With the returns of Rasir Bolton, Drew Timme, and Julian Strawther, as well as the addition of Malachi Smith, the Gonzaga Bulldogs very well could open the season as the preseason No. 1 ranked team for the third season in a row to start the 2022-23 season.
Even if they aren’t (UNC and Houston have been getting their fair share of love), the hype train is going for the Zags again. Any team that starts out the season ranked in the top 5 also starts out the season as a title contender.
And that is why the vitriol, the random hate, and the overwhelming negative narrative from your average, angry, college basketball fan is going to be against Gonzaga, and it is understandable.