The 2024-25 Big 12 men’s basketball season tips off on Monday when nearly every team is in action, including the Baylor Bears.
The Bears are playing the Gonzaga Bulldogs on the road to open the season, pitting two of the nation’s top program against one another in a late prime-time showcase.
Both are ranked in the AP preseason Top 10 and have made an annual habit of playing one another, whether it be in Waco, Texas, in Spokane, Wash., or at a neutral site. In fact, it was Gonzaga that Baylor defeated to win the 2021 national championship, the first for the men’s program.
Here is a preview of Monday’s showdown.
Baylor Bears at Gonzaga Bulldogs Information
Day, Time: Monday, November 4th, 10:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2
Where: Spokane Arena, Spokane, Wash.
Rankings: Baylor, No. 6 (AP Top 25); Gonzaga, No. 8 (AP Top 25)
Odds/Line: Gonzaga -3.5; Over/Under 156.5 (ESPN)
Records (2023-24): Baylor (24-11); Gonzaga (27-8). Monday is the 2024-25 season opener for both teams.
Series: Gonzaga leads series, 4-2.
Last meeting: Baylor 64, Gonzaga 63 (at Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, S.D., Dec. 2, 2022).
Series notes: Baylor has won the last two meetings, including the 2021 national championship game in Indianapolis.
Coaches: Baylor: Scott Drew (23rd year at Baylor, 446-224 with Bears, 24th year overall, 466-255 career); Gonzaga: Mark Few (26th year at Gonzaga and overall, 716-143 with Bulldogs and career).
Related: Baylor Basketball 2024 Preview, Prediction, Players to Watch and Odds
Key Storylines for Baylor and Gonzaga
About Baylor: The Bears have hit a bit of a wall since they won that national title. They have not reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in the three years since. But Scott Drew has built a juggernaut in Waco, one in which he can recruit five-star players like VJ Edgecome, develop stars like Langston Love and lure transfers like Jeremy Roach and Norchad Omier to build a team capable of winning a Big 12 title and beyond.
About Gonzaga: The only thing the Zags haven’t claimed under Few is that elusive national title, with two appearances and no wins. This year represents another chance for Gonzaga to change that, and it has a team built to compete with anyone in the country. But the future is about to get interesting for this program, thanks to realignment. At one time flirting with the Big 12, Gonzaga is set to join the Pac-12 in 2026, which means they’ll depart the West Coast Conference after two more seasons.
Prediction for Baylor vs. Gonzaga
Baylor 71, Gonzaga 70. Yes, it’s in Spokane, but it’s a neutral site game and that helps Baylor. But the Bears will lean on their vets, Roach, Omier and Love — who is available — to claim the win on opening night.
Next Game: Baylor faces Arkansas on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on ESPNU; Gonzaga will host Arizona State on Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
