Frequently Asked Questions About Gonzaga, Answered

On Saturday, Kentucky steps outside the Southeastern Conference to host a non-conference opponent from the Pacific Northwest. The Wildcats will welcome Gonzaga into Rupp Arena for a rematch of last year’s game in Spokane, Washington, setting up the Bulldogs’ first-ever appearance in Lexington. As first-timers in the Bluegrass, they may have questions about how we do things ’round here, like our pronunciation of Versailles or the line for ice cream, but we have questions about them, too. We’re still figuring each other out in this new head-to-head series.

Until the current six-year agreement, Kentucky and Gonzaga played only once in the 2002 Maui Invitational, a Kentucky win. But outside of that meeting some 4,000 miles away, we are distant strangers, known only to each other by the national perception of our basketball programs. So, as the Cats and Bulldogs play their rookie game in Rupp, we, the Big Blue Nation, will learn more about our new frenemy from the West Coast Conference. To do so, here are the 10 most frequently asked Gonzaga Basketball questions on the internet, answered:

How long has Mark Few been at Gonzaga?

ANSWER: Mark Few is in his 25th season as Gonzaga’s head coach, making him the fourth-longest tenured head coach in college basketball. He also spent another decade as an assistant in Spokane before replacing Don Monson ahead of the 1999-2000 season.

John Calipari and Mark Few are great friends, which is why this series exists.

Is it “Gon-ZAG-uh” or “Gon-ZAH-guh”?

ANSWER: Straight from Gonzaga.edu, the correct pronunciation is Gone – ZAG (as in “bag”) – uh.

What happened to Drew Timme?

ANSWER: Following his prolific career at Gonzaga, Drew Timme went undrafted last summer and then signed with the Wisconsin Herd of the G League. Timme’s Herd teammates included former Kentucky Wildcats Chris Livingston, TyTy Washington, and Wenyen Gabriel. However, Timme suffered a season-ending foot injury last week. He was a three-time All-American in Spokane.

Is Gonzaga going to make the tournament?

ANSWER: 2023-24 is a down season for the traditional powerhouse in the WCC, leaving the Zags in desperation as they head into the matchup with Kentucky. Gonzaga already has two in-conference losses and will likely lose the league title to Saint Mary’s, which will snap a 24-year streak of winning the conference’s regular-season crown. ESPN’s Bracketology barely considers Gonzaga a bubble team. Lunardi has the Zags in tiny print beneath his First Four Out and Next Four Out.

What is Gonzaga’s style of play?

ANSWER: Few is generally considered an offensive-minded coach, with teams among the highest-scoring in the country every year. In fact, Gonzaga has been the highest-scoring team in college basketball each of the last five years. This year, though, the Bulldogs are ranked No. 17 nationally at 83.0 points per game, down from 85.2 a year ago. Four players average double figures: Graham Ike, Anton Watson, Nolan Hickman, and Ryan Nembhard.

The highest-scoring team right now? Kentucky at 89.7. Saturday should be fun.

Anton Watson is still at Gonzaga?!

ANSWER: In an era of college basketball when nobody stays put, Anton Watson is in his fifth season in Spokane. Watson committed to Gonzaga in June 2017, over a year before Mark Few secured a commitment from Drew Timme. Watson and Timme were in the same freshman class in 2019-20, the COVID year. For even more perspective, Watson committed to Gonzaga before Immanuel Quickley and Tyler Herro committed to Kentucky.

For his career, Watson ranks sixth all-time with 139 games played at Gonzaga. He will likely finish third, behind only Josh Perkins (153) and Przemek Karnowski (152).

Did Kentucky recruit Nolan Hickman?

ANSWER: Nolan Hickman was nearly a Kentucky Wildcat. He even went so far as to commit and sign with Kentucky, only to become John Calipari’s first signee to ask for a release from his Letter of Intent. Hickman reopened his recruitment when Joel Justus and Tony Barbee left the program.

A four-star recruit in the Class of 2021, Hickman eventually landed at Gonzaga, where he averages 13 points per game in his junior season. Hickman wasn’t much of a factor in last year’s game against Kentucky (four points and four fouls), but Saturday is another chance to play in front of the fans who loved him first, his first time in Rupp Arena.

Did John Stockton go to Gonzaga?

ANSWER: John Stockton, a Spokane native, is Gonzaga’s most notable basketball alum. The NBA’s all-time assist leader was named the 1984 WCAC Player of the Year for leading Gonzaga to the school’s best record in 17 years, averaging 20.9 points per game.

Who transferred from Kentucky to Gonzaga?

Kyle Wiltjer won a national championship at Kentucky in 2012, then transferred to Gonzaga following his sophomore campaign in 2012-13. At Gonzaga, Wiltjer was a consensus Second Team All-American, a two-time All-WCC selection, and a double-winner of the WCC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award.

Wiltjer was beloved in Lexington for his three goggles. His freshman-year 3-point shooting percentage (43.21) ranks 12th all-time at Kentucky.

Where do Kentucky and Gonzaga play next year?

ANSWER: The Kentucky-Gonzaga series began last year in Spokane Arena, not the Zags’ on-campus arena. (Gonzaga won, 88-72.) Their second game will be played on Saturday at Rupp Arena. The series bounces between neutral sites in Seattle and Nashville in 2025 and 2026 before Rupp Arena hosts again in 2027. Finally, the current six-game format of the series wraps up at Gonzaga’s McCarthey Athletic Center, known as “The New Kennel, ” in 2028.

KENTUCKY-GONZAGA SERIES
2022-23 – Spokane Arena
2023-24 – Rupp Arena
2024-25 – Seattle
2025-26 – Nashville
2026-27 – Rupp Arena
2027-28 – McCarthey Athletic Center