Baylor and Gonzaga are finalizing an agreement to play a neutral site game in December at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, per multiple sources.
There is no timetable for an official announcement.
A much-anticipated rematch of the 2021 National Championship Game is in store, making up for a canceled game set for December 5th, 2020.
Baylor coasted to a 86-70 win over Gonzaga in the 2021 National Title Game.
Baylor finished 27-7 last season following a dominant National Title run in 2020-21. Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears would have also been a one-seed had the 2020 NCAA Tournament occurred, meaning the Bears are on an effective three-year streak of earning a one-seed. The Bears will return Adam Flagler, who yesterday announced he is withdrawing his name from the NBA and returning to Waco for his senior season. Flagler will be joined by an abundance of talent: LJ Cryer, blue-chipper Frosh Keyonte George, Flo Thamba, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Jalen Bridges Langston Love, Caleb Lohner, and more are in the fold. Baylor is the #1 ranked team currently in the 2023 Bart Torvik Forecasted. rankings
Gonzaga will be out for some level of revenge in this game, after falling short in that 2021 National Title Game. Gonzaga may also have Drew Timme and/or Julian Strawther back in the fold (Still no announcement at press time). Gonzaga has been a national powerhouse for the better part of the last two decades and has earned the top overall one-seed in the past two NCAA Tournaments. The Bulldogs also bring back super Sophomores Hunter Sallis and Nolan Hickman to go along with vets Anton Watson and incoming big man Efton Reid via LSU.
The matchup figures to feature a battle of two Top five teams come December. Stay tuned for more details.