Well, that went about as well as we’d hoped and expected it would. “Bloodbath” isn’t quite the right term for what the Gonzaga Bulldogs did to the Warner Pacific Knights last night, but it’s close. By just five minutes into the second half, the Gonzaga radio broadcast team had shifted their focus from the actual game happening in front of them to a discussion about the World Series—it was that kind of game.
The match began, though, with an unexpectedly close back-and-forth in the first 10 minutes, as the Knights refused to let the Bulldogs pull too far ahead. But by halftime Gonzaga led 64-27, and they never looked back, finishing with a final score of 109-52.
Once again, there were plenty of positive takeaways, but also lingering questions and concerns as the Bulldogs gear up for their regular season opener against Scott Drew’s 8th-ranked Baylor Bears. Last night was fun, yes, but it’s cold comfort with a (frankly underrated) Baylor team marching on Spokane. Their backcourt is big, physical, and skilled, they score in bunches, they get hot and stay hot. They’re precisely the type of team the Zags have struggled with in the past. Warner Pacific is barely a tune-up game for what the Bulldogs will face on Nov. 5.
ICYMI: Here’s a look at the 8-0 run that sixth-ranked Baylor used in the final 1:33 to erase a seven-point deficit and beat 14th-ranked Gonzaga 64-63. pic.twitter.com/MxsIOBwRZS
— Eric Kelly (@EricKellyTV) December 3, 2022
The Wild Lineup Parade Continues…
Gonzaga opened the game with a 3-guard set featuring Hickman, Nembhard, and Battle in the backcourt while Graham Ike occupied his usual spot in the low post. The big surprise was Braden Huff starting at power forward over Michael Ajayi or Ben Gregg. There were lots of lineup configurations I imagined for the Bulldogs’ early season, but Huff starting at the 4 was not among them.
Huff rarely played outside the paint last year due to some depth issues in Gonzaga’s frontcourt, but his effort against USC clearly earned him a chance to try out his floor spacing skills and dust off his midrange game. If Gonzaga opts for a 3-guard set, the 4 spot is up for grabs, with Gregg and Ajayi also able to step in. All three players are tall, strong rebounders, and capable outside shooters—there are truly no bad options.
Another surprise in the box score, Dusty Stromer led all Zags in minutes with 27, doing a little bit of everything along the way. Unlike last season, he appeared confident and comfortable on the wing or as an off-ball guard, finishing with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while also showing some solid perimeter defense and interior stopping power. He’s an incredibly versatile player and once he solidifies his role he’ll be a major asset to this team.
Gonzaga’s presumed 7-man rotation—Nembhard, Hickman, Ike, Huff, Ajayi, Battle, and Gregg—each logged about 15 minutes, but beyond that, the distribution of playing time seemed wholly up to the whims of Mark Few. It was fun, but also left me all the more curious as to what to expect from Gonzaga’s presumed starting lineup against Baylor.
I’ve never felt less certain about Gonzaga’s starting lineup for the regular season opener. If I’m unsure, Scott Drew likely is too. But I suppose it’s all going according to plan.
Player of the Game: Nolan Hickman
As I’ve said before, Gonzaga’s offense hinges on Nolan Hickman. His performance will not only determine the Bulldogs’ scoring potential but also their ability to stretch the floor and manage bench rotations if he struggles to connect from outside.
If Hickman plays as he did last night, the Zags are in for an exciting run. He led all scorers with 19 points, accomplished in just 21 minutes of action. Shooting 8-13 from the field and 3-6 from deep, he also showed marked improvement defensively, jumping passing lanes and using quick hands to contain Warner Pacific’s guards.
With Hickman leading all scorers and Battle doing the same against USC, it’s evident the Zags will rely heavily on their off-ball guard put points up. Whether those points come from Hickman or Battle remains to be seen, but again, there are no bad options—assuming they can stay out of foul trouble.
Perimeter Defense
As was a problem for the Bulldogs last year, a high-scoring offense means little without a solid defensive effort. Although the guards showed increased aggression defensively, the emphasis on tough man-to-man coverage seemed to come at a cost against Warner Pacific: silly fouls.
If Battle and Hickman are to be high-volume scorers in a 3-guard set, they need to figure out how to protect the perimeter and prevent dribble-drive penetration without fouling. Each finished with three fouls, with about two-thirds of those being avoidable/iffy calls. The simple fact is they’re too valuable to Gonzaga’s offense to be sidelined by careless mistakes or overly aggressive attempts to bottle up ballhandlers, especially if Gonzaga shifts to zone coverage.
Whether Gonzaga’s backcourt can defend without fouling will become very evident very quickly against Baylor. The Bears rely on aggressive guard play to power their offense, and Hickman, Nembhard, and Battle will need to deliver an inspired defensive effort to slow them down—and they’ll need to do it without fouling.
Innocenti certainly showcased his skills as a perimeter stopper tonight. The Tarleton State transfer was, as advertised, a tremendously skilled and tenacious defender for the Bulldogs. It’s possible he gets some big minutes against the Bears as well.
Insane Individual Efficiency
Zags got dudes. We knew that already. But last night demonstrated just how effective and efficient these dudes can really be, even in limited minutes. The stats speak for themselves:
- Ben Gregg: 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals in 15 minutes
- Michael Ajayi: 14 points on 6-8 shooting, 6 rebounds in 14 minutes
- Nolan Hickman: 19 points (3-6 from 3) in 21 minutes
- Ryan Nembhard: 7 assists, 2 steals in 17 minutes
- Braden Huff: 14 points, 5 rebounds in 16 minutes
- Graham Ike: 11 points, 8 rebounds in 16 minutes
It’s thrilling to consider just what each of these dudes could do with increased playing time. What fans are eager to see, though, is how well they can combine their talents to maximize both scoring and defensive effectiveness.
Ike’s Back
Graham Ike didn’t play particularly well at Kraziness in the Kennel; he looked gassed, uncertain, maybe a little too in-his-head. He certainly didn’t ease those concerns with an ugly performance against USC. However, last night, he looked like his old self.
Ike shot 5-8 from the field and grabbed 8 rebounds. He looked much more comfortable and confident in his shot. He created clean looks around the rim despite facing some traps and collapsing double teams from Warner Pacific’s perimeter. Most importantly, unlike in the game against USC, his shots went in the basket this time, including a picture-perfect corner three off a great assist from Ajayi. It’s a small sample size, but how many big men can say they shot 100% from deep on any given night?
Not much more to say about Ike except “phew…”
Graham Ike on spending his offseason in the “Travis Knight School of Conditioning,” what he did to improve his wind and why he feels he’s in the best shape of his life.
Ike: “Love that school.” pic.twitter.com/6Qt8yU0fnj
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) October 31, 2024
Finally
What a frustrating broadcast format for last night’s game. ESPN+ pulled the matchup from their online streaming schedule several days before tipoff, leaving fans outside the KHQ broadcast region unable to watch. Rumor has it this was an effort to minimize available game film for Scott Drew ahead of Gonzaga’s matchup with Baylor. If it works, great—I’m all for it. However, Gonzaga has dedicated fans worldwide who deserve to support their team, and it’s frustrating to know so many were unable to see the Zags in action last night.
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