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Arizona Basketball: Top 5 toughest opponents for the 2019-20 season

By David Rosen

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during the first half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during the first half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Chase Jeter #4 of the Arizona Wildcats is caged for a technical foul during the second half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 20: Chase Jeter #4 of the Arizona Wildcats is caged for a technical foul during the second half of the game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 20, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

No.1 – Gonzaga

2018-19 record: 33-4 (Overall),16-0 (1st in the WCC)

Leading  scorer:  Rui Hachimura, 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game

Head-to-head matchup: 6-3

Last meeting: Gonzaga won 91-74 in the Maui Invitational

No surprise here. The reigning WCC Champs and one the top powerhouses in NCAA college basketball, Gonzaga Bulldogs will be the toughest opponent the Wildcats will face in the regular season. They made it all the way to the Elite 8 before losing to Texas Tech 75-69.

They were led by leading scorer Rui Hachimura, who was the 9th overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Bulldogs will also be without their second and third leading scorer Brandon Clarke and Zach Norvell to the NBA. That being said, Josh Perkins (4th leading scorer will be returning) plus lot of players of size and strength will be available for head coach Mark Few.

In addition, they have the No.1 class in the WCC and No.12 nationally ranked class joining the Bulldogs this upcoming season. One of those being highly versatile 6 foot 10, 235lb center Drew Timme, whom the Wildcats were trying to recruit.

When these two teams met this past season in Maui, the Wildcats had a legit chance to pull off the upset. One technical foul by Chase Jeter changed all of that and they couldn’t get the job done, but something tells me this time around things will be different.  This is one of those games that is a must win because it will help their chances of being a higher seed come March.

light. Must Read. Arizona Basketball: Top 25 Wildcat wins of all-time

At Zona Zealots, let us know what you think of our Top 5 toughest opponents that Arizona Basketball will face in the 2019-20 season. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!

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