The month of November is owned by football. Whether it be the NFL or college football, the sport of football is king as the leaves begin to fall off of their trees.
But on Tuesday night, we’re treated to a beauty of a game in college basketball.
The two top teams in the nation square off at 10:00 p.m. ET in Las Vegas, when No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 UCLA play in a rematch of last year’s thrilling Final Four classic.
“It’s important for everybody if you want to make the NCAA tournament,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “If you want to accrue a high seed, you have to play really, really good teams. I think it’s important for college basketball.”
For those that need a refresher, last year’s Final Four game ended in unbelievable fashion, as Jalen Suggs banked home a three-pointer in overtime at the buzzer to end the No. 11 seed Bruins’ season.
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED.
GONZAGA STAYS UNDEFEATED AT THE BUZZER! pic.twitter.com/27I8a2A9DA
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 4, 2021
Now? UCLA is one of the best teams in the country, returning nearly every player that participated in the epic matchup, and once again in the national spotlight.
“Not just the game, but I think getting to the Final Four was huge in itself and it wasn’t like, oh, they got there and now it’s a blowout; it’s like they got there and they’re supposed to be there and they should have won that game and been a finals team and that just gets all UCLA people excited to say, ‘Look, this is kind of where we want to be and we want to be in the mix of playing for a chance to win a championship,’” former Bruin Tyus Edney told the LA Times about the importance of the two teams last matchup.
Gonzaga continues to be one of the top and most consistent programs in college basketball, favored to win the national championship for the second consecutive year and only the fifth team to be preseason No. 1 in the AP poll in consecutive seasons.
The Bulldogs are led by Drew Timme and 2021 No. 1 overall prospect Chet Holmgren, averaging 12.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game.
“I think just his IQ and versatility. He sees the game really well. He sees the whole court, not just a part of it,” Timme said. “The way he gets to his actions and what he sees on court and find his teammates at his size is something we never really see.”
“He’s really invested into getting better, and he’s not just one of those guys who just lives off his height,” added teammate Andrew Nembhard. “He wants to keep getting better and has something to prove. That’s what I like about him.”
Thanksgiving week brings with it some wonderful matchups, including the Zags taking on Duke on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
With the college basketball season in full swing, let’s take a look at the updated Associated Press top-25.
- Gonzaga
- UCLA
- Purdue
- Kansas
- Duke
- Baylor
- Villanova
- Texas
- Memphis
- Kentucky/Alabama (tied for 10th)
- Kentucky/Alabama (tied for 10th)
- Houston
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Tennessee
- St. Bonaventure
- Arizona
- BYU
- Auburn
- Michigan
- Seton Hall
- Connecticut
- Florida
- USC
- Xavier
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.