The Yale Bulldogs and the Gonzaga Bulldogs meet Friday in college basketball action from McCarthey Athletic Center. Yale already has a win under their belts this year, taking out Vassar in blowout fashion on Monday. As for Gonzaga, this will be their season opener following a 31-6 overall run last year. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Yale Bulldogs 

Yale had some successes and some disappointments in their 21-9 overall run last year. The Bulldogs finished 10-4 in Ivy League play, which earned them a conference co-championship. Yale lost to Princeton in the Ivy League Tournament however, and then were bounced by Vanderbilt in the first game of the NIT. 

In their first game of the 2023-24 season, Yale got off to a good start. The Bulldogs took on Vassar in Monday’s matchup, scoring 54 points in the second half to finish off a 102-53 blowout win. Nick Townsend led the way with 13 points and seven rebounds. Both John Poulakidas and Bez Mbeng (five rebounds; five assists) scored 12 points as well. 

Gonzaga Bulldogs 

Over on the Gonzaga side, they managed a 31-6 overall record last season with a 14-2 result in West Coast Conference games. The Bulldogs posted a regular season co-championship with Saint Mary’s and an eventual conference tournament championship as well. Gonzaga ultimately made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, falling to UConn 82-54. 

Gonzaga will look quite a bit different in this year’s opener. The team retains just two starters in junior guard Nolan Hickman and Anton Watson, a graduate student forward. There’s a pretty good incoming transfer class here though, headlined by junior Ryan Nembhard (Creighton), redshirt guard Steele Venters (Eastern Washington) and redshirt forward Graham Ike (Wyoming). 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m likely going to take a stab on Yale here. This is an interesting matchup, as Yale is favored by many to win the Ivy League this season after retaining four of five starters. That group played very well in the opener versus Vassar, shooting a blistering 63.5 percent from the floor with a 48-31 rebounding advantage and 22 assists. The experience that Yale brings to the floor will serve them well, as Gonzaga is still trying to find chemistry among their newcomers. 

Speaking of Gonzaga, they haven’t lost a season opener since 2003 and they’ve won 32 consecutive home openers (going all the way back to 1998). Gonzaga will be tough once again this year—especially once they find a good rotation and utilize their depth. In this opener however, I think Yale can keep a cover pace as Gonzaga finds their legs.