KSR goes 6,300 feet to preview Kentucky at Gonzaga

Gonzaga claims tonight’s anticipated top-five matchup between the Bulldogs and Kentucky Wildcats is being played at a neutral site, not at home — despite the game taking place in Spokane.

John Calipari pushed for the matchup to be played at Spokane Arena rather than the McCarthey Athletic Center — best known as “The Kennel” — due to seating. Gonzaga’s home venue holds just 6,000 fans, while Spokane Arena has a max capacity of 12,500. Bigger venue for a bigger matchup, allowing for some Kentucky fans to find their way inside if they chose to make the 2,100-mile journey from Lexington.

It was a scenery change that resulted in Gonzaga star Drew Timme calling Kentucky “scared” to play in the Bulldogs’ rowdy home venue.

“I’d be scared to play here as well, have to play down the road,” Timme told Gonzaga fans at Kraziness in the Kennel.

Calipari said the bigger venue will create a better environment, fitting for the massive intrigue behind the matchup. The “scared” comments, though, are directed toward the Kentucky head coach’s stance on playing in small arenas.

“Playing in front of 13K crazy fans in Spokane Arena will be exciting just like it will be in front of 22K fans in Rupp next year,” Calipari said at the time. “I imagine there will be some BBN and some Gonzaga fans too who will sneak in the game this year because there’s more seats!

“Anybody that wants us to play in a 6,000-seat facility, wants us to lose! And I get that. I tried to look back and find the last time UK played in a true regular-season road game with 6,000 or fewer fans. I stopped looking after the 70s.”

Timme’s stance: home games are played at home venues. He’d expect the same going to Lexington, which Gonzaga will do twice during the six-year series.

“The thing I don’t get is, why would you go to Kentucky to go play at the Kentucky convention center rather than Rupp? That’s my only thing,” Timme added. “… You’re not going to the convention center to play Kentucky, you’re going to Rupp. I feel like it’s the same thing here.

“… (Calipari) said what he had to say about it, so yeah.”

Now that we’re here, though, is it really a neutral-site matchup? Gonzaga fans don’t think so. They’ve been camping out in front of Spokane Arena since late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning getting ready for the game.

It may not be the “home” venue, but it certainly feels like home just a short walk from campus (and the overwhelming number of local fans set to attend the game).

“John Calipari thought he could change the vibe for us with a three-minute walk from campus. Nah,” one fan told KSR outside the venue.

“It’s just gonna be 12,000 Zags,” another added.

Just how short is the trip from campus to Spokane Arena? KSR made the drive from The Kennel to see firsthand.

The final result? A short 6,300 feet away.

Check out the drive for yourself, along with some thoughts on the matchup from Gonzaga fans: