Thursday, November 1
Spokane, WA
6:00 PM
Gonzaga University
vs
Central Washington (Exh.)
Photo by: Nick Tomoyasu
MBB Opens Schedule Thursday with Exhibition
10/31/2018 11:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Zags begin the season with their highest-ever preseason ranking
#3/4 Gonzaga (0-0) vs. Central Washington (0-0)
NOV. 1 | 6 P.M. | SPOKANE | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER
THE TIP-OFF:
- Gonzaga will open exhibition play for the 2018-19 season when it hosts Central Washington on Thursday, at 6 p.m., in Spokane.
- Gonzaga is No. 3 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering 2018-19. It is the Zags' highest preseason ranking in program history.
- The Zags have a history of cruising in their season-opening exhibitions.
- Gonzaga has an average margin of victory of 37 points in exhibition wins over the past 11 seasons.
- In last season's opening exhibition, the Bulldogs eased to a 96-67 win over The College of Idaho.
- Killian Tillie scored 20 of his game-high 28 points in the first half. He finished a perfect 11-for-11 from the field.
- In 2016-17, GU opened its season with a 122-76 victory over West Georgia. The Zags' 122 points were the most points scored by Gonzaga in any game since a 123-72 exhibition victory over Northwest Sports in 2003.
- The Bulldogs are 19-9 all-time against Central Washington.
- Gonzaga returns three starters and eight letterwinners from the squad that claimed the Zags' sixth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles.
- The Bulldogs advanced to their 20th straight NCAA Tournament, and fourth consecutive Sweet 16.
SERIES NOTES:
- Gonzaga and Central Washington have met 28 times during regular season action. The Zags won the last meeting between the programs in 1994, 93-53, in Spokane. GU has won 13 of the 16 all-time meetings in Spokane, the Wildcats last win at Gonzaga was on Nov. 29, 1985, 64-63. The last six meetings have been in Spokane, with the most recent matchup in Ellensburg coming in 1979 (CWU, 62-49). The former Evergreen Conference foes have met six times at neutral locations across the state in Yakima, Cheney, Wapato, Tacoma, and Wilbur. Gonzaga won the first meeting between the programs, 17-12, in Ellensburg on Jan. 29, 1931.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:
- Central Washington opens the Brandon Rinta era this season. Rinta joins the Wildcats after being the head coach at Lewis-Clark State the last seven seasons. He compiled a 164-62 record at LCSC.
- Rinta competed at Central Washington from 1999-01 where he averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.
- CWU was selected for an eighth-place finish in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll.
- Rinta reloaded the Wildcats' roster, bringing in 10 new players for the 2018-19 season.
- Malik Montoya returns as the only player who has experienced being a starter. Montoya averaged 7.1 points per game while hauling in 3.4 rebounds per game.
- Naim Ladd earned preseason all-GNAC honors. He averaged five points per game while shooting 92.9 percent from the free-throw line.
GONZAGA EARNS HIGHEST-PRESEASON RANKING:
- The Zags earned their highest-ever preseason ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 3.
- The Zags were ranked 18th in last year's AP Top 25 preseason poll, before ending the season at No. 6.
- This marks the 18th straight season Gonzaga has been ranked in the AP poll.
- It's the ninth consecutive year the Zags have appeared in the preseason poll, starting in the top-20 for the sixth straight season.
- The Bulldogs' previous best showing in a preseason AP Top 25 poll was No. 8 at the beginning of the 2005-06 season.
- Kansas topped the preseason poll with 37 first-place votes. Kentucky followed at No. 2 with 19 first-place votes. Gonzaga received one first-place vote. Duke and Virginia rounded out the top-five.
- Gonzaga had 1,461 points in this year's preseason poll.
COACHES RANK ZAGS NO. 4:
- GU earned its highest-ever USA TODAY Coaches' preseason ranking at No. 4.
- The Zags were ranked 19th in last year's USA Today preseason coaches' poll, before ending the season at No. 10.
- Gonzaga opens in the top-20 of the poll for the sixth straight year.
- The Bulldogs previous highest ranking ever in the Preseason Coaches' Poll was in 2005-06 at No. 7, with 540 points.
- GU appeared in the coaches' preseason poll for the ninth straight season.
- Kansas topped the coaches' preseason poll with 14 first-place votes. Kentucky and Duke followed at No. 2 and 3. Virginia rounded out the top-five.
- Kentucky received 12 first-place votes, Duke had four and Gonzaga and Virginia both received one first-place vote.
- The Bulldogs had 699 points in the coaches' poll.
PERKINS NAMED TO BOB COUSY WATCH LIST:
- Josh Perkins was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List.
- Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor is in its 16th year recognizes the top point guard in Division I.
- A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
- Villanova's Jalen Brunson won in 2018.
NORVELL JR. NAMED TO JERRY WEST WATCH LIST:
- Zach Norvell Jr. was named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
- Named after Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I.
- Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).
HACHIMURA NAMED TO JULIUS ERVING WATCH LIST:
- Rui Hachimura was named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
- Named after Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top small forward in Division I.
- Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).
TILLIE NAMED TO KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR WATCH LIST:
- Killian Tillie was named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
- Named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top center in men's college basketball.
- Tillie's former teammate, Przemek Karnowski, won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award in 2017.
- Other previous winners of the award include Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
ZAGS NAMED WCC PRESEASON FAVORITES:
- For the 17th time in the last 18 seasons, Gonzaga was selected as favorites in the WCC preseason coaches' poll.
- The annual poll, along with the WCC Preseason Team, was released at the eighth annual #WCCHoops Tip-Off event at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
- With the exception of last year, the Zags have been first place in every WCC preseason poll since 2001.
- GU received nine of the league's 10 first place votes in this year's poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own program. BYU collected the other vote.
- The Zags had 81 points in the poll, while SMC was second with 68 and BYU was third with 67. San Francisco was fourth in the preseason poll with 57 points, while San Diego rounded out the top-half of the league with 52 points.
ZAG QUARTET NAMED ALL-WCC:
- The Bulldogs' Rui Hachimura, Zach Norvell Jr., Josh Perkins and Killian Tillie were named Preseason All-WCC.
- Perkins makes the list for the third straight season, while Hachimura, Norvell Jr., and Tillie appear for the first time.
NOV. 1 | 6 P.M. | SPOKANE | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER
THE TIP-OFF:
- Gonzaga will open exhibition play for the 2018-19 season when it hosts Central Washington on Thursday, at 6 p.m., in Spokane.
- Gonzaga is No. 3 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering 2018-19. It is the Zags' highest preseason ranking in program history.
- The Zags have a history of cruising in their season-opening exhibitions.
- Gonzaga has an average margin of victory of 37 points in exhibition wins over the past 11 seasons.
- In last season's opening exhibition, the Bulldogs eased to a 96-67 win over The College of Idaho.
- Killian Tillie scored 20 of his game-high 28 points in the first half. He finished a perfect 11-for-11 from the field.
- In 2016-17, GU opened its season with a 122-76 victory over West Georgia. The Zags' 122 points were the most points scored by Gonzaga in any game since a 123-72 exhibition victory over Northwest Sports in 2003.
- The Bulldogs are 19-9 all-time against Central Washington.
- Gonzaga returns three starters and eight letterwinners from the squad that claimed the Zags' sixth consecutive West Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles.
- The Bulldogs advanced to their 20th straight NCAA Tournament, and fourth consecutive Sweet 16.
SERIES NOTES:
- Gonzaga and Central Washington have met 28 times during regular season action. The Zags won the last meeting between the programs in 1994, 93-53, in Spokane. GU has won 13 of the 16 all-time meetings in Spokane, the Wildcats last win at Gonzaga was on Nov. 29, 1985, 64-63. The last six meetings have been in Spokane, with the most recent matchup in Ellensburg coming in 1979 (CWU, 62-49). The former Evergreen Conference foes have met six times at neutral locations across the state in Yakima, Cheney, Wapato, Tacoma, and Wilbur. Gonzaga won the first meeting between the programs, 17-12, in Ellensburg on Jan. 29, 1931.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:
- Central Washington opens the Brandon Rinta era this season. Rinta joins the Wildcats after being the head coach at Lewis-Clark State the last seven seasons. He compiled a 164-62 record at LCSC.
- Rinta competed at Central Washington from 1999-01 where he averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.
- CWU was selected for an eighth-place finish in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll.
- Rinta reloaded the Wildcats' roster, bringing in 10 new players for the 2018-19 season.
- Malik Montoya returns as the only player who has experienced being a starter. Montoya averaged 7.1 points per game while hauling in 3.4 rebounds per game.
- Naim Ladd earned preseason all-GNAC honors. He averaged five points per game while shooting 92.9 percent from the free-throw line.
GONZAGA EARNS HIGHEST-PRESEASON RANKING:
- The Zags earned their highest-ever preseason ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 3.
- The Zags were ranked 18th in last year's AP Top 25 preseason poll, before ending the season at No. 6.
- This marks the 18th straight season Gonzaga has been ranked in the AP poll.
- It's the ninth consecutive year the Zags have appeared in the preseason poll, starting in the top-20 for the sixth straight season.
- The Bulldogs' previous best showing in a preseason AP Top 25 poll was No. 8 at the beginning of the 2005-06 season.
- Kansas topped the preseason poll with 37 first-place votes. Kentucky followed at No. 2 with 19 first-place votes. Gonzaga received one first-place vote. Duke and Virginia rounded out the top-five.
- Gonzaga had 1,461 points in this year's preseason poll.
COACHES RANK ZAGS NO. 4:
- GU earned its highest-ever USA TODAY Coaches' preseason ranking at No. 4.
- The Zags were ranked 19th in last year's USA Today preseason coaches' poll, before ending the season at No. 10.
- Gonzaga opens in the top-20 of the poll for the sixth straight year.
- The Bulldogs previous highest ranking ever in the Preseason Coaches' Poll was in 2005-06 at No. 7, with 540 points.
- GU appeared in the coaches' preseason poll for the ninth straight season.
- Kansas topped the coaches' preseason poll with 14 first-place votes. Kentucky and Duke followed at No. 2 and 3. Virginia rounded out the top-five.
- Kentucky received 12 first-place votes, Duke had four and Gonzaga and Virginia both received one first-place vote.
- The Bulldogs had 699 points in the coaches' poll.
PERKINS NAMED TO BOB COUSY WATCH LIST:
- Josh Perkins was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List.
- Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor is in its 16th year recognizes the top point guard in Division I.
- A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
- Villanova's Jalen Brunson won in 2018.
NORVELL JR. NAMED TO JERRY WEST WATCH LIST:
- Zach Norvell Jr. was named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.
- Named after Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player Jerry West, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I.
- Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).
HACHIMURA NAMED TO JULIUS ERVING WATCH LIST:
- Rui Hachimura was named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
- Named after Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top small forward in Division I.
- Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015).
TILLIE NAMED TO KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR WATCH LIST:
- Killian Tillie was named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
- Named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its fifth year recognizes the top center in men's college basketball.
- Tillie's former teammate, Przemek Karnowski, won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award in 2017.
- Other previous winners of the award include Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016) and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).
ZAGS NAMED WCC PRESEASON FAVORITES:
- For the 17th time in the last 18 seasons, Gonzaga was selected as favorites in the WCC preseason coaches' poll.
- The annual poll, along with the WCC Preseason Team, was released at the eighth annual #WCCHoops Tip-Off event at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
- With the exception of last year, the Zags have been first place in every WCC preseason poll since 2001.
- GU received nine of the league's 10 first place votes in this year's poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own program. BYU collected the other vote.
- The Zags had 81 points in the poll, while SMC was second with 68 and BYU was third with 67. San Francisco was fourth in the preseason poll with 57 points, while San Diego rounded out the top-half of the league with 52 points.
ZAG QUARTET NAMED ALL-WCC:
- The Bulldogs' Rui Hachimura, Zach Norvell Jr., Josh Perkins and Killian Tillie were named Preseason All-WCC.
- Perkins makes the list for the third straight season, while Hachimura, Norvell Jr., and Tillie appear for the first time.
Players Mentioned
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