Saturday’s college basketball slate doesn’t lean on a pile of ranked teams, but it still packs plenty of intrigue. With only two AP Top 25 programs on the board, the day shifts the focus to matchups that could matter later, especially once March starts sorting out who can really handle pressure. Gonzaga-LSU leads the way in the afternoon, while Cincinnati-Dayton and New Mexico-Santa Clara give the evening a strong finish.
The day’s biggest draw comes in Spokane, where No. 14 Gonzaga meets LSU for the first time at Numerica Veterans Arena.
The Bulldogs have already put together wins over Purdue and New Mexico State, and LSU has rolled through its first three games by at least 40 points each. That hot start has given Will Wade’s return to LSU a promising tone, but this is a much tougher test than anything the Tigers have seen so far.
Gonzaga sophomore Davis Fogle has been a major early storyline, scoring 22 points in each of the Bulldogs’ first two victories and picking up Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. LSU, meanwhile, brings in a roster built around several experienced transfers, including Donovan Dent, who is averaging 8.3 assists per game.
The game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.
Later, Cincinnati heads to UD Arena for a matchup that carries plenty of regional appeal. It’s a meeting between two Ohio programs with real basketball tradition, and Dayton’s home court should make life difficult for the Bearcats.
At the same time, the Flyers have a chance to land a meaningful win against Big 12 competition. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
ET.
The late window also gives Santa Clara a chance to test itself again, this time against New Mexico. The Broncos have started 4-0, highlighted by Wednesday’s comeback at North Texas, and they’ll also be looking to erase the memory of last season’s 98-71 loss to the Lobos.
That one starts at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
There’s more beyond the headliners, too. Saturday brings a set of regional and mid-major matchups that can tell you a lot about teams before the Thanksgiving tournament grind arrives.
Bradley faces George Mason in Florida, Loyola Chicago goes to Colorado State and Furman visits Belmont. Akron, Belmont, Santa Clara and others all have a chance to add something real to their early-season résumés, and that’s what makes this kind of Saturday worth watching.
In Other News...
LSU Gets Its First Real Test As One Backcourt Battle Takes Over
Gonzaga and LSU arrive in Spokane unbeaten, which gives Fridays meeting at Spokane Arena a little extra edge even before the ball goes up. It is the kind of early-season test that can tell you something real about both teams, and it comes with a national TV window on USA Network at 12:30 p.m. PT on Nov. 14.
The backcourt matchup is the part that jumps out first, with Xaivian Lee and Donovan Dent set to steer their respective offenses in a game that should have plenty of pace and pressure. Both guards are fifth-year seniors playing on court-ordered eligibility, and for Gonzaga, the challenge is not just handling LSUs first real test, but matching a veteran lead guard who has quickly settled in at his new school. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Wasted Braden Huffs Big Night In A Brutal LSU Loss
Braden Huff gave Gonzaga exactly the kind of interior production it needed on a night when the offense never really found its rhythm, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds in a game the Bulldogs still could not close out. The effort stood out even more because Gonzaga struggled to shoot efficiently overall, leaving Huff as the steady presence in a matchup that stayed tight from start to finish.
LSU made the most of that opening, especially after halftime, when its perimeter shooting began to tilt the game in its favor. The Tigers kept hanging around long enough to turn the final minute into a one-possession finish, and Gonzaga was left to sort through a loss that felt particularly painful because of how much one strong individual performance deserved a better result. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Let This One Slip As Two Zags Changed The Conversation
Gonzaga had a chance to leave with a statement win, but LSU kept turning the game into a guard-driven track meet and the Bulldogs could never quite finish the job. Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark and Abdi Bashir Jr. all had a hand in LSUs push, and the game swung back and forth with lead changes and tense possessions down the stretch before the final minute turned into a scramble for control.
Even in the loss, there were a couple of developments Gonzaga can build on. Javon Bennett gave the Bulldogs a real lift off the bench with his scoring, playmaking and pressure defense, while Chauncey Wiggins finally got into the mix after becoming eligible to play and added another piece to the rotation. For a team still sorting out its late-game identity, those are the kinds of details that matter almost as much as the result. [Read more 🡒]