Latest news with #GrahamIke
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Gonzaga's Offense Should run through Braden Huff Next Season
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. Advertisement 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. Related: Win the Day: The Fitting Mantra of Gonzaga's Next Point Guard Braeden Smith
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buzzer breakdown: Gonzaga's frantic finish, LJ Cryer has answers and back-breaking boards
Mar. 22—Here are four observations from Gonzaga's 81-76 loss to Houston on Saturday at Intrust Bank Arena in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Dramatic ending A season of close calls for Gonzaga culminated with one more in the Round of 32. Advertisement The Zags trimmed Houston's double-digit leads to single figures on multiple occasions throughout the game and made their best push in the final minutes. The Cougars led by 11 points when Gonzaga's run started with 4 1/2 minutes left. Ryan Nembhard and Graham Ike made four consecutive free throws and Ike added a three-point play to cut the deficit to 76-72 with 1:18 to play. Houston's Mylik Wilson converted a free throw at the other end, but Gonzaga rattled off five straight points to make it 77-76. L.J. Cryer's free throws extended Houston's lead to 79-76 and Khalif Battle was stripped on GU's final possession, effectively ending the Zags' NCAA Tournament run. Advertisement Cryer lights up Zags Cryer didn't connect from the 3-point line in his first two meetings against Gonzaga, but the fifth-year guard made up for it in round three while wearing a different uniform. The transfer from Baylor was outscoring Gonzaga individually for more than 12 minutes, drilling his first two 3-point attempts inside the first five minutes. Cryer made two more 3s to close out the half and reach 16 points by halftime. The guard didn't score again for nearly 11 minutes to open the second half, but he got back on track with a 3-pointer at the 9:08 mark. Cryer continued to add his total from the free-throw line and 3-point line, scoring 14 more points in the second half. Advertisement Cryer, who had just seven points in prior games against Gonzaga, matched his career high with 30 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, 6 of 11 from the 3-point line and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Big(s) night Gonzaga got its customary production from the frontcourt group of Graham Ike, Braden Huff and Ben Gregg. That trio combined for 44 points, with Ike's 27 leading the way . Huff chipped in 11 while making his fourth career start and Gregg added six points off the bench. Gonzaga stumbled on an opponent in Houston that matched its paint production, conceding a 32-30 advantage in paint points. Advertisement The Cougars played through a pair of 6-foot-8 forwards, J'Wan Roberts and Joseph Tugler, who combined for 28 points and 19 rebounds. Roberts led the way in the frontcourt, scoring 18 points and delivering four key baskets inside the first three minutes of the second half. Tugler added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Back-breakers Gonzaga players alluded to similarities between Houston and the Saint Mary's team they faced three times in West Coast Conference play this season. The Cougars' presence on the offensive glass was certainly Saint Mary's-esque as Houston racked up an 13-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. More costly than the offensive boards were the baskets Houston scored immediately after. The Cougars finished with a decisive edge in that column, scoring 20 second-chance points to Gonzaga's six.
Associated Press
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Gonzaga plays Georgia in first round of NCAA Tournament
Georgia Bulldogs (20-12, 8-11 SEC) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-8, 16-4 WCC) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bulldogs -6.5; over/under is 150.5 BOTTOM LINE: No. 24 Gonzaga plays in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Georgia. The Gonzaga Bulldogs' record in WCC play is 16-4, and their record is 9-4 in non-conference games. Gonzaga leads the WCC with 25.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Graham Ike averaging 5.4. The Georgia Bulldogs are 8-11 against SEC teams. Georgia is 1-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer. Gonzaga's average of 7.3 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.1 fewer made shots on average than the 7.4 per game Georgia gives up. Georgia averages 7.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than Gonzaga allows. TOP PERFORMERS: Ike is scoring 17.1 points per game and averaging 7.5 rebounds for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Khalif Battle is averaging 15.3 points and 3.8 rebounds over the last 10 games. Silas Demary Jr. is averaging 13.4 points, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals for the Georgia Bulldogs. Asa Newell is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Gonzaga Bulldogs: 9-1, averaging 83.0 points, 33.5 rebounds, 19.4 assists, 7.5 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 66.1 points per game. Georgia Bulldogs: 5-5, averaging 75.1 points, 31.2 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.9 points. ___
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (CA) men's basketball tickets still available for Tuesday, March 11
Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (CA) men's basketball tickets still available for Tuesday, March 11 The WCC champion will be named on Tuesday when the No. 2 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-8, 14-4 WCC) and the No. 1 Saint Mary's Gaels (28-4, 17-1 WCC) play at 9 p.m. ET. Buy tickets for Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (CA) Shop college basketball tickets at SeatGeek Shop college basketball tickets at StubHub Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (CA) game information Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Time: 9 p.m. ET 9 p.m. ET How to watch on TV: ESPN ESPN Location: Paradise, Nevada Paradise, Nevada Venue: Orleans Arena Orleans Arena Spread: Gonzaga -3.5 Gonzaga -3.5 Moneylines: Gonzaga -172, Saint Mary's (CA) +144 Gonzaga -172, Saint Mary's (CA) +144 Total: 138.5 138.5 Tickets: Buy tickets here Watch college basketball on Fubo! Gonzaga leaders So far this season, Ryan Nembhard posts 10.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game, shooting 44.4% from the floor and 40.2% from beyond the arc with 1.1 made 3-pointers per game. Offensively, Graham Ike is averaging 17.3 points, 1.4 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game. Khalif Battle puts up 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest. Defensively, he delivers 1.0 steal and 0.1 blocked shots. On a per-game basis, Ben Gregg is averaging 9.6 points, 1.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds. Nolan Hickman is putting up 11.3 points per game this season. Saint Mary's (CA) leaders On the hardwood, Augustas Marciulionis puts up 14.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, shooting 44.6% from the floor and 35.6% from downtown with 1.5 made 3-pointers per contest. Mitchell Saxen is racking up 10.3 points, 1.9 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game. Paulius Murauskas is averaging 12.9 points, 1.4 assists and 8.2 rebounds per contest this season. From an offensive standpoint, Luke Barrett is averaging 9.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. So far this season, Jordan Ross averages 8.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 38.8% from the floor. Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's (CA) stats breakdown The Bulldogs are making 50.2% of their shots from the field, 9.4% higher than the Gaels concede to opponents (40.8%). In games when Gonzaga shoots better than 40.8% from the field, it is 13-17 against the spread and 23-7 overall. The Gaels make 45.8% of their shots from the field, 4.3% higher than the Bulldogs' defensive field-goal percentage. Saint Mary's (CA) is 11-11 against the spread and 20-3 overall when shooting higher than 41.5% from the field. The Bulldogs average 35.3 rebounds, 1.2 fewer than the Gaels' average. The Bulldogs are the 32nd-ranked rebounding team in the nation, and the Gaels are 10th. The 87.5 points the Bulldogs average are 26.7 more than the Gaels concede. The Gaels post just 4.0 more points per game (74.2) than the Bulldogs concede (70.2). Shop college basketball tickets at SeatGeek Shop college basketball tickets at StubHub
CBS News
11-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Gonzaga beats San Francisco 85-76, advances to 28th straight West Coast Conference title game
Graham Ike totaled 27 points and 10 rebounds, Khalif Battle scored 21 and Gonzaga advanced to its 28th straight West Coast Conference Tournament championship game after an 85-76 victory over San Francisco on Monday night at Orleans Arena in a West Coast Conference semifinal. The second-seeded Bulldogs (24-8) will play top-seeded and 19th-ranked Saint Mary's for the tournament championship on Tuesday with an automatic NCAA Tournament berth up for grabs. The Gaels beat No. 9 seed Pepperdine 74-59 in an earlier semifinal. Gonzaga upped its win streak against the third-seeded Dons (24-9) to 33. Saint Mary's won both regular-season matchups with the Bulldogs. Ryan Beasley scored 10 in the first and hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to put San Francisco up 37-35. Ike had 10 points, Michael Ajayi came off the bench to score all nine of his, and both players grabbed seven rebounds for Gonzaga. Ike had the first two baskets of the second half and the Bulldogs never trailed again. San Francisco got within a point three times — the last at 62-61 on a basket by Saba Gigiberia with 7:12 remaining. Ike followed with a three-point play and a layup and the Zags pulled away from there. Malik Thomas hit five 3-pointers and led the Dons with 27 points and eight rebounds. Beasley totaled 13 points and five assists. Wang scored 10. Saint Mary's beat San Francisco 66-59 in 1997 the last time the Zags weren't playing for the title. Gonzaga beat Portland and lost to the Pilots in the 1995 and 1996 championship games. Gonzaga is aiming for its 22nd tournament title since '95. The last time the Dons played in the championship game came in 1998 when they beat Gonzaga 80-67.
