Why Gonzaga's Offense Should run through Braden Huff Next Season

Yahoo

11-05-2025

As Gonzaga reloads for another push toward a deep NCAA Tournament run in the 2025-26 season, few players offer as much offensive upside as Braden Huff. A skilled 6-foot-10 forward with a rapidly evolving game, Huff showcased flashes of brilliance in his second season of action—and the time has come for Mark Few's offense to run through him.
Huff's scoring versatility is what sets him apart. He's not just a stretch big with touch—he's a three-level scorer in the making. During the final stretch of last season, Gonzaga began to lean into lineups that featured Huff and fellow big man Graham Ike sharing the floor. The result? Efficient offense and more matchup problems than opposing defenses could handle. Huff, who has quietly expanded his range, is now a legitimate threat from three-point land. His ability to space the floor forces opposing bigs to guard out to the perimeter, creating driving lanes and better ball movement in Gonzaga's half-court sets.
One of the key advantages of the Huff-Ike tandem is the freedom it gives Huff in the post. With Ike on the floor drawing attention, Huff often gets single coverage in the post, a mistake few defenders can afford to make. Huff's footwork and touch are elite for a player of his size. If he gets to his right shoulder, he's nearly unguardable, finishing with precision using his left hand. Overplay that shoulder, and he has the balance and awareness to spin baseline and finish with his right. In one-on-one situations, Huff is a consistent problem—too quick for traditional centers, too strong for forwards.
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What makes Huff even more dangerous is what happens when Ike goes to the bench. Gonzaga will be relatively inexperienced at point guard, shooting guard, and small forward in terms of in-game reps. That puts more responsibility on the frontcourt. When Huff is the lone big on the floor, it's highly likely he will draw double teams—opening up clean looks for others. With his growing vision and feel, Huff has the passing chops to exploit those traps and find cutters or kick out to open shooters.
The biggest wrinkle for defenses will come when Gonzaga uses the 'double big' lineup with Huff as the primary screener in ball-screen action. In these sets, Huff's ability to short roll, catch, and finish with a soft floater puts defenses in a bind. If the help comes from the weak side, Ike will be lurking along the baseline or the mid-post, ready to punish any lapse in rotation. It's a pick-your-poison scenario that few teams are equipped to handle. Gonzaga did this time after time in the second half versus Houston in the second round and nearly pulled off an amazing comeback as the Cougars didn't have answers.
Ultimately, Braden Huff is the kind of offensive focal point that Gonzaga's system thrives with. He's skilled, unselfish, and dangerous at all three levels. With his development as a shooter and his dominance on the block, running the offense through Huff gives the Zags their best chance to maximize the talent on this 2025-26 roster.
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