Gonzaga Preview
First and only meeting for Pacific against perennial WCC power
The slightly imbalanced WCC schedule actually worked in Pacific’s favor this season as our Tigers only had to play both the Zags and first-place Saint Mary’s once in the regular season. Thus, Pacific is seeing Gonzaga for the first time in 2024-25 as the Tigers get set for a 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET game at the Alex G. Spanos Center in what is being marketed as a “Black Out” event.
Somewhat surprisingly, Gonzaga (17-7, 8-3) has had - by their standards - a lackluster season with now three WCC regular season losses (at Oregon State, vs. Santa Clara at home and a four-point loss at Saint Mary’s one week ago). Sprinkle in non-conference losses to UCLA, UConn, Kentucky and West Virginia, the Zags, despite a senior-laden lineup, have only one quality non-WCC victory (over then #7 Baylor at home; Bears are just 14-8 this season).
Still, the talent level is formidable as Gonzaga comes off a 20-point victory over LMU at home this past Thursday night. That match was tied midway through the second half when the Zags authored a 22-2 run to win going away.
Gonzaga is led by their scrappy 6’0” SR point guard #0 Ryan Nembhard, who averages a team-high 34 minutes per game and usually has the ball in his hands especially in transition. Nembhard, a native of Aurora, Ontario, Canada and the younger brother of Andrew Nembhard of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, averages 9.8 assists per game in WCC play and leads the entire NCAA Division I in assists per game. Coach Smart is close with the entire Nembhard family including patriarch Claude, having worked with Andrew extensively with Canada’s National team program. Tigers will have to find Ryan in transition especially with 6’4” Lamar Washington likely to be assigned to slowing down the likely All-American.
6’9” SR #13 Graham Ike leads the Zags in scoring in league play at 18.5 ppg with 11 games of 20+ points overall including 28 with 11 rebounds against Kentucky. Ike also averages 8.1 rpg including a season-high 19 against San Diego. 6’2” SR #11 Nolan Hickman is another Zag stalwart who had a season-high 24 in the loss to Santa Clara going 6-10 from three - he had a five-game stretch earlier this season when he made 21 of 36 threes ! But he’s gone 0-7 in the Zags most recent two games.
Steady 6’10” SR forward #33 Ben Gregg can stretch the floor from the wing - he went a perfect 10-10 including 4-4 3’s against Portland when he had a season-high 24 points but has not hit a three in Gonzaga’s most recent three games.
Consistency has been an issue for 6’5” GR #99 Kahlif Battle (13.7 ppg/2.6 apg), now playing in his fourth program (Arkansas, Temple, Butler). Battle had 24 in the LMU win but only 2 in the loss against Saint Mary’s and went scoreless in earlier games against Santa Clara and Portland.
Gonzaga has not received the production expected from 6’7” SR #1 Michael Ajayi, the Pepperdine transfer (6.7/5.2). 6’10” SO #34 Braden Huff also should see time in the front court as should 6’6” sophomore guard #4 Dusty Stromer. 6’5” SO #5 Emmanuel Innocenti has been seeing more time recently - the native of Italy has even started three recent WCC games (Portland, Oregon State, Saint Mary’s) before coming off the bench again on Thursday night against LMU.
Always a formidable opponent, expect Gonzaga to sprinkle in some zone “d” against our Tigers but more importantly be prepared for an up-tempo game, with the Zags looking to get the ball into Nembhard’s hands immediately and looking for easy scores and early offense. Rebounding and transition “d” may be the determinants in how long Pacific can stay in this game.