This is one of the more fascinating non-conference clashes that coach Mark Few has set up this offseason, and there are plenty of those to choose from.
Per the gatherings of scheduling expert Alex Rosinski, the Gonzaga Bulldogs will take on the LSU Tigers of the SEC in the Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington, on Nov. 14.
This is a compelling matchup because of what coach Will Wade, beginning his second stint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has stirred up in college basketball with morally questionable
international recruiting. He has created a unortodox and controversial roster filled with multiple 22-year-old and older players with EuroLeague, G League, and even NBA preseason experience.
- 25-year-old guard Yam Madar (last played with EuroLeague’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, drafted by Boston Celtics in 2020)
- 23-year-old wing RJ Luis (signed a two-way contract with Utah Jazz; played with G League’s Maine Celtics)
- 23-year old center Brice Dessert (last played with EuroLeague’s Anadolu Efes)
- 23-year-old center Marcio Santos (last played with EuroLeague’s Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- 22-year-old Saliou Niang (last played with EuroLeague’s Virtus Bologna; drafted by Cleveland Cavaliers in 2025)
Wade, who at one point only had one player on his 2026-27 team, is fully leaning on international prospects to build a college basketball roster. The NCAA will eventually step in on some, but not all, and deem players ineligible for the Tigers.
The last time that the Zags went head-to-head with Wade was when he was with the McNeese State Cowboys of the Southland Conference during their 2024 NCAA Tournament first-round loss, 86-65. Wad was previously with the NC State Wolfpack of the ACC for the 2025-26 campaign.
Here is the update to Gonzaga’s potential 2026-27 non-conference schedule, with not all dates/locations/times finalized.
vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Nov. 2, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada)
vs. LSU Tigers (Nov. 14, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington)
Kansas State Wildcats/Players Era Festival (Nov. 24-28, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada)
vs. Michigan State Spartans (Dec. 19, 2026, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California)
vs. Duke Blue Devils (Feb. 20, 2027, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan)
at Creighton Bluejays (Chi Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska)
vs. UCLA Bruins (To be determined)
vs. Oregon Ducks (To be determined)
The matchups with the Big Ten Conference’s UCLA Bruins and Oregon Ducks are on the fence, either taking place in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 season. UCLA would be the first game of their renewed two-year neutral site series, and Oregon the second game of their two-year neutral site series.
Few’s incoming roster needs more attention as it’s still far from complete. As of right now, here is Gonzaga’s 2026-27 roster:
Sophomore guard Mario Saint-Supery
Freshman guard/wing Isiah Harwell
Sophomore wing Davis Fogle
Redshirt senior forward Braden Huff
Freshman center Massamba Diop
*6-10 forward/center Izan Almansa
Redshirt freshman forward Parker Jefferson
Sophomore guard Alonzo Metz (walk-on)
*Needs NCAA to approve college eligibility
That makes for 10 of the 15 available roster spots filled, nine of those being on scholarship and the other being a walk-on.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
