282 miles from Spokane)
The Battle in Seattle brings in an SEC opponent in 2015, an improvement in talent for the Westside classic in comparison to previous years. Tennessee is picked to finish near the bottom of the SEC, but you can expect former Texas coach Rick Barnes to have the Volunteers in shape.
BYU
Sat, Feb. 27, time TBA, ESPN or ESPN2
Provo, Utah (764 miles from Spokane)
The late-season Gonzaga-BYU matchups have been epic in recent years, and this will be a tough one for the Zags, regardless of how good Kyle Collinsworth (who should be about 38 years old by now, right?) and BYU turns out this season, given they'll be playing in front of 22,000 at the Marriott Center.♦
