Friday, October 28
Frisco, TX
6 p.m.
Gonzaga University
vs
#11 Tennessee (Exh.)
Photo by: Torrey Vail
MBB Begins Season in Charity Exhibition Friday
10/25/2022 5:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Zags meet in Tennessee in Texas to benefit McLendon Foundation
#2/2 Gonzaga (0-0) vs. #11/11 Tennessee (0-0)
FRIDAY, OCT. 28 | 6 P.M. PT | COMERICA CENTER | FRISCO, TEXAS
TELEVISION: iNDemand and PPV.com
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
THE TIP OFF
- Gonzaga opens the 2022-23 season against No. 11 Tennessee in a charity exhibition in the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, Friday at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
- The Zags are No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering the year. The Bulldogs' 114 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation. Gonzaga has been in the Top 10 for a national-best 81 straight polls, and in the Top 5 for 50 consecutive polls. The Bulldogs' 50 straight appearances in the Top 5 ranks as the third-longest in AP poll history, while its 81 straight polls in the Top 10 is fourth.
- The Zags have a history of cruising in their season-opening exhibitions. Gonzaga has an average margin of victory of 43 points in exhibition wins over the past 15 games.
- In their last exhibition in 2021-22, top-ranked GU eased to a 112-62 victory over Lewis-Clark State. Drew Timme led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 18 minutes. Gonzaga made 53.9 percent from the field, while holding the Warriors to 34.3 percent. Gonzaga outrebounded Lewis-Clark State 57-28. Julian Strawther added 13 points for GU, while Hunter Sallis had 11.
- 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.
- Last season, the Zags advanced to their seventh straight Sweet 16 and finished at 28-4. Gonzaga won the league regular season title for a national-best 10th straight season.
- Gonzaga returns three starters and nine letterwinners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' 25th West Coast Conference regular season title and 20th WCC Tournament title.
- In 2021-22, the Bulldogs advanced to their 23rd straight NCAA Tournament, and won their opening round game for the 13th straight season.
- The Zags own the country's longest home win streak with 67 consecutive victories inside the McCarthey Athletic Center, breaking the previous program record last season which was 50.
HOW TO WATCH
- Online/Streaming: PPV.COM (no subscription needed)
- TV: Available to order through all major cable & satellite systems, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Altice, Dish (channel 461), Verizon Fios and others
In Spokane: Xfinity channel 1201
In Seattle: Xfinity channel 1201
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS:
- The Vols' 2022-23 roster features 18 players (12 scholarship student-athletes) representing six states as well as Finland, Serbia and Uruguay.
- Tennessee's 12 scholarship players combine to boast 503 games played (41.9 per man) and 295 starts (24.6 per man). Removing freshmen from that group boosts those averages to 62.9 games played and 36.9 starts per man.
- Tennessee has captured 69 total wins over SEC opponents (regular season and SEC Tournament) over the last five seasons—more than any other program in the conference. Kentucky ranks second with 67 total SEC wins, while Auburn ranks third with 62.
- Tennessee returns 58.3 percent of last season's scoring—a mark that ranks third in the SEC behind only Georgia and Texas A&M.
- Three of the top four scorers from last season highlight the Vols' returners. Santiago Vescovi is the leading returning scorer after averaging 13.3 points per game a year ago, followed by Josiah-Jordan James (10.3 ppg) and Zakai Zeigler (8.8 ppg).
- The backcourt trio of Vescovi, James and Zeigler each saw elevated scoring totals in SEC play last season—Vescovi posted 14.3 points per game, James tallied 10.7 and Zeigler recorded 10.1.
- Tennessee's two most experienced returners with 84 and 81 career games played, respectively, Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi both enter the 2022-23 season nearing the 1,000-point mark. Vescovi enters the season 96 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point mark for his career, while James needs just 271 points to reach 1,000.
- Four scholarship freshmen make up Tennessee's 2022 recruiting class, highlighted by five-star forward and McDonald's All-American Julian Phillips.
ZAGS ENJOY PACKED KRAZINESS:
- Gonzaga put on a show in front of a standing-room only crowd at the 2022 Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel. Fans were treated to introductions, a three-point shootout, and a skills challenge, before an intersquad scrimmage.
- Julian Strawther edged out Hunter Sallis and Braden Huff for the skills challenge title. Rasir Bolton won a shootout in the three-point contest over Malachi Smith.
- After last season's scrimmage ended in a 38-38 tie, the White team used a late basket from Ben Gregg to defeat the Navy team, 38-36, this year. For the second straight season, Strawther led all scorers in the 15-minute scrimmage with 12 points. Like last year, he made five of his nine shots from the field for the Navy team. He grabbed a game-high five rebounds. Nolan Hickman added 11 points. Drew Timme led the White team with nine points. Colby Brooks and Gregg both chipped eight points. Bolton dished out a game-high five assists.
ZAGS OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 2
- Gonzaga was ranked No. 2 in the preseason Associated Press poll. North Carolina beat out the Bulldogs for the top spot.
- This marks the 22nd straight season GU has been ranked in the AP poll. It's the 13th consecutive year the Zags have appeared in the preseason poll, starting in the top-20 for the 10th straight season. It's the ninth time GU has been ranked in the Top-10 in the preseason AP ranking.
- The Zags opened the last two seasons at No. 1 in the AP poll. Gonzaga had 1,479 points in this year's preseason poll, with 12 first-place votes. Last year, the Zags had 1,562 points in the preseason poll, with 55 first-place votes.
- Houston and Kentucky were third and fourth in this season's preseason poll, and both received first-place votes. Gonzaga and Kentucky square off in the Spokane Arena on Nov. 20. Baylor and Kansas both revied 1,200 points rounding out the top-five. The Zags face Baylor in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 2.
- The Bulldogs travel to Texas on Nov. 16. The Longhorns were No. 12 in the rankings. GU and Alabama meet in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 17. The Crimson Tide start the season at No. 20. Michigan State, who is just outside of the Top 25 receiving 35 votes, plays GU in San Diego on Nov. 11. Gonzaga faces Tennessee, No. 11 in the preseason poll, in an exhibition, the Legends of Basketball Charity Classic, Oct. 28 in Frisco, Texas.
STEADY IN THE POLLS
- The Bulldogs' 114 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Villanova second at 59. Gonzaga has been in the Top 10 for a national-best 81 straight polls, with Baylor second at 50, and in the Top 5 for 50 consecutive polls, Arizona is next closest at six.
- The Bulldogs' 50 straight appearances in the Top 5 ranks as the third-longest in AP poll history, while its 81 straight polls in the Top 10 is fourth. The 114 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 is 14th all-time in the poll's history.
- GU is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 4 average ranking.
- Since 2017, the Bulldogs have been in the Top 5 for a national-best 78 polls (67 percent of the 114 rankings). Kansas is second appearing in the Top 5 in 64 polls.
- Since 2017, GU has been in the Top 10 in 97 of the 114 polls (84 percent), which leads the country. Kansas is second at 91 polls in the Top-10 since 2017.
FRIDAY, OCT. 28 | 6 P.M. PT | COMERICA CENTER | FRISCO, TEXAS
TELEVISION: iNDemand and PPV.com
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
THE TIP OFF
- Gonzaga opens the 2022-23 season against No. 11 Tennessee in a charity exhibition in the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, Friday at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
- The Zags are No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering the year. The Bulldogs' 114 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation. Gonzaga has been in the Top 10 for a national-best 81 straight polls, and in the Top 5 for 50 consecutive polls. The Bulldogs' 50 straight appearances in the Top 5 ranks as the third-longest in AP poll history, while its 81 straight polls in the Top 10 is fourth.
- The Zags have a history of cruising in their season-opening exhibitions. Gonzaga has an average margin of victory of 43 points in exhibition wins over the past 15 games.
- In their last exhibition in 2021-22, top-ranked GU eased to a 112-62 victory over Lewis-Clark State. Drew Timme led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 18 minutes. Gonzaga made 53.9 percent from the field, while holding the Warriors to 34.3 percent. Gonzaga outrebounded Lewis-Clark State 57-28. Julian Strawther added 13 points for GU, while Hunter Sallis had 11.
- 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.
- Last season, the Zags advanced to their seventh straight Sweet 16 and finished at 28-4. Gonzaga won the league regular season title for a national-best 10th straight season.
- Gonzaga returns three starters and nine letterwinners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' 25th West Coast Conference regular season title and 20th WCC Tournament title.
- In 2021-22, the Bulldogs advanced to their 23rd straight NCAA Tournament, and won their opening round game for the 13th straight season.
- The Zags own the country's longest home win streak with 67 consecutive victories inside the McCarthey Athletic Center, breaking the previous program record last season which was 50.
HOW TO WATCH
- Online/Streaming: PPV.COM (no subscription needed)
- TV: Available to order through all major cable & satellite systems, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Altice, Dish (channel 461), Verizon Fios and others
In Spokane: Xfinity channel 1201
In Seattle: Xfinity channel 1201
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS:
- The Vols' 2022-23 roster features 18 players (12 scholarship student-athletes) representing six states as well as Finland, Serbia and Uruguay.
- Tennessee's 12 scholarship players combine to boast 503 games played (41.9 per man) and 295 starts (24.6 per man). Removing freshmen from that group boosts those averages to 62.9 games played and 36.9 starts per man.
- Tennessee has captured 69 total wins over SEC opponents (regular season and SEC Tournament) over the last five seasons—more than any other program in the conference. Kentucky ranks second with 67 total SEC wins, while Auburn ranks third with 62.
- Tennessee returns 58.3 percent of last season's scoring—a mark that ranks third in the SEC behind only Georgia and Texas A&M.
- Three of the top four scorers from last season highlight the Vols' returners. Santiago Vescovi is the leading returning scorer after averaging 13.3 points per game a year ago, followed by Josiah-Jordan James (10.3 ppg) and Zakai Zeigler (8.8 ppg).
- The backcourt trio of Vescovi, James and Zeigler each saw elevated scoring totals in SEC play last season—Vescovi posted 14.3 points per game, James tallied 10.7 and Zeigler recorded 10.1.
- Tennessee's two most experienced returners with 84 and 81 career games played, respectively, Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi both enter the 2022-23 season nearing the 1,000-point mark. Vescovi enters the season 96 points shy of reaching the 1,000-point mark for his career, while James needs just 271 points to reach 1,000.
- Four scholarship freshmen make up Tennessee's 2022 recruiting class, highlighted by five-star forward and McDonald's All-American Julian Phillips.
ZAGS ENJOY PACKED KRAZINESS:
- Gonzaga put on a show in front of a standing-room only crowd at the 2022 Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel. Fans were treated to introductions, a three-point shootout, and a skills challenge, before an intersquad scrimmage.
- Julian Strawther edged out Hunter Sallis and Braden Huff for the skills challenge title. Rasir Bolton won a shootout in the three-point contest over Malachi Smith.
- After last season's scrimmage ended in a 38-38 tie, the White team used a late basket from Ben Gregg to defeat the Navy team, 38-36, this year. For the second straight season, Strawther led all scorers in the 15-minute scrimmage with 12 points. Like last year, he made five of his nine shots from the field for the Navy team. He grabbed a game-high five rebounds. Nolan Hickman added 11 points. Drew Timme led the White team with nine points. Colby Brooks and Gregg both chipped eight points. Bolton dished out a game-high five assists.
ZAGS OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 2
- Gonzaga was ranked No. 2 in the preseason Associated Press poll. North Carolina beat out the Bulldogs for the top spot.
- This marks the 22nd straight season GU has been ranked in the AP poll. It's the 13th consecutive year the Zags have appeared in the preseason poll, starting in the top-20 for the 10th straight season. It's the ninth time GU has been ranked in the Top-10 in the preseason AP ranking.
- The Zags opened the last two seasons at No. 1 in the AP poll. Gonzaga had 1,479 points in this year's preseason poll, with 12 first-place votes. Last year, the Zags had 1,562 points in the preseason poll, with 55 first-place votes.
- Houston and Kentucky were third and fourth in this season's preseason poll, and both received first-place votes. Gonzaga and Kentucky square off in the Spokane Arena on Nov. 20. Baylor and Kansas both revied 1,200 points rounding out the top-five. The Zags face Baylor in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Dec. 2.
- The Bulldogs travel to Texas on Nov. 16. The Longhorns were No. 12 in the rankings. GU and Alabama meet in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 17. The Crimson Tide start the season at No. 20. Michigan State, who is just outside of the Top 25 receiving 35 votes, plays GU in San Diego on Nov. 11. Gonzaga faces Tennessee, No. 11 in the preseason poll, in an exhibition, the Legends of Basketball Charity Classic, Oct. 28 in Frisco, Texas.
STEADY IN THE POLLS
- The Bulldogs' 114 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Villanova second at 59. Gonzaga has been in the Top 10 for a national-best 81 straight polls, with Baylor second at 50, and in the Top 5 for 50 consecutive polls, Arizona is next closest at six.
- The Bulldogs' 50 straight appearances in the Top 5 ranks as the third-longest in AP poll history, while its 81 straight polls in the Top 10 is fourth. The 114 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 is 14th all-time in the poll's history.
- GU is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 4 average ranking.
- Since 2017, the Bulldogs have been in the Top 5 for a national-best 78 polls (67 percent of the 114 rankings). Kansas is second appearing in the Top 5 in 64 polls.
- Since 2017, GU has been in the Top 10 in 97 of the 114 polls (84 percent), which leads the country. Kansas is second at 91 polls in the Top-10 since 2017.
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