Gonzaga is good again – it won the West Coast Conference title.
The COVID 2020 season – when the NCAA Tournament was cancelled – is the only time the Bulldogs haven’t made it in since 1998.
Kennesaw State is good – it won the Conference USA title.
It went to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, lost in the first round, and that’s been it until now.
The histories and records are different, and there’s way more talent on one side, but Kennesaw State is good now, and it has the chance to do something special.
Gonzaga hasn’t lost in the first round since 2008.
March 9, 2026; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15) dribbles the basketball against Oregon State Beavers center Yaak Yaak (4) during the first half at Orleans Arena. © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
(© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)Gonzaga vs Kennesaw State Game Preview: How Long Can the Owls Keep Up?Gonzaga vs Kennesaw State How To Watch
Date: Thursday, March 19
Venue: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Time: 10:00 pm ET
TV: TBS
Streaming: March Madness Live App, Paramount+, HBO Max
Teams: (3) Gonzaga 30-3, (14) Kennesaw State 21-13
Gonzaga Rankings: KenPom 10 | NET 7
Kennesaw State Rankings: KenPom 163 | NET 155
College Football Programs: Kennesaw State has quickly become a football power with a Conference USA championship last season.
It’s all basketball for Gonzaga, which hasn’t played football since 1941.
– CFN NCAA Tournament Schedule, Previews
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Key Stats
– The Gonzaga depth is dangerous. The Bulldogs are fifth in the nation in bench points with close to 35 per game.
– Only USF gets to the free throw line more than Kennesaw State. The Owls average 27 attempts per game.
Why Kennesaw State Will Win: The Owls Can Score From Everywhere
The Owls have to keep attacking the rim and forcing fouls after hitting early threes.
They do a great job of scoring in all places and phases. They’re not amazing from the outside, but they take enough threes to make it worthwhile.
Gonzaga will have to stop it all, and it’ll have to bring its lunchpail to the boards – Kennesaw State can rebound.
Gonzaga is great at going on runs after ending possessions in a hurry. Kennesaw State is among the best in the nation at attacking the offensive glass – it’ll get enough second chance points to matter.
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Why Gonzaga Will Win: The Bulldogs Will Stop the Kennesaw State Three
The Owls might be able to force fouls and bring the fight to the interior, but they don’t have the defense to hold up. They have to keep scoring, and that comes from hitting just enough threes to matter.
They’re 12-1 when making 40% or more of their threes, and 9-12 when they don’t.
Gonzaga only allowed 40% or more from three in seven games, and on the year, they’ve allowed teams to hit just under 31% from the outside.
Few teams are more relentless when getting a chance to take over. Gonzaga is more than fine in the halfcourt set, but it’ll go from rebound to layup in a hiccup if you miss the three.
Gonzaga vs Kennesaw State Prediction, Betting Lines
The only chance Kennesaw State has is if Gonzaga isn’t hitting shots.
The Bulldogs are 30-0 when they hit better than 40% from the field, 0-3 when they don’t.
Kennesaw State will make this a battle by coming up with plenty of rebounds, and it’ll keep up the energy with plenty of bench points to keep pace well into the second half.
Alabama was by far the best team the Owls faced until this, and they lost by 11. Gonzaga will win – it beat Bama by ten – but it’ll take some work before it pulls away.
Prediction: Gonzaga 85, Kennesaw State 65
Consensus Line: Gonzaga -20.5, o/u: 154.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
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Meet the NCAA Tournament Seeds
No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6
No. 7 | No. 8 | No. 9 | No. 10 | No. 11
No. 12 | No. 13 | No. 14 | No. 15 | No. 16
Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Related: Michigan vs Howard Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament First Round
This story was originally published by College Football News on Mar 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.