Honestly at this point I don't think this game matters, if this team is going to battle back to the NCAA tournament it is going to have to be done during the conference season.
So if they lose the game, it does not matter? I have to disagree with that. Sure, they need their primary body of work to come in the conference year, but there are only so many realistic wins.
When you go into conference at 9-5 (Maryland Eastern Shore being the 9th) you pretty much have to go 11-5 to make the NCAA Tournament. That gives you a 20-10 record going into the Big 12 tournament.
Gonzaga at least gives you a quality win and gives you some confidence going into Big 12 play.
So if they lose the game, it does not matter? I have to disagree with that. Sure, they need their primary body of work to come in the conference year, but there are only so many realistic wins.
When you go into conference at 9-5 (Maryland Eastern Shore being the 9th) you pretty much have to go 11-5 to make the NCAA Tournament. That gives you a 20-10 record going into the Big 12 tournament.
Gonzaga at least gives you a quality win and gives you some confidence going into Big 12 play.
I'd say rather important because the team needs a quality non-conference win.